The Gunny Wolf
Once there was a little girl who lived in a small cabin with her Mother at the edge of a deep dark forest. They had a small garden and a small yard that was surrounded by a white fence.
Inside the forest lived a fierce animal called the Gunny Wolf. This creature never came outside of the dark woods. The little girl's mother always told her, "Whatever you do, don't go into the forest! Stay out of the forest, and you will be safe."
The little girl promised to never go into the forest. "Me no go," she said.
One day, the mother had to into the village. Before she left the house, she warned "Remember your promise and don't go near the forest. If you do, the GUNNY WOLF might get you.
The little girl promised again that she would never go into the forest. "Me no go!" But, as soon as her mother had gone, the little girl decided to pick flowers to decorate the house. The first flowers were yellow flowers that grew right beside the fence around the year and the garden. But, as she picked the yellow flowers, she saw some pretty blue flowers blooming right at the edge of the forest, and she forgot about her promise.
The little girl went to the edge of the forest where the flowers grew and began to pick the blue flowers. As she picked, she sang a special song. "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa."
While she picked the blue flowers, she saw some beautiful white flowers. They would look lovely in a vase with the yellow and blue flowers. She could surprise her mother with them when she came home. The little girl just had to pick some of them too. They were deeper in the forest, but the little girl could still see her house. So, she wasn't worried about the Gunny Wolf. She walked deeper into the forest where the flowers grew and began to pick them. As she picked them she sang, "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa."
While she picked the white flowers, she saw some beautiful red flowers. She just had to pick some of them too. They were very deep in the forest. She wouldn't be able to see her house from there, but she would not stay in the deep deep forest for long, only enough to pick the flowers. She didn't worry about the Gunny Wolf. She walked to where the flowers grew and began to pick them. As she picked them she sang, "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa."
Just as the little girl picked the last of the red flowers she needed, "Arrrgh!" Up came the Gunny Wolf from out of nowhere.
"Little Girl, You sing that GOOD SWEET SONG AGAIN!" said the Gunny Wolf.
She began to sing, "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa."
As she sang, the Gunny Wolf closed his eyes, licked his lips, rested his long nose on his paws and fell asleep.
When the little girl saw the Gunny Wolf was asleep, she started to tiptoe away to go home. (Put your hands on your laps and use them to make a running sound ) "Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat"
UP rose the GUNNY WOLF, and he came after her, making a noise that sounded like, "HUNKA-CHA, HUNKA CHA, HUNKA-CHA" And he caught her!
"Little Girl, Why you move?"
"I no move," said the little girl.
"Then sing that GOOD SWEET SONG AGAIN!" said the Gunny Wolf.
The little girl began to sing, "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa." As she sang, the Gunny Wolf closed his eyes, licked his lips, rested his long nose on his paws and fell asleep again.
When the little girl saw the Gunny Wolf was asleep, she started to tiptoe away to go home. "Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat"
UP rose the GUNNY WOLF, and he came after her, making a noise, "HUNKA-CHA, HUNKA CHA, HUNKA-CHA." And he caught her!
"Little Girl, Why you move?"
"I no move," said the little girl.
"Then sing that GOOD SWEET SONG AGAIN!" said the Gunny Wolf.
So the little girl began to sing, "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa." As she sang, the Gunny Wolf closed his eyes, licked his lips, rested his long nose on his paws and fell asleep again. But this time she sang the song longer to be sure the Gunny Wolf was asleep, "Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa, Kum-Kwa-Khi-Wa."
When the little girl saw the Gunny Wolf was sound asleep, she started to tiptoe away to go home.
"Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a-Pat," She ran past the red flowers.
"Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat," She ran past the blue flowers.
"Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat," She ran past the white flowers.
"Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat," She ran out of the forest.
"Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat," She ran through her gate.
"Pit-a-Pat, Pit-a Pat," She ran into her house.
She SLAMMED THE DOOR! And she never went into the forest by herself again!
(The Gunny Wolf is an American Folktale handed down through the generations in the Appalachians. The actual origin is unknown. It was made popular by American librarian/folklorist Wilhemina Harper in her 1967 re-telling as "The Gunniwolf.")
Dr. Mike Lockett is an educator, storyteller and children's author from Normal, IL. Dr. Lockett has given more than 4000 programs across the USA and as far away as eastern Asia and the middle east. Contact Mike by writing to Mike@mikelockett.com in order to book him for a storytelling program or young authors program or to inquire about purchasing his books and CDs. The illustration at the top of this story is by Chung Yi-Ru, Copyright 2014 owned by Mike Lockett. More stories and information about storytelling can be found at www.mikelockett.com