Week 4 Storytelling : Oxen

Once upon time, there was a guy named Bata. Bata was a brother of Anpu. He was also a hard worker and laborer for his brother, Anpu. Although Bata was working for his older brother, who is enjoying his life with easy works, a beautiful wife, while Bata was sleeping outside of the house, Bata loved his brother and never felt that was unfair.

In fact, he was happy with what he got. Although he did not have a fancy house or a beautiful wife, he got his cattles.

One day, Bata had to visit Anpu's house. He needed to pick up some foods to feed his cattles. They helped him a lot during his labor. Bata asked Anpu, and Anpu agreed. However, that day, Anpu was working in the field along with Bata. Therefore, when Bata went to Anpu's house, the only person who was in the house was Anpu's wife.

"Greeting, sister-in-law"

Bata gave casual hi to Anpu's wife. Anpu's wife stared at Bata as if she was asking why Bata was in her house. Bata explained his reason. He went to the storage and picked up some barley and wheat.

"You are a strong man."

A wife noticed that he was way stronger than her husband, Anpu. That attracted her attention. She decided to seduce Bata. However, Bata refused.


"How dare you refuse me, you are going to do exactly what I tell you to do, just like usual."

"I will listen to any words from you, but I will not play with a trust of my brother."


They started to argue.
And there were oxen. Because Bata was taking a long time, they were concerned. They decided to go to Anpu's house to help Bata.


"Can you tell what is going on? Oxy"


A ox with a bright hair asked while he was watching Bata's argument through the window.


"Looks like they are fighting, Oxay"


The other ox with black hair replied.


"Oh, no, Oxy! What are we going to do?"


"We can't do anything, we are oxen."


Therefore, oxen decided to do nothing. However, because two of oxen were gone for awhile, a older brother, Anpu realized something was wrong.

Anpu figured out his brother was taking too long as well. So he decided to go back to his house.


"What are you two doing here?"


Anpu found two oxen in front of his house. He asked.


"We are just being oxen...by doing nothing."


Oxy replied. Oxay shook her head.


"We were watching two of them arguing."


"Arguing?"


Oxay pointed Bata and a wife. Anpu looked through the window. And that moment, he could hear Bata's yelling.


"You are a mother to me, and my brother is a father to me. I will pretend I did not hear any of your words!"


It took awhile for Anpu to realize what was going on. After he figured out what was going on, he opened the door of his house.

It was at the moment his wife fell. She started to cry as Anpu walked in. Anpu saw Bata who was afraid to be asked about the situation.


"What is going on?"


Anpu asked as if he knew nothing. His wife started to explain how Bata was trying to harass her. Bata remained silent. Anpu nodded. He waited until she finished. He approached his wife, and smiled.


"Honey, I heard everything."

(Oxen by Mark Goebel)

Author's Note: The story is based on Egyptian myth. The background of the myth is about two brother Anpu and Bata who were separated because of the evil actions that were caused by Anpu's wife nad Anpu's distrust over Bata. Although there were more story over this brothers but I thought the most important part of the story was the beginning. The background story over my storytelling is only over the first two parts of The Two Brothers. From the original story, Anpu's wife seduced Bata, but Bata refused and decided to keep this as a secret because he respected Anpu's wife and did not want to turn back on his brother. However, Anpu's wife felt violated by getting rejected by Bata, so she decided to lie to Anpu, so her action could be a hidden secret for rest of her life. She wanted Bata dead. Anpu, the older brother actually believed in his wife's lie which eventually made the little brother, Bata, to leave his side. As a reader who seeks for a happy ending, I wanted to write a story where Bata and Anpu can stay together. From the original story, oxen help Bata when Anpu was chasing him with a dagger, in this episode oxen help Bata by doing nothing!

Bibliography:  Mackenzie's Egyptian Myth and Legend