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Collected from Belize January 2010

The Xtabai by Nayre Bol, STD 6 (7th grade) Bishop Martin RC School (Note, the Xtabai is a Maya and Mestizo folk character, a beautiful woman by day, at night she transforms into a serpent-like monster. She warns drunk men to behave and also teaches lessons of fidelity)

In the village of Toledo there lives the Xtabai. the Xtabai has chicken feet, clear skin, blonde hair and green eyes. In the day time she was beautiful with her long blue dress covering her chicken feet. She smelt like a daisy. You could find her on on the roadside waiting for drunk men to follow her. As night falls she takes the men into her cave and then turns into a serpent-like monster and kills the drunk men. If you’re lucky you can escape with your life, but remain crazy for the rest of your days.

One night while I was waiting on the roadside for the bus, I met the Xtabai and my life was never the same. the Xtabai was hiding in a nearby bush and I couldn’t see her. Suddenly I smelt a daisy scent. Instantly I knew it was the Xtabai. I didn’t turn back to see her, I sprinted through the air, but tripped on a stone. As I stood up to see if she was coming. I was face to face with the most hideous and horrible creature I have ever seen.

She had a serpent-like face, vines with moss for her hair, chicken feet, sticks with prickles for her hands and fingers, she smelt like rotting mud, rotting fish and cheese and when she wanted to speak, a hissing sound came out. My heart felt like a rocket ready to burst out of my chest. My hands felt stiff like sticks. My voice was gone. My eyes as big as dollar coins. Suddenly, I felt a cold wind over my body and boom! I was on the ground lifeless. Next she dragged me to her moss covered cave. I woke up and to my surprise I was in a cave. There were bones and bundles of clothes. It was still night and I couldn’t see the Xtabai. So, I realized an opportunity to get out. But the Xtabai was smart, she knew somehow I would wake up and try to escape. When I tried to come out the vines grabbed me. But I remembered that I had a knife, I had forgotten all about it. I slashed the vines with all my strength. When I came out I began leaping away. Finally I reached home, it was already morning. the door was open, so I slipped in. Quietly, I went upstairs into my room into my bed and never in my life will I go alone to a bus stop at night!

Tata Duende by Ruvi Bautista STD 6 (7th Grade) Bishop Martin RC School (Note: Tata Duende is a spirit and a protector of the environment.)

In the village of Alone Zone there lives Tata Duende. Tata Duende is a minute man, guardian of the forest. He is shockingly awkward. His feet are backwards, he is thumbless and yet is an excellent guitarist. He is three feet tall, almost the size of a child and wears a huge brown hat which conceals his face. Tata Duende is convinced that if he is thumbless then anyone who meets also must be thumbless and so is accustomed to chop off the thumbs of those who have them.

One night while I was roaming in the forest which is near my house, I met Tata Duende and my life was never the same. It all began when I was gradually becoming far away from my house. Suddenly, I heard someone playing the guitar far, far away. The notes sounded so beautiful, enchanting, almost perfect that I was totally fascinated and I began following the sound to get to the person playing. Finally, I arrived there but I couldn’t see the person’s face. I was hiding behind a tree for I had a bad feeling. I got goosebumps and my heart began beating rapidly. I was sweating and as the playing ceased, I peeped, no one was there. When I turned around, a rough tiny hand grabbed mine and I recognized Tata Duende! He surely noticed that I had thumbs and holding my hand tightly he was about to chop off my thumbs with a shiny sharp medium sized machete. As I saw this, I screamed with a high pitched voice of terror and fright. I stared in Tata Duende’s eyes and he saw my eyes filled with sadness and unexpectedly he stopped himself and let go of my hand. I didn’t run away at that moment as others would, but I bravely spoke to him. I curiously asked, “why do you chop off people’s thumbs? Is it because you do not have any?” I didn’t expect him to answer, but he did. “I don’t know why I do it. My task is to guard the forest from people harming it,” he answered. So I had a brief conversation with him and it concluded when he asked me, “If I can guard the forest, why not guard children too instead of chopping off their thumbs?”  “That’s a brilliant idea!” I exclaimed. “I could not have thought of anything better myself!”

So Tata Duende accompanied me all the way to my house as part of his new job guarding children. My life was never the same after that because I knew that while I roamed in the forest at night someone would be looking out for me. Although he is awkward he can have good feelings at the bottom of his heart. And we can have a good image of him, which most people don’t. That was the greatest experience of my life!