Coyote and Mosquito

by Alan Nafzger & Lilly Tabbytite (Comanche)

Coyote and Mosquito

When Coyote met Mosquito, he noticed he was carrying a bag on his back. It was dripping with blood because he had been sucking on someone.

"What are you carrying?" Coyote inquired.

"That's blood," Mosquito said.

"How are you going to use that blood?"

"Oh, that's our dinner. "We can't eat blood because we don't have teeth."

"How do you go hunting?" "How do you get your blood?"

"I sucked it out while the people slept."

"How are you sucking it out?"

"Using this beak."

"Oh, you're not going to be able to do it with that." " You've got to have an awl. "

"No, I've already explained how I do it."

Coyote kept bothering Mosquito and asking him questions. Mosquito kept telling the truth, but Coyote was skeptical.

Finally, Mosquito stated, "I carry a large thorn with me and punch the man in the hands and face with it." When the blood flows out, I collect it in this bag. "

"See! You previously lied to me. You have now spoken the truth. "What are you going to do with the blood?"

"I bring it home and feed it to my small children. " They don't have teeth and can't eat anything tough."

Coyote then left Mosquito and returned to his home.

"Give me a water bag and an awl," he said to his wife. I'm going to get some nutritious food for the kids. They have no teeth and are unable to eat solid foods. " "Some people have killed a few deer and want me to collect the blood," he told his wife.

It was dark, and Coyote, who had been loitering on the outskirts of camp, crept in quietly. He could hear people snoring. He snuck into one of the tipis. It belonged to the chief. He was sound asleep.

Coyote felt his way over the chief's face and decided where he would get the blood. He poked the man in the face with the awl.

The chief awoke and chased the coyote. "What were you thinking?" he exclaimed.

Coyote bolted. He received no blood.

The next morning, everyone asked, "Whose awl is this?" "Who was there last night?" However, no one claimed the awl.

Coyote searched for Mosquito but couldn't find him.