Tabaldak and the Greedy Raccoon

Long ago, when the earth was new, animals could talk. A young boy named Tabaldak lived with his grandmother in a rectangular barrel-roofed house. His grandmother was a very experienced gardener. She complained that the raccoon that lived behind their house wouldn't stop stealing their crops. Back then raccoons were a solid gray color.
"Tabaldak, will you do me a favor?" asked his grandmother.
"Sure grandmother, what would you like me to do?"
"Would you please climb up the mountains to the west, and over the bridge to where the creator lives. Then would you ask him to speak to the raccoon about him stealing my crops!" said grandmother in a disgusted manner.
"Okay grandma," answered Tabaldak. He started his way up the mountain. As he got higher up the mountain it grew a bit colder. Finally, when he reached the top, the bridge came into view. Tabaldak ran across the bridge as fast as he could knowing his grandmother must be waiting for him. Tabaldak saw a little house in the distance. He sprinted towards the house in a hurry. There was a stick on the door, which meant the person didn't want to be disturbed. Tabaldak knocked politely on the wooden door.
"Who wishes to speak to the creator?" asked the creator in a very serious voice.
"It is I, Tabaldak, my grandmother has sent me here to ask you a question."
"Come in boy, come in." Tabaldak busted through the doors to where the creator was sitting. "What did you want, Tabaldak?" questioned the creator.
"My grandmother wishes you to speak to the raccoon; he is eating all of our crops. If you don't stop him soon we won't have enough food in storage for the winter!" complained Tabaldak.
"I'll speak to the raccoon. I wasn't sure about him when I created the animals. He seemed like a little troublemaker. I will try my best."
"Thank you'" said Tabaldak politely. When Tabaldak left the cabin and started on the path back to his home, the creator left his house. He slowly walked over to where the raccoon lived.
"Raccoon!" said the creator as he looked down the burrow to see the raccoon.
"Who is it?" replied the raccoon, his voice echoing through the long dark tunnel.
"It is I, the creator," he said proudly.
"Coming Sir," answered the raccoon. The raccoon rustled around inside his home. After awhile he popped out of the hole.
"The nice old lady who lives with her grandson in the house right over there said you were stealing all of her crops. Is this true?" asked the creator.
"Sort of, well, yes. I need food to live also."
"Raccoon, this is your last chance to be a good raccoon. If I hear another word about you I will punish you, and don't you think I won't be harsh!" Just then the creator walked out of the woods and back to his house.
The next day when Tabaldak and his grandmother went out to collect the crops for the winter, they noticed there was nothing in the gardens. Grandmother was furious. She stomped up the hill and over the bridge to where the creator lay. She nearly ripped the door off its hinges.
"There is nothing left in our garden! I am afraid we'll starve. Not as much me, but mostly Tabaldak!" yelled grandmother.
"He will be punished for this. I promise." The grandmother ran back to her house where Tabaldak was outside waiting for her.
"So, what did the creator say?" asked Tabaldak.
"He said he would punish the raccoon for what he has done."
The creator went over to the raccoon's house and stood by the hole.
"Hello raccoon, it is I, the creator. I would like to speak to you." When the raccoon scurried up the tunnel, the creator took a piece of powder from a leather bag around his neck, and threw it at the raccoon. A black puff of smoke appeared. The raccoon was obscured from view. When the smoke settled the raccoon appeared, only there was a black mask covering his face. The creator did this because he was ashamed of his creation. He thought no one would be aware of his mistake. From then on all raccoons had a mask of black fur covering their faces.

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