Walton Burns - How Babik Cheated Death

Leveling information

Word Count: 732

Word Tokens: 194

Avg. Words/Sentence: 8.44

Gunning Fog: 4.09

Fleisch- Kincaid Reading Ease: 92.86

Fleisch-Kincaid Grade: 2.40

Before You Read

T he Romani are very misunderstood. Their traditional lifestyle is different from many other cultures. Many Romani travel from place to place, but not all do. Sometimes other people feared them. They made up mean stories about why Romani traveled, or said that that they were bad people. Some people said they were from Egypt. This is how they came to be known as "gypsies". But this term is considered an offensive slur . "Romani" is the correct term.

Sometimes other people did terrible things to the Romani, like making them slaves or killing them. Even today, some people have negative ideas about Romani people. Some countries want the Romani to abandon their culture and traditions.

However, the Romani people have a rich culture, with strong family and community ties. There are many different Romani tribes. Each tribe has their own traditions. Romani live all over the world, particularly Europe, the UK, the US, and Brazil. Romani music is world famous. Romani have influenced jazz, classical, and folk music.

Their story telling traditions are less well-known. Many stories begin by telling how the storyteller learned about this story. If you are telling a made-up story, like this one, you must make that clear. This can be done directly. It can also be done with humor. Made-up stories can be invented by the storyteller or they can be old well-known stories. Often the person telling the story can invent a new story but use characters and events from other stories. Of course, because the Romani have many tribes, there is no one story-telling tradition. However, the clever hero is a common theme in many Romani folktales, and the story of a person who tricks the devil and goes to heaven is told by many tribes, even among non-Romani peoples!

How Babik Cheated Death

O ne day, an angel came to Earth. He visited a small village, where a man named Babik lived. Babik thought, If I help the angel, the angel will help me.

Babik invited the angel home. They had a delicious dinner. Babik and his wife told interesting stories and funny jokes. They gave him a comfortable bed.

In the morning, the Angel gave Babik four wishes as a reward. Babik was a clever man. He planned his wishes carefully.

This is what Babik wished for:

1. No one can climb down from my apple tree until I let them.

2. No one can get off my rug until I let them.

3. No one can leave my money box until I say so

4. If I sit on my hat, no one can move me.

Babik lived for many years and had a very happy life. He and his wife had many children! But he got old.

When he was 70 years old, Death came for him. Death said, You had a good life, Babik. Now its time to go.

Babik asked to say goodbye to his family. He told Death to wait in the apple tree. Death climbed the apple tree.

Babik said, Now you are trapped! Let me live 10 more years, then you can come down.

Death agreed and Babik let him down

When Babik was 80 years old, Death came again. Babik was reading a book by the fire. Babik said, Let me finish the book.

Death agreed and sat down on the rug! Then Babik said, I tricked you again! You cannot get up.

Death was very angry but he gave Babik 10 more years of life.

When Babik turned 90, Death said, I don't want to go! So the Devil went to get Babik.

Babik asked, How do I know you are the Devil?

The Devil changed his body.

He became very big with long sharp horns and long sharp teeth and red eyes.

Babik said, OK that is scary. But can you get very small? So small you fit in my money box?"

The Devil said, I can do anything!

He got very small and he jumped into the money box.

Babik slammed the top shut.

I will let you out, he said, but you must leave me alone. I will decide when I want to leave the world.

The Devil was very angry, but he agreed Babik could live forever.

Babik lived another 10 years. When he was 100 years old, he was very tired. His wife had passed. His children were old. Babik said to himself, It is time to go.