The Orphan Chakuche

Once upon a time, there was a man and his wife, and they had a son named Chakucha. Soon, Chakucha's mother passed away, and a week later, his father brought home a second wife.

The wicked stepmother did not feed the boy, did not clothe him, and constantly sent him to fetch water. When he brought the water, she would spill it all out and send him back, shouting:

"The water is muddy, go fetch clean water!"

And so she kept sending him back and forth.

One day, as he was going to fetch water, he saw two snakes fighting—a black one and a red one. It seemed the black snake was stronger; the red snake ran away, and the black one chased after it, almost catching up.

The red snake reached Chakucha, crawled into his jug, hid, and said:

"When the black snake comes, tell it that I’ve gone beyond nine mountains."

The black snake slithered up and asked:

"Have you seen the snake?"

Chakucha replied:

"Yes, but it’s already gone beyond nine mountains."

The black snake slithered away beyond nine mountains, and the red snake crawled out of the jug and said:

"Here is my scale. Whenever you wish for something, take it out and speak, and your wish will come true."

It gave him the scale and slithered away.

Chakucha filled his jug with water and headed home, thinking:

"I wish my stepmother’s chest would fill with fabric, so much that the lid wouldn’t close."

When he arrived, he saw the chest overflowing with fabric, so much that the lid wouldn’t close.

Chakucha said:

"Mother, will you sew me some pants and a shirt now?"

She got angry and sent him back for water:

"Go fetch clean water, this is muddy!"

The boy went to fetch water, thinking:

"I wish all my stepmother’s troughs would fill with bread."

When he returned, he saw the troughs full of bread.

Chakucha said:

"Mother, give me at least a piece of bread now!"

The stepmother got angry and shouted:

"Go chase the pig out of the pen!"

He went and chased the pig out, then wandered off, not knowing where to go.

After walking for some time, he came to a village. The villagers took pity on the orphan, fed him, and gave him water. The orphan continued on his way.

He arrived at another village and saw a beauty of unparalleled radiance.

Chakucha thought:

"I wish this beauty would have a son, and when I enter, he would say, 'Here’s my dad.'"

And indeed, the beauty gave birth to a son.

Everyone was amazed and asked, "Whose son is this?"

Chakucha arrived. As soon as he opened the door, the child cried out:

"Here’s my dad, my dad!"

The beauty’s father got angry and shouted:

"Go with this man, since you’ve chosen him yourself!" And he banished his daughter.

The beauty went with Chakucha.

But he walked on without looking back. The beauty called out to him:

"Wait, I have a child, I can’t keep up with you."

He waited for her, and they went on together.

Chakucha walked ahead, clearing the path, while the beauty and the child followed. They walked for a long time, and by noon, it was hot.

Chakucha thought:

"I wish there were a spreading elm here, so we could rest in its shade."

And suddenly, a spreading elm appeared. Chakucha and his wife lay down in the shade and fell asleep.

Morning came, and Chakucha thought:

"I wish I had a horse, one that could travel in a minute what another horse would take a year to cover."

A horse appeared, and what a horse it was! Chakucha bridled it, mounted it, and rode off.

He rode along the fields, shouting:

"On this side—mine, on this side—mine!"

He dismounted and thought:

"I wish a fruit orchard would grow in this field, with some trees just blooming, others bearing ripe fruit, and others already ready for harvest."

An orchard appeared—some trees were blooming, others bore ripe fruit, and others were ready for harvest. Servants gathered the fruit and stored it.

Chakucha rode to another field and wished the same, and it came true.

Then he wished for a grand palace with servants—and it was granted.

They held a lavish wedding and lived happily ever after.

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The Orphan Chakuche

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