Br’er Rabbit and the Tar Baby

Br’er Rabbit (Brother Rabbit) is a popular trickster figure in both Cherokee and African cultures. In all the stories featuring Br’er Rabbit, he always manages to get the better of his adversaries using his wits and thus saving himself from many a tricky situation. The story below is one where he gets into a very ‘sticky’ situation!

Br’er Fox was angry, very angry with Br’er Rabbit. What did that stupid rabbit think of himself, always behaving as if he was all high and mighty and the smartest one around? He, Br’er Fox, would teach him the lesson of his life. The time has come for me to catch him and make proper rabbit soup out of him . . . Humph, thought Br’er Fox.

Br’er Fox got hold of some tar and mixed it with some turpentine and fashioned the most adorable little baby from it. When he was finished, he topped the little ‘tar baby’ with a straw hat and sat it in the middle of the road. Then he hid in the nearby bushes, waiting for Br’er Rabbit.

He didn’t have to wait too long for there was Br’er Rabbit coming down the road, merrily singing to himself. When he came upon the tar baby, he stopped in surprise. The tar baby, one must admit, was cute as a button and hard to ignore, especially since it was sitting right in the middle of the road.

Br’er Rabbit raised his hat in greeting and wished the little figure cheerily. ‘Wonderful morning we’re having today, don’t you think?’ But the tar baby said nothing.

Br’er Fox smiled evilly and slunk low amidst the bushes.

‘And how are we on this fine day?’ persisted Br’er Rabbit. He was a friendly fellow, of course. As for the tar baby, it just sat there, saying nothing.

‘Are you deaf or what? Can’t you hear me talking to you?’ shouted Br’er Rabbit. ‘Perhaps you can HEAR ME NOW!’

Br’er Fox rolled on the ground clutching his stomach, holding his laughter. He was hidden safely behind the bushes.

The tar baby sat quietly, looking cuddly and adorable. Br’er Rabbit was beginning to get annoyed now. ‘Don’t you have any manners or what? Haven’t you been raised to be polite to folks? Lift your hat and greet me or you’ll get a good thrashing from me for being rude!’

The tar baby sat there, still saying nothing. Br’er Fox was delighted. Now we shall see some action, he said to himself.

‘I’m really going to hit you, you little bad-mannered person!’ The Br’er Rabbit swung his paw and hit the tar baby.

And his paw stuck in the tar, just as Br’er Fox had expected. No reaction from the tar baby and Br’er Rabbit was getting really annoyed now.

‘That didn’t teach you, did it? Well, here’s another one!’ Br’er Rabbit took his free paw and struck the tar baby again. Now both his paws were stuck!

Behind the bushes, one wicked fox was thrilled. His plan was working!

‘If you are trying to be smart, I’m going to kick the daylights out of you now,’ shouted Br’er Rabbit and pounced on the tar baby with both his legs. Now he was well and truly stuck to the tar baby, his legs sinking into the tar!

‘Aaargh!’ He used his head to butt the tar baby’s head and he was all glued up!

Br’er Fox now made his entry from behind the bush.

‘Well, well, well! Who have we here?’ laughed Br’er Fox, employing his wicked villain laugh.

Br’er Rabbit realized he had been tricked. As Bre’er Fox was enjoying his triumphant moment by further rolling on the road laughing, Br’er Rabbit got busy thinking about an escape.

‘Got you this time, didn’t I, Br’er Rabbit? You, who think you are Mr Smarty Pants all the time!’ Br’er Fox was still laughing as he got up and dusted himself.

‘Now hold on to that tar baby while I collect some brush wood to make a fire. Then I shall have barbequed rabbit!’

Br’er Rabbit looked at Br’er Fox with large, limpid eyes. ‘Please, Br’er Fox, roast me on the fire if you must but don’t ever throw me on the briar patch!’

‘Too much trouble making a fire to roast you, maybe I’ll hang you,’ said Br’er Fox.

‘Roast me, hang me, no problem but please do not, I beg you, throw me on the briar patch!’ cried Br’er Rabbit.

‘Ummm . . . I have no rope to hang you with,’ murmured Br’er Fox, thoughtfully scratching his chin. ‘Perhaps I should drown you in the stream nearby.’

‘Oh, drown me, hang me or roast me, whatever you please, but please do not throw me on the briar patch!’ shouted Br’er Rabbit at the top of his voice.

‘The briar patch, eh? What a wonderful idea!’ laughed Br’er Fox and, grabbing the tar-covered Br’er Rabbit, he threw him right over to a briar patch. There was a loud crash and a thump. Br’er Fox calmly made his way towards where he had flung Br’er Rabbit. He could not hear any whimpers or cries. Was Br’er Rabbit dead already?

Suddenly, he heard someone call out to him from the top of the hill nearby. He turned to look. It was the Br’er Rabbit seated on a rock, wiping the tar off his fur!

‘Sadly for you, Br’er Fox, I was born and bred in a briar patch! I can get all that muck off so easily in one . . . Of all the places you could have thrown me, that’s the place I love the best! Cheerio!’ Waving his hat, Br’er Rabbit hopped away, laughing.