The atmosphere was thick as folk contemplated the gala dinner date of the decade with ever-increasing anticipation. Mama Glo had signed the summons but everyone knew that Mami Wata, Madre de Agua and Watramama would be in attendance too. Such an event was too auspicious for any of them to miss it; and if the Mamas were going to be there, no one invited dared to be absent.
The Mamas were respected by all. Their upper bodies were human with the lower portion being eel. Instead of hair, they had tiny eels that hung low to cover their human torso. Added to the exotic nature of the women was the fact that they were also shapeshifters: they could become fully human or fully snake but seemed to prefer the half-and-half status.
Over the following weeks, the dinner and ball became the sole topic of conversation among the population. It was all the creatures could talk about. Everyone was excited to go. Everyone had an invitation. Everyone.
Except Anansi.
The spider could not understand why he’d been left out. “Come to think of it, I’m never invited,” he realised.
“You used to be.” Rekat, a fellow spider, had heard Anani’s grumblings.
“Not anymore.”
“Your fault.”
“Meeeee!”
“Yes, you—oh, how quick you forget.”
“I’m the best guest that has ever been.”
“Really?”
“Really!”
“Anansi, over these decades you have damaged Magical Artifacts and property, and at the last event you got into an argument with other invitees.”
“That wasn’t my fault.”
“Oh, so you DO remember!”
Anansi didn’t reply.
“Since you do remember, then you will also remember that because of what happened with the Queen of Junkanoo you were banned!”
“Was it my fault that she passed by me as I was smoking my cigar and her hair caught fire?”
“It was your fault that you were smoking at a no smoking event—in direct violation of the event rules and etiquette.”
“I still say that wasn’t my fault.”
“Assuming that is true, you went on to annoy the entire royal party.”
“It’s not fair! They picking on me because I’m small!”
“You can appeal the order.”
“I did. They said no.”
“Therefore, it is what it is—you remain banned and you would do good to stay out of the way of The Mamas.”
“You going?”
“Of course! I’ll tell you all about it after.” And with that Rekat spun a web and floated away.
“This year I’m going!”
With the decision made, Anansi made his preparations. He realised he could not just walk up to the door and announce, “I am here!” so he set his trickster mind to the problem and devised a solution. He would accompany one of the invited guests as an accessory.
The night came and the anticipation for the lavish dinner was palpable as guests arrived from far and wide. Each mythical creature was eager to partake in the rare feast that was held once every ten years. The elaborate preparations had spanned months, ensuring that no two beings would dine on the same delicacy, a testament to the exclusivity of the occasion. As the banquet commenced, the air was filled with a symphony of exotic scents and flavours, each dish tailored to satisfy the unique tastes and dietary needs of the eclectic assembly. And so, amidst the mingling of creatures both wondrous and strange, the decadent feast unfolded with an extraordinary culinary artistry that bound them together in celebration.
Usually, at such highfalutin affairs, guests would present their invitation at the door and waltz in. But not this year. Noooo. This year, The Mamas had installed new security protocols—a magic mirror. It would discern the true self of the arriving guest. Everyone had to face it.
The mirror’s greeting was the same for all:
I am the magic mirror, my purpose clear,
Testing all, both far and near,
Reflecting truths, no room for fear,
In my sight, intentions clear.
Phantome stepped forward, a hand came down and presented the invitation. No one had ever seen the face of Phantome. Phantome was so tall that all anyone ever managed to glimpse was his knees.
Phantome tall and free,
From Saint Lucia's sea,
Knee-high for all to plea,
Moon's lone gaze, his decree.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through.
With one stride the tall one was gone. Now it was the turn of the Shadow Killers. These fearsome creatures were under strict orders for the event. This was no place for the assassins to be targeting victims by stealing their shadows.
Shadow Killer, dread's own seer,
Obeah's servant, Jamaica's fear,
Clutching shadows, his command clear,
Hunts you down, his oath sincere.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through.
Then Longman. In the land of creepiness, Longman had to be the creepiest. With no head that anyone could ever claim to have seen, the headless man handed over his invitation. How he managed to see ever, magical creatures could not tell.
In the Longman of Dominica's deep,
Headless that one, secrets keep,
No head to ponder, no thoughts to sweep,
In stillness, silence, mysteries creep.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through.
Then Frog Woman. The Kalinago deity arrived full of the power of nature and its life-giving properties. After all, she was the embodiment of fertility and she was the one who brought the rains.
In Grenada's misty night, she's seen,
Frog Woman, mysterious, serene,
With croaks that echo, enchanting scene,
In her transformation, secrets glean.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through.
Followed by May Cow, Rolling Calf and Steel Donkey. The three herds arrived together, mooing and neighing and rattling their chains.
May Cow of Cayman and guardians, they stay,
Wandering on their nocturnal way,
Guiding lost souls along the bay,
In their watchful care, fears allay.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through
The partygoers could never get used to Latjé Pwél and the arrival usually caused a ripple through the guests. The tail was never bothered. Who needed a body anyway when a tail would do?
All hail Latjé Pwèl, homage we unfold,
Tail sans body, its might untold,
From Saint Lucia's lore, its story enfold,
With swift justice, its power controlled.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through
Somehow, the Ti Djabs and the Jab-Jabs always managed to arrive together. Arriving in their hundreds, covered in either molasses or tar, they’d threaten to dirty everyone in sight but never dared, for they all knew that The Mamas would have their skin! That didn’t stop them though—the squeals were too delightful!
From Grenada, Jab-Jab, they arrive,
In their vigour, they truly thrive,
Alive is the dinner they'll contrive,
Striving souls their passions drive.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through.
The soothing smell of Nonm Bwadenn preceded him and announced the arrival of each of them. Festival protocols meant that he kept his evil eye under control, but he still made many wary—party rules or not.
Nonm Bwadenn, welcome, amen,
No foe here, just kin to commend,
By The Mamas, invitation extend,
In their care, no trauma to fend.
’Tis true.
’Tis true.
You can go through.
Then it was the turn of Papa Bwa. The guardian of the forest did not realise that he had a passenger hidden in his fur. His upper half was human but his lower half was goat and his fleece was thick and luxurious as befitted a deity. He approached the mirror, respectful no one was exempt from its scrutiny.
I am the magic mirror, my purpose clear….
The mirror paused and the halting of the ritual immediately got Mama Glo’s attention. She slithered over, her serpent-like movements graceful yet purposeful, every muscle coiled with readiness for the unexpected. The mirror resumed. But now it refocused. It had sensed a second presence: now it announced Anansi, not Papa Bwa.
I am the magic mirror, my purpose clear,
Testing all, both far and near,
Reflecting truths, no room for fear,
In my sight, intentions clear
An uninvited guest, bold and free,
Crashes the party with no decree.
With manners amiss, causing a spree,
The invader disrupts the harmony.
Not for you.
Not for you.
You cannot go through.
Something moved.
“ANANSI!” May Cow had spotted the movement in the fur.
“INVADER!” Jab-Jab announced.
Anansi's sudden appearance caused a stir among the distinguished guests. With authority befitting her status, Mami Wata issued a decisive command to apprehend the disruptor and maintain the soirée's decorum. “GET HIM!” she ordered.
May Cow's powerful strides closed in on Anansi, while the Jab-Jabs’ agile leaps propelled them forward with relentless determination. Anansi, however, proved to be a master of evasion, darting between tables and weaving through clusters of startled guests with effortless grace.
Anansi zoomed past Latjé Pwèl as it swung in a swift arc, but it fell short, barely grazing the trickster. Despite their nimbleness, even the Ti Djabs, renowned for their speed and agility, struggled to keep pace with Anansi's elusive manoeuvres. With each twist and turn, the devious spider seemed to effortlessly evade capture, leaving his pursuers grasping at shadows in frustration as the chase continued through the maze of guests.
The chase led through ornate corridors and grand chambers, the clatter of pursuit mingling with the gasps and exclamations of the onlookers. Anansi's mischievous grin remained ever-present, taunting his pursuers with the promise of further mischief. The spider’s nimble movements seemed to defy capture at every turn. With each fleeting glimpse of Anansi, the chase intensified, the thrill of pursuit driving both predator and prey onward through the labyrinthine halls of the grand estate.
“Enough of this confusion and chaos. This requires a woman,” Watramama growled, and she summoned forth Frog Woman.
From the depths of festival, Frog Woman emerged. With a graceful stride, she approached Anansi, her eyes ablaze with a primal intensity that sent shivers down the trickster spider's spine. Anansi, caught off guard by Frog Woman's arrival, felt a twinge of unease prickling at the edges of his bravado. After all, to a frog a spider was a delicacy.
“Frog Woman,” Anansi greeted her, his voice laced with false charm as he attempted to mask his apprehension. "What a pleasure it is to see you. To what do we owe the honour of your presence?"
Frog Woman regarded Anansi with a steely gaze, her expression betraying no hint of amusement at his feigned politeness. She saw through his façade with the clarity of one who had witnessed the ebb and flow of centuries.
“Your presence here is unwanted, Anansi,” Frog Woman declared, her voice carrying the weight of ages past. “We know your ways only too well. What mischief do you intend to unleash upon this gathering?”
Anansi's grin faltered, replaced by a flicker of uncertainty. He knew better than to underestimate her. A flick of her tongue, and that would be the end of him.
“My dear Frog Woman, you wound me with your suspicions,” Anansi replied, his voice tinged with false innocence.
The crowd groaned.
“I am but a humble observer, curious to witness the unfolding of this momentous occasion.”
Frog Woman's eyes narrowed, her patience thin as she saw through Anansi's deception. Everyone knew his reputation all too well, and she had no intention of allowing him to disrupt the sanctity of the gathering. Without warning, Frog Woman did what the others had not been able to—she caught him.
She lunged forward with lightning speed, her tongue flicking out with deadly accuracy. In an instant, Anansi found himself ensnared within her powerful jaws. As Frog Woman's jaws closed around him, Anansi's reflexes kicked in with a desperate urgency. With a burst of agility, he wriggled free from her grasp, narrowly escaping. He tumbled to the ground, scrambled to his feet, his heart racing.
Realising that the danger had taken on a new twist, Anansi knew he had to act quickly. With a flick, he shot a strand of webbing towards the nearest window. The sticky silk found its mark, anchoring firmly to the frame, and Anansi hoisted himself upward with all the speed he could muster.
With a final glance back at the gathering below, Anansi smirked defiantly, his eyes gleaming with mischief and determination. “See you next time!” he shouted, his voice echoing through the night as he disappeared into the darkness beyond the window, leaving behind a trail of chaos, frustration and irritation.
And the mirror said:
I am the magic mirror, my purpose clear,
Testing all, both far and near,
Reflecting truths, no room for fear,
In my sight, intentions clear