Folklore for Kids: Si Kabayan: Funny Sundanese Folktales for Kids (West Java)

Chapter 1: Meet Si Kabayan

Once upon a time, long, long ago, in the green land of Pasundan, which we now call West Java, there lived a young man named Kabayan.

Kabayan was very, very lazy. Some people even said he was silly. But do you know what? Kabayan was also clever in his own funny way, and he always used his clever tricks to get out of hard work!

Kabayan had a kind wife named Nyi Iteung. They lived close to her parents, whom Kabayan called Abah and Ambu. Abah and Ambu were often upset with their lazy son-in-law. They scolded him again and again. But Kabayan always had a funny answer ready.

Now, let us see what mischief Kabayan got into!

Chapter 2: Kabayan Looks for Tutut

One sunny morning, Abah called Kabayan.

Abah: "Kabayan, please go to the rice fields and look for tutut. Ambu wants to cook them for dinner."

(Tutut are tiny snails that live in the muddy rice fields. When they are boiled with spices, they are delicious!)

Kabayan: "Yes, Abah. I will go right now."

Kabayan walked slowly, slowly to the rice fields. But when he arrived, he did not look for any tutut. Oh no! He sat down on the dike between the paddies and stretched out his legs.

Kabayan: "Ahhh, what a lovely breeze. I think I will rest for just a little while."

The sun climbed higher and higher. Abah waited and waited at home, but Kabayan did not come back.

Abah: "Where is that boy? Ambu, I will go and find him myself!"

Abah marched to the rice fields. And there he found Kabayan, lounging on the dike with a big, happy smile.

Abah: "Kabayan! I told you to look for tutut, and here you are, sitting comfortably! You lazy bum!"

Kabayan: "Oh, Abah, I wanted to go down into the paddy. Truly I did! But the water is so deep. Look, Abah! It is so deep that you can see the whole sky inside it!"

Abah was very annoyed. He shook his head, and then he gave Kabayan a big push.

Splash!

Kabayan tumbled right into the paddy field. But he only grinned.

Kabayan: "Oh, Abah, look! The paddy is shallow after all!"

And so, with mud on his clothes and a smile on his face, Kabayan began to pick up the little snails, one by one.

Chapter 3: Kabayan Loves Music

One afternoon, Nyi Iteung came to her husband with a sweet, spoiled voice.

Nyi Iteung: "Kang Kabayan, Iteung wants to eat jackfruit. Look at that tree over there! Some of the fruits are already ripe. Could you please pick one for me?"

Kabayan: "Of course, Nyi! Climbing a jackfruit tree is easy. For you, I would even sail across the sea!"

Kabayan hurried to the kitchen and took a big machete. He tucked it into his waist and climbed up the tall, leafy jackfruit tree.

At the top, he found a ripe jackfruit. Chop! He cut it from the branch. The fruit tumbled down through the leaves.

Bag... big... bug...

Kabayan: "Oh, listen to that sound! It is like music!"

Kabayan giggled. A wonderful idea popped into his head.

Kabayan: "If a jackfruit sounds so lovely, then my machete must sound even lovelier!"

He dropped the machete.

Tang... ting... tung... tang... ting... tung...

Kabayan: "Wonderful! Beautiful music! Now what if I drop something even bigger? It must sound even better!"

Kabayan thought and thought. And then he let go of the branch...

Gubrak! Brug! Aawww! Buk!

Kabayan: "Iteeeeung! Please help me, Iteung!"

Poor Kabayan! He had dropped his very own body!

Chapter 4: The Jackfruit That Walked Home

On another day, Abah asked Kabayan to pick a ripe jackfruit.

Abah: "Kabayan, the jackfruit tree by the river is full of ripe fruit. Please pick one and bring it home. And do not be lazy this time!"

Kabayan: "Yes, Abah."

That jackfruit tree grew right at the edge of the river, and its branches stretched out over the water. Kabayan climbed up slowly. He did not want to make Abah angry, but climbing was hard work!

At the top, he found a ripe jackfruit. He picked it. But the fruit slipped out of his hands and fell into the river.

Plung!

The jackfruit floated away with the current. Kabayan just watched it go. Then he climbed down and strolled back to the house with empty hands.

Ambu was waiting at the door.

Ambu: "Kabayan, where is the jackfruit?"

Kabayan: "Oh, Ambu, hasn't it arrived yet? I picked it, and it fell into the river. It looked like it wanted to walk home by itself, so I let it go. I told it to hurry, but it must be very slow!"

Ambu: "Kabayan! How can a jackfruit walk by itself? You are lazy, and you always have an excuse!"

Kabayan only laughed, and Ambu could only sigh.

Chapter 5: Picking Koro Beans

One morning, Abah took Kabayan to the garden to pick koro beans. They carried a big sack to put the beans in.

Kabayan picked a few beans. Just a few! Then he began to yawn.

Kabayan: "Hmmm, I feel so sleepy. This sack looks so soft and cozy..."

And plop! He climbed into the empty sack and fell fast asleep.

At noon, Abah had filled his basket with beans. He looked around.

Abah: "Kabayan? Where are you? Oh, that lazy boy! He must have gone home because he did not want to carry the heavy sack."

Grumbling, Abah heaved the sack onto his shoulder and carried it home. But why was it so heavy?

At home, Abah opened the sack. And what do you think he found? Kabayan, snoring happily inside!

Abah: "Kabayan! This sack is for koro beans, not for people!"

Kabayan woke up, rubbed his eyes, and smiled sweetly.

The next day, Abah decided to get his revenge. He took Kabayan to the garden again. While Kabayan was busy picking beans, Abah tiptoed to the sack and climbed inside.

Abah (whispering to himself): "Ha ha! Now Kabayan will carry me all the way home!"

At noontime, Kabayan looked into the sack. He saw Abah hiding inside, pretending to sleep. Kabayan bit his lip to keep from laughing. Then he tied the sack tightly and began to drag it along the ground.

Bump, bump, bump!

Abah: "Ouch! Kabayan! It is me, Abah! Do not drag me!"

Kabayan: "Oh no, Abah, this sack is for koro beans, not for people!"

Kabayan kept on dragging the sack all the way home.

Chapter 6: The Secret Name

After that day, Abah was very, very angry. He would not speak to Kabayan. Whenever they met, Abah turned his face away.

Kabayan felt sad and uneasy.

Kabayan (to himself): "I must find a way to win Abah's heart again."

That evening, he had an idea. He went to his wife.

Kabayan: "Nyi Iteung, may I ask you something? What is Abah's real name?"

Nyi Iteung: "Kang! You know that in our custom, it is not polite to say the name of our parents-in-law. It is taboo!"

Kabayan: "I know, Nyi. But I want to pray for Abah so that he will live a long life, be lucky, and stay far from trouble. I only need his name for my prayers."

Nyi Iteung thought about it for a long time. At last, she whispered.

Nyi Iteung: "His name is Ki Nolednad. But please, Kang, promise me you will not tell anyone."

Kabayan: "I promise, Nyi."

But Kabayan had a secret plan in his head!

Chapter 7: The Guardian of the River Pool

Kabayan found some thick, sticky palm sap. He smeared it all over his body. Then he covered himself with soft white cotton, from head to toe, until he looked like a fluffy white ghost!

He crept quietly to the river pool where Abah liked to bathe. He climbed up a tree and hid among the branches, waiting.

Soon, Abah came to the river. Just as he was about to step into the water, a deep, heavy voice echoed from above.

Kabayan (in a deep voice): "Nolednad! Nolednad!"

Abah froze.

Abah: "Who... who called my name?"

He looked up. And there, in the tree, sat a big, white, creepy creature!

Kabayan (in a deep voice): "I am the Guardian of the River Pool. Listen well, Nolednad! You must love your son-in-law, Kabayan. He is my favorite grandson! Take good care of him. If you do not, your life will be full of trouble!"

Abah trembled from head to toe.

Abah: "Yes, yes, Grandfather Guardian! I promise. From now on, I will love Kabayan with all my heart!"

From that day on, everything changed. Abah never scolded Kabayan again. He was kind and gentle to him. He even helped Kabayan build a small house so that he and Nyi Iteung could live together. They had plenty of food and warm clothes.

And do you know what? Kabayan learned something important. He understood that being lazy and tricky was not the way to be happy. So he decided to change. He began to work hard as a laborer in the rice fields. He loved Nyi Iteung, and he loved Abah and Ambu, too.

Chapter 8: Si Kabayan Gets Sick

One rainy evening, Kabayan played outside and got soaked to the bone. The next morning, he woke up sniffling and coughing.

Kabayan: "Ahchoo! Cough, cough! Oh, Nyi, I feel so weak."

Nyi Iteung looked at him with worried eyes.

Nyi Iteung: "Kang, we must go to the health center right now."

The doctor checked Kabayan carefully.

Doctor: "Don't worry, Kang Kabayan. You only have a common cold and a cough. I will give you two kinds of medicine. Eat well, take your medicine, and get plenty of rest. You will feel better soon."

Kabayan smiled happily. The doctor gave him two bottles: one cold medicine and one cough medicine.

At home, Nyi Iteung prepared his meal and his medicine. Kabayan ate, drank his medicine, and took a long nap.

When he woke up in the afternoon, it was time for more medicine. But Nyi Iteung was not at home.

Kabayan: "Nyi Iteung? Where are you? Maybe she went to Abah's house. Well, I will take my medicine by myself."

He ate his food and took his medicine. Then he looked at the bottle of cough medicine. On the label, there were some words. Kabayan read them slowly.

Kabayan: "Shake before drinking... Oh no! I forgot to shake it!"

Kabayan thought hard. Then he had an idea. He began to jump, jump, jump around the room!

Hop, hop, hop!

Just then, Nyi Iteung came home. She could not believe her eyes.

Nyi Iteung: "Kang Kabayan! You are still sick. Why are you doing jumping jacks?"

Kabayan (panting): "This is not exercise, Nyi! I forgot to shake the medicine before I drank it. So now I am jumping so that the medicine shakes inside my tummy!"

Nyi Iteung: "Oh, Kang Kabayan... you don't need to jump like that!"

And Nyi Iteung laughed and laughed, and Kabayan laughed along with her.

What Can We Learn from Kabayan?

Kabayan made us laugh with his funny tricks, but his adventures also teach us some important lessons.

1. Do your tasks with a happy heart. Kabayan lost time and made Abah and Ambu upset because he was lazy. When he finally worked hard in the rice fields, everyone was happier, and so was he!

2. Be kind and respectful to your elders. Abah and Ambu scolded Kabayan because they cared about him. When we listen and help our parents, our families become warmer and happier.

3. Use your cleverness for good things. Kabayan was very clever, but he used his cleverness to escape work and to trick others. Being smart is wonderful when we use it to help people, solve problems, and do the right thing.

4. Honesty is better than tricks. Kabayan won Abah's love by pretending to be a river guardian, but a friendship built on a trick is not as strong as one built on truth. If we make a mistake, it is best to say sorry and try again.

5. Read and listen carefully. Kabayan jumped around the room because he forgot to shake his medicine at the right time. If we pay attention to instructions, we can save ourselves a lot of trouble!

🎮 Play the Story! Help Si Kabayan get through his mischief-filled days — from hunting snails, shaking his medicine, to disguising himself as the Spirit Guardian of the River Pool. Comes with voice narration in Indonesian or English, plus a mute button if you'd rather play in silence.

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Thursday, 29 October 2015

Si Kabayan: Funny Sundanese Folktales for Kids (West Java)