The Talking Skull.

Once upon a time, in a small village in Mali, there lived a young man named Samba. Samba was known throughout the village for his unkind and selfish ways. He never helped anyone and always put his own needs before others.
One day, Samba was walking through the forest when he stumbled upon a talking skull. The skull spoke to him and said, “If you show kindness to others, you will be rewarded in ways you could never imagine.”
Samba was skeptical but decided to take the skull’s advice. He began to help his neighbors with their chores and started volunteering at the local community center. As he helped others, he noticed that he felt happier and more fulfilled than ever before.
One day, Samba was walking through the forest again when he heard a loud roar. He turned around to see a ferocious lion charging towards him. Samba was frozen with fear until he remembered the talking skull’s words. He quickly grabbed a nearby stick and used it to fend off the lion.
As the lion retreated, Samba realized that the talking skull was right. His kindness had been rewarded with the strength and courage to protect himself.
From that day on, Samba became known throughout the village as a kind and generous person. He continued to help others and was always willing to lend a helping hand. And though the talking skull was never seen again, Samba knew that its words had changed his life forever.

Moral

The story of “The Talking Skull” teaches several morals and lessons, including:
1. Kindness and compassion can bring unexpected rewards: In the story, the old man shows kindness to the skull by burying it, and in return, the skull helps him become rich and prosperous.
2. Actions have consequences: The old man’s decision to help the skull leads to a series of events that ultimately benefit him. Similarly, negative actions can have negative consequences.
3. Appearances can be deceiving: The old man initially thinks the skull is worthless, but it turns out to be valuable. This reminds us not to judge things or people based on their appearance alone.
4. Persistence pays off: The old man’s determination to bury the skull despite the obstacles he faces is what ultimately leads to his success.
5. Honesty is the best policy: The old man’s honesty in returning the gold to the king is what earns him the king’s favor and trust.
Overall, the story teaches the value of kindness, compassion, honesty, and persistence, and shows that good deeds can be rewarded in unexpected ways.

Origin of the Story: The Talking Skull story originated from Mali.