Kunkuru and the long greeting

Kunkuru the Tortoise woke up early to buy a mango at the market. “Sannu! Ina kwana?” he said to the first seller. Kunkuru asked about the night, the day and the whole family.

The seller answered every question. Then he asked Kunkuru about his own family, his cousins and his neighbours. Kunkuru was polite, so he answered every question too.

By the time the greetings were finished, the sun was low. “Sai gobe,” said the seller, “until tomorrow!” The market was closing.

Kunkuru went home with no mango, but with a very happy heart. “Tomorrow,” he said, “I will greet only half as long.” (He did not.)