This is a tale about Devon the Pig and Sneakygoose the Goat I have heard time ago from a fellow storyteller.
As we carriers of tales are a sociable bunch it is always encouraged to take such tales on into ones own portfolio and recite it whenever a time and place for people wishing to escape their daily lives for a little while.
Me myself I am a proponent of conserving tales on paper so they might not vanish in time or to minds growing older.
This now is the story of how Sneaky and Devon decide to come up with a crazy plan together.
Last we left the two, Sneaky had just tricked Devon out of his hard earned riches and they had their first ... polite conversation ...
In the days that followed Sneaky got a little bored. The coin he had gotten for Devons pearls would last him months and he couldn't come up with something interesting or funny to steal.
So he pondered the clever pig and decided to go back during nighttimes and find out more. At least he could make a bit more fun of Devon and maybe something interesting would come up?
So he went back to the farm in the evening to scoop out the situation, first.
All seemed to be normal as always but Devon looked kind of down and irritable to him.
"Oh, you just wait! I'll give you some smack to be upset about, later." thought Sneaky to himself and chuckled.
You see, Sneakygoose the Goat grew up in harsh conditions and in his world people were sometimes quite mean to each other without meaning any real harm!
He just couldn't see how the thought of freedom had lifted Devons spirits and how sad and angry he was at the moment about that not coming to pass.
With sundown, after everyone and everything on the farm was locked up or in the family's house for the evening, Sneaky went to the pigsty again and knocked.
"Deeevon, oooh, Deeeeevon!" He said in an urgent but whispering voice "How are you my little piggy wiggy?"
Devon of course recognized the voice almost instantly, he is a very clever pig!
"I'm not talking to a goat whose name is something with goose and who obviously has hands of some kind for thieving!"
"You yourself don't seem to know what you are!" he snarled as he tried to peer outside. But it was too dark, so he couldn't see.
"Am I a goat? Am I a goose? Am I hoo man? Am I a mighty wizzard?!" Sneaky mocked.
"Aw man, go away and bugger someone else." Devon said dispirited "You won, you got my pearls, now get lost. I am in no mood." and he turned away to his sleeping place.
"But how come, if you are so clever, Devon." Sneaky continued to mock. "How comes, a pig that can communicate with hoo mans isn't a highly praised attraction at the fairs?"
Finally, this got Devon going! "Listen here, you! I have been trying to keep my head down all my life because everyone and everything tries to eat me, nick and imprison me, or take advantage of me in some other way! Especially when they understand that I am a very clever pig!"
"And just when, for the first time in my life, there seems to be an opportunity to be free of all that once and for all you come around and ruin it! Now I have to toil at this farm for who knows how long..."
And Devon continues to tell a few especially turbulent tales from his past life, some of which you might have already heard.
And Sneaky listens ... and is surprised ... and anxious ... He surely isn't bored anymore!
"This ... is very captivating, indeed!" he thought to himself.
When Devon did run somewhat out of steam after a very sad story Sneaky felt moved and said "Hey Devon, listen, I am going to confess something to you."
"It was a plain lie that one can now apply for citizenship in Bree by bringing some wealth. I spread a rumour so the Farmer would hear it and bring it back here for you to hear."
"I was planning on you to dig out your pearls ... and steal them."
"I refuse to believe that!" grumbled Devon, "I bet if a pig, clever like me, shows up in town hall they would surely grant it citizenship! I can prove it to you ... Will you give me back my pearls now?"
"Hah! Never!" exclaimed Sneaky, and explained in a more understanding tone "Sorry, but I could never. I am a master burglar and if any one of the other thieves got wind of that it would surely have them trying to steal from me every day and night."
To that Devon replied "But how can we find out who is right, then? You or me? I am sure I can pull it off and become a free citizen of Bree and you say it ain't so. If we could just find a very lucrative way to settle this very important argument..."
Sneaky would never fall for the obvious 'lucrative' bait but he wasn't bored anymore as this gave him an amusing idea.
"I can not give you back the wealth I rightfully stole from you but if you'll be my partner in stealing some, a lot!, more. I am more then willing to let you have your share and try that citizenship thing. What do you think?"
Devon was of course reluctant but he scented at least a hint of morning air. And although he felt a queasy about stealing he was willing to try anything toward freedom!
"I'm in!" he agreed "Once we have a plan, you do your thing and I can do my, well, some thing. We have a deal!"
Sneaky also felt good about this. This was a fine opportunity to do something probably no other burglar (or goat, goose or pig) had ever done before. He could boast about this forever!
"This pig actually seems trustworthy, too." he thought, "He hasn't caused a hubbub when he had the chance to get me into trouble."
So he also agreed "Deal! Let me come up with a mark and a plan and I will come get you in a day or two."
As he turned around to leave, he added "And this time no leash. For this, you are under my protection."
Had Devon made a friend in Sneakygoose or was the burglar just cruelly pulling his legs again?
As Devon went to sleep he once again dared to dream of a better life in peace and freedom.
Thank you for listening.
/Gutur McGermot of Bree
