Hare solves his family’s problems by tricking rich and lazy Bear in this funny, energetic version of an old slave story. With roots in American slave tales, Tops & Bottoms celebrates the trickster tradition of using one’s wits to overcome hardship.
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3. @ “The children are so hungry, Father Hare! ‘We must think of something!” Mrs. Hare cried one day. So Hare and Mrs, Hare put their heads together and cooked up a plan. ‘The next day Hare hopped down the road to Bear’s house, Bear, of course, was asleep. “Hello, Bear, wake up! It’s your neighbor Hare, and Ihave an idea!” ear opened one eye and grunted. ‘We can be business paitiets!” Hae said. II we need is ths field right here in front of cour house. I'l do the hard work of planting and harvesting, and we can split the profit right down the middle. Yes, sir, Bear, we're in this together. I'l work and you sleep.” “Huh?” said Bear So, what will t be, Bear?” asked Hare, “The top half or the bottom hal It’s up to you-tops or bottoms.”
4. @ “Uh, let's see,” Bear said with a yawn. “Tl take the top half, Hare. Right—tops.” Hare smiled. “It’s a done deal, Bear.” So Bear went back to sleep, and Hare and his family went to work. Hare planted, Mrs, Hare watered, and everyone weeded,
ee Be Bear slept as the crops grew. When it was time for the harvest, Hare calico Wake py Bowe You et Tope and I get the bottoms.”
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6. —_ ™ ee ee a So Bear went back to oa and Hare
- Ei oe Bear slept as the crops grew. When it was time for the harvest, Hare called out, “Wake up, Bear! You get the bottoms and I get the tops.”
7. @ Hare and his family gathered up the lettuce, the broccoli, and the celery. Hare pulled offthe bottoms for Bear and put the tops in his own pile. Bear looked at his pile and scowled. “Hare, you have éhgatéd me again.” “But, Bear,” Hare said, “you wanted the bottoms this time.”
Bear growled, “You plant this field again, Hare. You've tricked me twice, and you owe me one season of both tops and bottoms!” “You're right, poor old Bear,” sighed Hare. “It’s only fair that you get both tops and bottoms this time. It’s a done deal, Bear.” So Bear went back to sleep, and Hare and his family went to work. They planted, watered, and weeded, then watered and weeded some more. Bear slept as the crops grew. When it was time for the harvest, Hare called out, “Wake up, Bear! This time you get the tops and the bottoms!”
8. @ There in front of Bear's house lay a high field of com. Hare and his family yanked up every comstalk. Hare tugged off the roots at the bottom and the (] 7 J tassels at the top and put them in a pile for Bear. Then he carefully collected h the ears of com in the middle and placed @@4/ ge them in his own pile.
Bear rubbed his eyes and watched, 1 “See, Bear? You get the tops and the bottoms. I get the middles. Yes, sir, Bear. | Wes.a done deat!” ! By now Bear was wide awake. “That's it, Hare!” he hollered. “From - now on I'll plant my own crops and take the tops, bottoms, and middles!” Hare and his family scooped up the corn and hopped down the road toward home.
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