Narrative Text : Lebai Malang

Narrative Text : Lebai Malang

Once upon a time, there was a man who lived on the bank of a river in Central Sumatera. His house lay between two villages. He was a religious teacher. His name was Lebai. He made a living both by teaching people and fishing. He was well-known by all in the two villages.

One day, the richets families in both of the villages were giving a big party. Both of them invited him at the same hour of the same day. On the morning of the feast, Lebai was ready to attend one of the parties in his boat. However, a greedy thought struck him before he went. He could not decide which village to visit first. It was because the village in the North of the river slaughtered only one buffalo, while the other in the South of the river slaughtered two bufalloes.

As the Northern villages was nearer his house, he rowed his boat upstream to the North on the river. On his way thought that people there did not know him well, so they would not repect him very much. He turned downstream. Because he would get much more respect in the South, he could get two bufalloes heads. He thought again that they could not cook very well. He kept thinking whether he sould go upstream or downstream. He turned his boat upstream. When he nearly reached the place, he saw some people leavig the party. He turned his boat quickly downstream. Unfortunately, when he arrived there, he saw people leaving the house. He spent his time going upstream and downstream until the feast were over; he got nothing.

He felt weak; he paddled his boat slowly to his house. People had been enjoying delicious food and a pleasant day; but for Lebai, the  day had ended in agreat disappointment. He had an unlucky day, so he was called Lebai Malang -- unfortunate Lebai.