A Creation Story

Art: Sanaa Venkateswar, 14, India

The Creator first created the universe with the stars and planets. Then, on earth, he created the sky, the sea, and the land.

He created green trees and rushing rivers.

It was a beautiful world. 

Then the Creator made the Dog.

He said to the Dog, “You are a Dog. You must sit outside the front door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks by. You will live for twenty years.”

The Dog thought that twenty years was a long time to be barking.

So the Dog requested the Creator, “Please let me live for ten years. Take back the other ten.”

The Creator agreed.

On the next day, the Creator made the Monkey.

He said to the Monkey, “You are a Monkey. You will make funny faces and tricks and make others laugh. You will live for twenty years.”

The Monkey thought that twenty years was a long time to do funny faces and tricks.

So the Monkey requested the Creator, “That is a very long time to entertain others. How about I give you back ten years like the Dog did?”

The Creator agreed.

The day after that, the Creator made the Cow.

He said to the Cow, “You are a Cow. You must work in the field all day, have calves, and provide milk. You will live for sixty years.”

The Cow thought that it was a long and tough life.

She pleaded with the Creator and said, “That sounds like all work and no play for sixty years. Please give me only twenty years and take back the other forty.”

The Creator agreed.

On the fourth day, the Creator made Man.

He said to the Man, “You are Man. You must eat, sleep, and enjoy your life. You will live for twenty years.”

The Man thought that the Creator had given him a jolly good life.

He said to the Creator, “What only twenty years? Could you please also give me the forty years that the Cow gave back, the ten that the Monkey gave back, and the ten that the Dog gave back?”

The Creator smiled and said, “Okay, I will give you eighty years because you asked for them.”

Since then, Man eats, sleeps, and enjoys himself for the first twenty years of his life.

For the next forty years, he works to support his family.

For the next ten years, he does monkey tricks to entertain his grandchildren.

And for the last ten years, he sits on the front porch of his house and barks at everyone. 

 (Retold)