The First Strawberries

Bruchac, Joseph.  The First Strawberries: A Cherokee Tale. New York: Dial Books for Young Readers, 1993. Print.

Long ago, when the world was new, the Creator made a man and a woman.  They were made at the same time so that neither would be lonesome.  They married and for a long time they lived together and were happy.

Then one afternoon, the man came home after a day of hunting and noticed that the woman had not begun to prepare their meal.  Instead she was picking flowers.  The man became angry and in a cold voice he said, " I am hungry.  Do you expect me to eat flowers?"

Now too, the woman was angry.  She had picked the flowers to share their beauty with her husband.  The woman said to her husband, "Your words are hurtful.  I will stay with you no longer."  The woman turned to the west and walked off toward the sun.

The man followed, but the woman steps were too quick.  The man called out her name, but she did not hear him.  The man walked fast, but the woman walked faster.

The sun watched as the man followed the woman and saw how sorry the man was and the sun took pity on him.  The Sun asked the man, "Are you still angry with your wife?"  No, answered the man.  The angry words I spoke were foolish, but I cannot catch up to tell her I am sorry.  Then I will help you replied the Sun.

The Sun shone its light down on the Earth, on the path where the woman walked, and where the light shone raspberries grew.  The berries were so ripe and good to eat.  But the woman paid no attention to them and continued walking.

The Sun tried again, and where its light shone on the Earth blueberries grew.  The blueberries glistened in the sun.  But still the woman took no notice and continued walking.

Again the Sun shone its light down on the Earth and where the light shone, blackberries grew.  The berries were so dark and plump, but the woman was too angry to notice and she continued walking.

Now the Sun tried its hardest and this time where the light shone on the Earth, directly in front of the woman, and where the light shone strawberries appeared.  They glowed like fire in the grass, and the woman had no choice but to stop and take notice.

The woman knelt, plucked one of the berries and ate it.  She had never tasted anything like this.  The sweetness of the berry reminded her of the happiness that she and her husband had shared before they quarreled.  I must gather some of this fruit to share with my husband, and she began to pick the berries.

The woman was still picking the berries when the man caught up to her.

Forgive me for the harsh words I spoke said the man to the woman.  In return, she shared the sweetness of the strawberries with her husband.  So it was that strawberries came to be in this world.

To this day, when the Cherokee people eat strawberries they are reminded to be always be kind to one another, and to remember that friendship and respect are as sweet as the taste of the red, ripe berries.

Cultural Origins:

Bruchac mentions in the author's note that first heard the story from Cherokee elders.  He also mentions the origins of the first strawberries being included in James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee (1900).  Bruchac credits Cherokee storytellers in helping him learn the story well enough to tell it.

Audience:

I think this story would be most appreciated by adults because of the content.  Most adults will be able to relate to and understand the relationship between the man and the woman in the story.  They will be able to reflect on a time in their life when they were in a similar situation.  I believe this story could also be told to middle and high school age youth.

Adaptation:

The story could be told in its original form or adapted to reflect more a relationship of friendship when told to a younger audience.  The adapted story could show the power that hurtful words may have in destroying a friendship.  It could also highlight bullying and the need for others to step in and protect friends and peers from bullying.  I believe that this story is most effective told in a calm and soft voice.