I, Doko the Tale of a Basket, Written by Ed Young

Summary: This is an anthropomorphic story about a basket. Told from the perspective of the basket, it begins with the basket being purchased by a couple Yeh-Yeh and Nei-Nei with a baby. The basket is used by the couple to carry the baby, heavy things, kindling wood, and later, the body of the wife who died after an epidemic. The baby grew into a boy and eventually got married, the basket was used to carry his wife’s dowry, and it felt proud. Soon another baby, Wangal was born. At this point, Yeh-Yeh (who was Wangal’s grandfather) was an elder man, and the basket had seen better days. They were left at home. One night, Yeh-Yeh, the basket and Wangal heard Wangal’s father talking about bringing Yeh-Yeh to the temple steps to leave him with the priests. It is up to Wangal to save both the basket and his grandfather from being left behind.

Implementation: The lesson learned by the end of the story is to treat elders with respect, tolerance and harmony. I think often we get lost in the rush of the world and forget to treat everyone with respect and tolerance. Whether it’s an elder writing a check, crossing the street, or walking down a hallway; it is important to remember to treat them the way they deserve. After reading this story, a discussion with the class regarding the way we treat people would be beneficial to the way they contribute to society their values and ideals.