Hiuki and Bil

Waxing and waning moons

Once upon a time, there was a little boy named Hiuki and a pretty girl named Bil. They had to work all night long carrying pails of water.

"I'm so tired." cried Hiuki as he dragged his feet along the path.

"My arms can not carry this heavy pail much longer." complained Bil as she stumbled and spilled water all over the ground.

"Why, you lazy children!" yelled their angry father, "Pick up those pails before I box your ears!"

He was about to harm his children, when Mani, driving his chariot that carries the moon, appeared from behind a silver cloud. He stopped and commanded the moonlight to freeze the father in place so he could not move a muscle.

The children stood gaping at this amazing sight. Mani grinned and asked, "Would you both like to hop in my chariot and go for a ride?"

"Of course, we will!" they shouted happily. And swift as can be, they jumped into the chariot to escape into the night-time sky.

As for the father they left behind, when Sol drove by in the morning with her chariot that carries the sun, the father warmed and regretted what he had done. To this day, he cries buckets full of tears.

As for Hiuki and Bil, they, to this day, play and dance around the moon. That is why you see the moon wax and wane.