Origin: Unknown

Author: Unknown

Once there was a man named Guyo who lived in a little wooden hut by a river. One day he heard that a rich neighbor was having a big feast and had invited everyone in the countryside to attend. Guyo dressed himself in his finest clothing. Then he set out in his canoe and began paddling down the river.

As he paddled down the river, Guyo passed several boats filled with people going in the opposite direction. Guyo wondered why they were going up the river when the feast was down the river.

“Where are you going?” a man in a passing boat called to Guyo.

“I’m going to Mr. Keromo’s feast down the river,” replied Guyo.

“You should go up the river,” the man said. “I hear that Mr. Machmud is giving a feast twice as big there!”

“Twice as big!” Guyo cried out. Quickly Guyo turned his canoe around and began paddling up the river, trying to catch up with the boats. He wanted to be the first at the feast. He passed by his wooden house again.

Soon Guyo saw more boats. They were floating down the river. Guyo asked the men in the boats why they were paddling downstream when the biggest feast was upstream.

“Because Mr. Keromo is giving away money at his feast!” they said.

“Giving away money I” Guyo cried out. Guyo quickly turned his boat around again and paddled down the river. Guyo passed his wooden house a second time. Then another canoe passed by with a man who was laughing with his friends. Guyo noticed he was going up the river and asked the laughing man why.

“Because they are giving away gold at Mr. Machmud’s feast!” he said.

Gold! Again, Guyo turned his canoe around and paddled upstream. Now he was getting hungry and tired. He passed his house a third time. At last he arrived at Mr. Machmud’s feast. Everyone was leaving.

“You are late! All the gold has been given away,” the guests called to him. Guyo just stood sad and silent for a minute. Then he jumped in his canoe and frantically paddled downstream. He ran when he got to Mr. Keromo’s feast, but everyone was sitting and talking. “Guyo, why are you running? All the food is gone!” And so Guyo went hungry.