How Grandmother Spider Stole the Sun
(Muskogee [Creek] Oklahoma)

When the Earthe was first made, there was no light.

It was very hard for the animals and the people in the darkness.
Finally, the animals decided to do something about it.

“I have heard there is something called the sun,” said the bear.
“It is kept on the other side of the world, but the people there will not
share it. Perhapes we can steal a piece of it.”

All the animals agreed that it was a good idea. But who would be the one to steal the sun?

The Fox was the first to try. He sneaked to the place where the sun was kept.
He waited until no one was looking. Then he grabbed a piece of it in his mouth
and ran. But the sun was so hot it burned his mouth and he dropped it.
To this day all foxes have black mouths because that first fox burned his carrying the sun.

The Possum tried next. In those days, Possum had a very bushy tail.
She crept up to the place where the sun was kept, broke off a piece and hid
it in her tail. Then she began to run, bringing the sun back to the animals and
the people. But the Sun was so hot it burned off all her hair on her tail and she
lost hold of it. To this day all Possums have bare tails because the sun burned
away the hair on that first possum.

Then Grandmother Spider tried. Instead of trying to hold the sun herself,
she wove a bag out of her webbing. She put the piece of sun in her bag and
carried it back with her. Now the question was where to put the sun.

Grandmother Spider told them, “The Sun should be up high in the sun.
Ten everyone will be able to see it and benefit from its light.”

All the animals agreed, but none of them could reach up high enough.
Even if they carried it to the top of the tallest tree, that would not be high
enough for everyone on the Earth to see the Sun. Then they decided to have one
of the birds carry the sun up to the sky. Everyone knew the buzzard could fly the highest,
so he was chosen.

The Buzzard placed the sun on top of his head, where his feathers were the thickest,
for the Sun was still very hot, even inside Grandmother Spider’s bag. He began to
fly, up and up toward the top of the sky. As he flew the sun grew hotter.
Up and up he went, higher and higher, and the Sun grew hotter and hotter still.
Now the Sun was burning through Grandmother Spider’s bag, but the buzzard
still kept flying up toward the top of the sky. Up and up he went, and the sun grew hotter.
Now it was burning away the feathers on top of his head, but he continued on. Now all
of his feathers were gone, but he flew higher. Now it was turning the bare skin of his
head red, but he continued to fly. He flew until he reached the top of the sky,
and there he placed the Sun where it would give light to everyone.