One day, word came to Anansi that his mother-in-law had died. Anansi's wife Aso prepared to return to her mother's village for the funeral.

"You go ahead," Anansi said. "I will follow shortly."

As soon as Aso left, Anansi prepared a huge meal for himself. "I will not be able to eat later," he reasoned to himself, "since I must fast and make a show of mourning."

After attending the funeral with his wife, Anansi went to the feast. Whenever people offered him food, he refused loudly. "How can I eat, when my mother-in-law has just died?" People were somewhat surprised, since this was not expected of him. "I shall fast for eight days."

And for the next three days, the other mourners offered Anansi food, and he continued to refuse, listening to his pride, and trying to ignore the rumbling in his belly.

On the fourth day, Anansi could no longer bear it. He smelled beans cooking, and couldn't resist taking a look. "Surely, no one will notice," Anansi said, and scooped out a big spoonful.

But at that moment, he heard some of the other mourners approaching, so he dumped the beans in his hat and put it on his head to hide them.

"Hello, Anansi," the others said, helping themselves to the delicious-smelling beans. "Are you sure you won't eat?"

"What kind of person would I be if I ate, when my mother-in-law has so recently died?" Anansi asked, his eyes beginning to tear from the pain of the hot beans on his head. He jiggled his hat from side to side, trying to relieve the pain.

"Whatever is the matter, Anansi?"

He moved the hat more quickly. "In my village, a great festival is taking place." He began to jump about in pain, but he couldn't take off the hat because that would embarass him. "This is the hat-shaking dance. I think perhaps I should go and join my fellow villagers."

He bounded off, still in pain, but the other mourners followed him. "You must eat something before your journey."

And finally, Anansi could no longer bear the pain and tore the hat from his head. When they saw the beans, the other mourners began to laugh. Anansi fled their ridicule, and came to a patch of tall grass. "Hide me, grass," he begged, overcome with embarassment.

And that is how, through his pride, Anansi lost his hair; to this day, Anansi's bald head may sometimes be seen where he hides in the tall grass, trying to escape his shame.

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