ALL THREE BROTHERS. [talking in unison] What a great day of hunting we had. Yes, probably the best day ever!

OLDEST BROTHER. Is the food ready?

SECOND BROTHER. It smells good.

THIRD BROTHER. Oooh, oooh! Fish stew! I can’t wait!

UNCLE MUSKRAT. How was your hunting? I see you brought something back. What did you bring? [He looks over at his wife and LITTLE LISTENER and winks.]

[The three brothers stop what they are doing and act hesitant. Not wanting to appear as if they are bragging, they act modest and wait for encouragement to share their stories.]

LITTLE LISTENER. Yes, brothers. How was the hunting? Please tell us your stories.

OLDEST BROTHER. Ah, I had a very good day hunting.

UNCLE MUSKRAT. Really?

OLDEST BROTHER. Today I shot a very big deer.

WILLOW WOMAN. Where is it?

OLDEST BROTHER. Ah, it fell into the river and was swept away. [He reaches into his game bag.] But I did catch this squirrel.

SECOND BROTHER. And today was a fine day for me, too. I shot two deer. [He mimes pulling a bow and arrow.]

UNCLE MUSKRAT. Two deer?

SECOND BROTHER. Believe me uncle. And these were really big ones. Bigger than the one that Oldest Brother shot.

WILLOW WOMAN. [aside to the uncle] Any deer is bigger than no deer! [She turns to SECOND BROTHER.] And where are those two big deer?

SECOND BROTHER. I didn’t bring them back with me.

UNCLE MUSKRAT. I can see that. But why?

SECOND BROTHER. [hesitating] Why?

LITTLE LISTENER. Yes, brother. Why did you not bring back those two deer?

SECOND BROTHER. Because there was this mountain lion, actually, two mountain lions. Yes! They grabbed my two deer and carried them off before I could stop them. Two mountain lions. Imagine that!