ACT 1, SCENE 2 The people of the village are all sitting around eating. They are talking happily, sharing food with each other. But one child in a circle of children around LITTLE LISTENER does not want to share.

MOOSBAS. [snatching food from a young child] Give me some of that. [The young child looks upset but does not say anything.]

LITTLE LISTENER. Moosbas, there’s enough food for everyone.

MOOSBAS. But I wanted that piece of fish. It was a very good piece of fish.

LITTLE LISTENER. That’s all the more reason to share. You know, if you are too greedy and selfish, you might turn into a Chenoo.

MOOSBAS. What is a Chenoo?

LITTLE LISTENER. Are you sure you want to know? It’s getting dark and this is a scary story.

MOOSBAS. Tell me. I won’t be afraid.

OTHER CHILDREN. Tell us. Please, please.

LITTLE LISTENER. I can see that you are all brave, so I’ll tell you. A Chenoo is a huge monster whose hunger is never satisfied. Its stomach hurts all the time because it is so hungry. And do you know what a Chenoo looks like?

MOOSBAS. [hesitating before he speaks] No.

OTHER CHILDREN. Tell us, tell us.

LITTLE LISTENER. It looks like a giant person, but it is covered with shaggy hair like a great bear. It has sharp teeth like those of the wolf. It has long claws like a mountain lion and red, piercing eyes. Long ago, it was once a human being. But it was a greedy, selfish human being who would never share his food.

OTHER CHILDREN. Didn’t he remember to give thanks to the plants and animals for providing food for him? Didn’t he help to provide for his village?

LITTLE LISTENER. No, he forgot to give thanks. He kept everything for himself. He forgot everything except for satisfying his own hunger. He became so greedy and selfish that one day his human heart