mongoose parables

I am told that the Nigerian people live and breathe metaphors. That might be quite a stretch for one weaned on literalism. So I will venture to entertain with a continuing parable, called the Mongoose parables: a whimsical tale of a talking mongoose, a snake charmer and his pet cobra and turtledove. The charmer has been contracted to construct a house of undetermined size and yet to be determined design. Why he builds it so—who can tell? Who he contracts to help—yet more interesting. The mongoose, distracted by the mentioned imaginative structure has been invited to contribute. A curious band of assistants and onlookers gather to watch.