Myth: How zebras got their stripes


One day, before zebras had stripes and was a dull, black colour,  in the sizzling, sunny Savannah Zebra was sitting in his living room-scratching mosquito bites of his skin-watch T.V. Zebra was watching Monkey Jackson singing 'Smooth Animal', when he thought to himself, " Whoa, Monkey Jackson looks great in the white suit." After the song had ended, Zebra turned off the T.V and started to envy Monkey Jackson. So then he decided to go to the tall, tall tailor shop in the sizzling, sunny Savannah.

The tall,tall tailor shop was green, wooden, and [obviously] tall. Zebra opened the green, battered door and as he did so the shiny, golden bell rung.  The shop was filled with different varieties of clothing, each having their own array of colours.  Situated at the counter was a small, brown, furry mouse, who bore a needle and thread. 
"Excuse me Mr.Mouse, but could you make me a suit just like the one Monkey Jackson wears when he sings Smooth Animal?" Zebra asked, but Mouse was to busy looking at the bites on Zebra's smooth, black skin. "EXCUSE ME, BUT I THINK IT'S VERY RUDE FOR THE SHOP OWNER TO IGNORE THEIR CUSTOMER!" bellowed Zebra, suddenly Mouse snapped out of his trance,
"Yes, sorry. Um you wanted a limited edition, 1970's, hand sowed, cotton, white suit with a criss-cross stitching pattern?" asked Mouse,
"If that is the one Monkey Jackson wears when he sings Smooth Animal.....then yes!" replied Zebra. Then like wild fire Mouse started to produce the suit.


Within two minutes a suit was made. Zebra put it on with great difficulty. But, all of a sudden, Zebra felt his ribs collapsing, his windpipe was closing.
"I......I can't neath!" Zebra cried,
"You can't neath?" Mouse said, "Oh, you can't breath,"
"Bes!" replied Zebra. Mouse started scurrying about, looking for a pair of scissors.
"Curry pup" Zebra yelped. Finally, Mouse found the silver scissors and started cutting lines in the suit.
"Aaaaah! That's much better!" remarked Zebra, "But, I can't seem to get this blasted suit off!"

"Oh, well I guess you're going to have to stay like that forever!" Mouse said.


Zebra walked outside, head hung in shame, but who would be beside him other than Monkey Jackson!
"WOW! What are you?" Monkey Jackson shouted,
"I'm Zebra with black AND white stripes,~" Zebra sniffed,
"Hey, that gives me an idea. Yo Doris, note this down, 'make song named Black and White." Doris the Monkey just nodded,
"I never knew Zebras had black and white stripes!" I thought they were just black?" Monkey Jackson continued, " But I think you look better with black and white stripes,"
"Y...you do?" Zebra asked,
"Yes, indeed I do. In fact I now declare that all Zebras shall have black and white stripes!"


And that is how zebras got their stripes.