In the sweltering heat of a harsh Georgia summer, the wetlands suffered a severe drought. Nearly all water sources had dried up, except for a deep well located on a human farm. Br'er Wolf, a large but clumsy creature, discovered the well, which had two buckets attached to opposite ends of a pulley. Curious and extremely thirsty, Wolf jumped into one of the buckets, but his own weight dragged him to the bottom of the well, trapping him with no way to climb out. Though he could drink his fill, he quickly realized that escaping would not be simple.
Clever Fox, known as Flatfoot, happened to pass by, parched and desperate for water. Looking into the well, he noticed the moonlight shimmering on the surface of the water. Br'er Wolf, spotting Flatfoot, quickly devised a cunning trick. He called out, claiming he had found a massive, delicious piece of cheese at the bottom of the well, hoping to lure Flatfoot in so he could use the pulley to escape. Flatfoot, experienced and sharp, immediately recognized the “cheese” as the reflection of the moon, but he was also thirsty and needed a clever way to reach the water safely.
Flatfoot pretended to fall for the trick. He stepped into the bucket at the opposite end of the pulley, carefully using his legs to push against the well walls to create momentum. As the two buckets passed each other in the middle, Flatfoot smiled and said, “The world is like a seesaw, Wolf. When one goes up, the other goes down.” Br’er Wolf was lifted out of the well and ran off, leaving Flatfoot trapped at the bottom. However, Flatfoot had anticipated this and remained calm, carefully planning his next move.
After drinking his fill, Flatfoot began mimicking the barking of a pack of hunting dogs, creating a loud commotion. The farm owner rushed out to investigate, pulling up the bucket to see what was happening. In that critical moment, Flatfoot leapt from the bucket and vanished into the bushes before anyone could catch him, escaping safely.
The story of Flatfoot teaches important lessons. It emphasizes creativity in the face of adversity, showing how obstacles can be turned to advantage with clever thinking. It also highlights wisdom over greed, demonstrating that using intelligence to meet real needs rather than being blinded by temptation leads to safe and successful outcomes. The tale has endured as a favorite Southern story, teaching generations the importance of cunning, patience, and foresight in solving problems.