A long time ago, there was a village called Malela. Malela village was surrounded by hills and valleys. Many snakes lived in the forest on those hills. The biggest snake was called a Python by the villagers. Pythons scared many people. They swallowed whole goats and sheep.

One day, three sisters, Mutale, Mutinta, and Mabvuto, went to the forest to fetch firewood. The girls' grandmother warned, 'Beware of Python, the big snake. Do not take anything from the forest except the wood.' Only Mutinta did not pay attention to her grandmother.

It was a long journey into the forest. The girls packed chibwantu (maize meal drink), roasted cassava, boiled sweet potatoes, and water. They also took ropes for tying firewood and a sharp dagger for chopping the wood. Then they set out for the forest.

On the way, the sisters chatted and laughed. After walking for 2 hours, the girls stopped to eat. They found a very shady acacia tree. They sat down and ate as they were very hungry. When they finished, they continued with their journey. Suddenly, Mutale, the eldest of them, said, 'Be quiet. We are approaching the area where Python, the snake, lives.

Mutinta called to the others, 'Look, here are Python's golden teeth. Let us take them.' Mutale reminded them, 'Don't forget grandmother's warning. We must not take anything from the forest except firewood.'

Mutinta said, 'I don't trust grandmother. She said that to stop us from having what we want. I want the golden teeth.' Her sisters were worried, but Mutinta did not care. She went ahead and retrieved Python's golden teeth.

At that moment, Python came looking for his golden teeth. He was furious when he could not find them. He hissed and hissed, but his precious golden teeth were nowhere to be seen. Then Python heard the girls chatting and laughing. He hid under a rock next to the road where the girls would pass on their way back. 'Ah ha, this is the right spot to wait for the naughty girls. Surely, I won't miss them here.'
Python sat still as he waited for the girls.

The sisters were going home carrying their firewood, super proud of themselves. Suddenly, they heard, 'Hssssss!' There was Python with his mouth wide open, ready to bite. The girls were terrified.
'Whaaaaaaat do you waaaaant?' asked Mutale, nearly peeing herself.

Python asked the girls, 'Who took my golden teeth?' No one answered. Python decided to test the girls. 'Whoever is innocent will be able to sing well. She will go home with her wood. But the guilty one will sing badly. And I will eat her, and that is a promise!'

'Noooooo!' shouted the girls at once.

Mutale started to sing with a clear voice, 'It was not me, it was not me who took the teeth. The one who took is still behind.' Then Mabvuto sang the song. She also sang very well.

Lastly, it was Mutinta's turn. She was scared. She started singing. It sounded terrible, and the words were wrong. Python shouted, 'Can't you sing properly like the others?' Python knew that Mutinta had taken his golden teeth. Mutinta also knew that Python had caught her and started to apologise immediately.

Python opened his huge jaws and began to swallow Mutinta.
'Please, Python, don't swallow me. I will never steal again,' cried Mutinta.
'As a lesson for you and others who might do the same, you will stay with me for one month. During this time, you will be cleaning and cooking for me,' Python replied.'

Her sisters ran back to the village and told everyone the story of what happened. "I warned her. If only she had listened," the girls' grandmother said sadly.