"Snake's Second Skin" is a South African folktale.

Long, long ago, when man and woman were new in the world, the Creator watched over them, pleased with his new creations. But as time passed, the Creator saw man and woman change. Their skin was no longer as soft and smooth as it had been when they were created. Sometimes they would fall and bruise that skin, and sometimes a bump or a cut would appear. After a number of years, their skin began to wrinkle, and those wrinkles and bruises turned to scars that did not wash away.

The Creator thought about this, and he decided that he wanted them to retain their original beauty. So the Creator sent for his favorite animal, Chameleon. The Creator loved Chameleon for his kindness and his devotion, and admired him for his speed, for in those days Chameleon was the fastest of all the creatures and often delivered messages to Earth.

"Chameleon, I have a gift I want you to deliver," the Creator said. "It is for man and woman, and it is important that you deliver this with haste."

"Certainly," Chameleon said, and he took the package and, carrying it beneath one leg, he traveled toward Earth.

Chameleon happened upon a beautiful oasis and there he saw a pool, and beside that pool, Snake lay sunning himself on the rocks. "Good day," Chameleon called, but he was in a hurry, so he did not stop.

Snake looked up from his sunbath and squinted. He noticed the package tucked beneath Chameleon's leg. "What's your hurry?" Snake asked his cousin. "And what's that package tucked under your leg?"

"Ah," said Chameleon, slowing just a little, "this is a gift from the Creator that I am taking to man and woman."

Snake swelled with envy, for the Creator had never sent a gift to Snake, and he had been on Earth a long time, much longer than man and woman.

"What gift is that?" Snake asked.

Chameleon shook his head. "I have no idea," he said. "I only know I must reach them before sunset."

Now Snake decided he must have that package. "Cousin," Snake said to Chameleon, "you have hours before you must make your delivery. Come share an afternoon meal with my wife and me."

Chameleon looked up at the sky. The sun was high still; he had some time. Besides, he was fast, and he was hungry, and he did not wish to be rude.

"Well," Chameleon said reluctantly, "I suppose one quick meal can't hurt."

Snake was pleased, and the two went to Snake's home, where Snake's wife prepared them a feast.

Chameleon ate and ate, and every time he tried to depart for his mission, Snake urged him to stay and eat more. Chameleon ate until he was so full, he could not move. His eyes grew heavy. He yawned and sighed. "Perhaps I'll just nap awhile and then be on my way," Chameleon said.

"Yes, indeed, take a nap!" Snake said, slyly.

Chameleon fell asleep.

Now Snake lifted the package and opened it, and his eyes bulged at the sight of the Creator's gift. There, wrapped in the finest tissue, were brand-new skins, fresh, smooth and clean, skins with no wrinkles, no bruises, no bumps or lumps.

"I'll try this on," Snake said, and he slipped into a brand-new skin and swayed this way and that to show himself off.

Chameleon opened his eyes, and when he saw Snake dressed in the brand-new skin, he knew he had been tricked. "Where are all the other skins?" Chameleon cried. "Those are for man and woman!"

Snake hissed, "You could not protect your gift, so I have taken it, and we shall have new skins whenever ours grow old!"

Chameleon was miserable, but he had been outsmarted, and so he sneaked off, hiding as he moved behind bushes and trees, traveling slowly so the Creator might not detect him.

So man and woman never did receive their new skins, and ever since that day, it is Snake who sheds its skin whenever it grows old, but man and woman wear their skin for their whole lives, wrinkles and all.

And since that day Chameleon has crawled as slowly as he can, hiding in bushes, behind trees, in flower beds and crevices. He even changes color to blend in with his surroundings, for he does not wish to face the Creator's fury.