Brer Cooter (Terrapin) and the Deer: The Great Race
In this Gullah Geechee variant of the classic trickster race tale, Brer Cooter (the terrapin) and Brer Deer are both courting the same young lady. She declares she will marry whichever one wins a ten-mile race. Brer Deer laughs at the slow-moving terrapin, but Brer Cooter is clever. He stations nine members of his family at each mile marker along the race course, and he himself waits at the start right in front of the young lady's door. At nine o'clock, the race begins. Brer Deer springs forward while Brer Cooter disappears. At the first mile marker, Brer Deer calls out, 'Brer Cooter!' A voice