Storks and Tortoise
Once upon a time, there lived a tortoise and two cranes near a lake in a forest. The tortoise was very talkative and made bad decisions without thinking about the consequences, while the cranes were very calm and humble.They were best friends in their quiet forest.They lived happily in the lake filled with delicious fish and refreshing water to drink.
But their happy life in the forest did not go on very long. The lake they depended on for survival got its water from rain, and there had been no rain for two years. The lake dried up, making it difficult to catch fish or get water to drink. So the cranes decided to travel in search of another lake.
This was a problem for the tortoise, who did not possess the ability to fly. They were very sorry to leave their best friend behind to die, but saw no other way of surviving themselves.
“All friends must eventually part.” said the sad cranes to the crying tortoise. The tortoise started thinking.
After hours of hard thinking, the tortoise presented his plan to the two cranes.
“Both of you can carry either side of a stick with your beaks, and I will hold on to the stick with my mouth.” said the tortoise with pride because of his amazing plan.
The cranes started thinking hard.
“Isn’t it your duty to save a friend’s life?” she asked the cranes.
“Ok, fine. But remember, if you let go of the stick you will meet the end of your life.” replied one of the cranes.
“I have a brain, you know.” replied the tortoise angrily. He thought his friends were underestimating him.
“Just ensuring your safety, your majesty.” sneered both of the cranes.
“What did you say?” said the tortoise very loudly.
“Nothing.” replied the cranes.
“So the cranes found a big, sturdy stick and said “You have to keep your mouth tightly shut.”
“I certainly will.” said the tortoise.
They began flying, the tortoise grabbing the stick tightly so he wouldn’t fall down.
As soon as the three friends got out of the forest, other birds began to shout at them. It was a strange and wonderful sight. All the birds who noticed them surrounded the three friends.
“Isn’t it clever of that tortoise to hang on to that stick?” said an eagle to all of his friends. They all nodded in agreement. The tortoise was very pleased to hear the eagles praise her, and nearly spoke, but then remembered the crane’s advice.
“Isn’t it nice of your friends to think of that plan for you?” said a bluebird.
“Yeah, you should bow and worship them when you land.” said a parrot in agreement.
Now the tortoise thought this was very unfair. It was her idea, wasn’t it? How could they praise the cranes for it?
The cranes shook their heads left to right meant to say, “don't talk!”.
Ignoring the cranes, she shouted out “It was-”
Little did the tortoise know that these words would be his second-to-last. The unfortunate tortoise did not complete the sentence he meant to say, “The plan was my idea! The cranes are only carrying it out!”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” shouted the foolish tortoise as he fell to his death.
After the incident, the cranes were very sad for their friend, but also disappointed in him. After all, the tortoise was the one who foolishly opened his mouth!
Moral: Having foolish pride or being impulsive leads only to suffering, tragedy, and regretting the unchangeable past.
Storks and Tortoise
Once upon a time, there lived a tortoise and two cranes near a lake in a forest. The tortoise was very talkative and made bad decisions without thinking about the consequences, while the cranes were very calm and humble.They were best friends in their quiet forest.They lived happily in the lake filled with delicious fish and refreshing water to drink.
But their happy life in the forest did not go on very long. The lake they depended on for survival got its water from rain, and there had been no rain for two years. The lake dried up, making it difficult to catch fish or get water to drink. So the cranes decided to travel in search of another lake.
This was a problem for the tortoise, who did not possess the ability to fly. They were very sorry to leave their best friend behind to die, but saw no other way of surviving themselves.
“All friends must eventually part.” said the sad cranes to the crying tortoise. The tortoise started thinking.
After hours of hard thinking, the tortoise presented his plan to the two cranes.
“Both of you can carry either side of a stick with your beaks, and I will hold on to the stick with my mouth.” said the tortoise with pride because of his amazing plan.
The cranes started thinking hard.
“Isn’t it your duty to save a friend’s life?” she asked the cranes.
“Ok, fine. But remember, if you let go of the stick you will meet the end of your life.” replied one of the cranes.
“I have a brain, you know.” replied the tortoise angrily. He thought his friends were underestimating him.
“Just ensuring your safety, your majesty.” sneered both of the cranes.
“What did you say?” said the tortoise very loudly.
“Nothing.” replied the cranes.
“So the cranes found a big, sturdy stick and said “You have to keep your mouth tightly shut.”
“I certainly will.” said the tortoise.
They began flying, the tortoise grabbing the stick tightly so he wouldn’t fall down.
As soon as the three friends got out of the forest, other birds began to shout at them. It was a strange and wonderful sight. All the birds who noticed them surrounded the three friends.
“Isn’t it clever of that tortoise to hang on to that stick?” said an eagle to all of his friends. They all nodded in agreement. The tortoise was very pleased to hear the eagles praise her, and nearly spoke, but then remembered the crane’s advice.
“Isn’t it nice of your friends to think of that plan for you?” said a bluebird.
“Yeah, you should bow and worship them when you land.” said a parrot in agreement.
Now the tortoise thought this was very unfair. It was her idea, wasn’t it? How could they praise the cranes for it?
The cranes shook their heads left to right meant to say, “don't talk!”.
Ignoring the cranes, she shouted out “It was-”
Little did the tortoise know that these words would be his second-to-last. The unfortunate tortoise did not complete the sentence he meant to say, “The plan was my idea! The cranes are only carrying it out!”
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!” shouted the foolish tortoise as he fell to his death.
After the incident, the cranes were very sad for their friend, but also disappointed in him. After all, the tortoise was the one who foolishly opened his mouth!
Moral: Having foolish pride or being impulsive leads only to suffering, tragedy, and regretting the unchangeable past.
Quiz