Fox and Stork Fable with a Lesson on Kindness
The Fox’s Trick
Once upon a time, there lived a fox who delighted in teasing his neighbor, the stork. One day, the fox hatched a mischievous plan to make fun of the stork.
“You must come and dine with me today,” the fox said to the stork, a sly grin spreading across his face. The stork, unaware of the fox’s trickery, readily accepted the invitation.
A Dish Best Served Shallow
The stork arrived at the appointed time, his stomach rumbling with hunger. The fox, eager to execute his plan, served soup for dinner. However, the soup was presented in a very shallow dish. The stork, with his long beak, found it impossible to reach the soup. All he could do was wet his beak, leaving him frustrated and hungry.
The fox, on the other hand, lapped up the soup with ease, making a show of his enjoyment to further mock the stork’s misfortune. The hungry stork was furious at the fox’s cruel prank, but he was a calm and patient creature. He decided not to stoop to the fox’s level and simply swallowed his anger.
A Taste of His Own Medicine
The next day, the stork invited the fox to dinner at his home. The fox, still hungry from the previous day’s meager meal, arrived promptly. The stork served a delicious-smelling fish dinner, but this time, the food was presented in a tall jar with a very narrow neck.
The stork, with his long beak, easily reached the food, enjoying his dinner. The fox, however, could only lick the outside of the jar, his nose filled with the tantalizing aroma but unable to reach the delectable fish.
The fox, finally understanding the sting of his own trickery, lost his temper and angrily accused the stork of playing a mean trick. The stork, with a calm demeanor, replied, “Do not play tricks on your neighbors, unless you can stand the same treatment yourself!”
A Lesson Learned
The fox, ashamed of his behavior, apologized for his actions and went back to his home. From that day forward, the fox and the stork became good friends, both learning a valuable lesson about the importance of kindness and respect.
