The Fox and the Otter
They lived a pair of male, and female
Fox in a forest.
They loved each other very much.
The male Fox loved the female Fox so much,
that he would fulfill
every demand made by her.
One day, the female Fox said
Dear,
I have a great urge for eating fish today.
That's no problem
I shall bring fish for you.
If you have an urge for it dear.
Saying this, he set out in search of fish
While going towards the river he began thinking.
I have promised my wife to arrange fish for her.
But, I know nothing about fishing.
How to fulfil my wife's demand for fish?
Lost in these thoughts,
The fox reached the bank of the river,
and sitting in the corner,
he began looking at the frolicking fish with greedy eyes
Seeing water all around in the big river,
and the water current
frightened him.
He got so scared to see the vast river, he began
thinking of some possible means to get the fish without risking his life.
I got the fish first,
therefore I should get a larger part of it.
No.
I should get a larger part of it because
I helped you to pull it out
No, I got it first.
No, I got it first.
No, I want a larger part.
No, I have to catch it
So I want a larger part.
Soon, both of them started quarreling.
The cunning Fox thought,
The foolish Otters are quarelling over their catch.
If I go, and act as the judge,
I'll be able to get hold of the big fish.
So, he walked up to the Otters and said.
Dear Otters, what's your problem?
Not a big problem.
Both of us have killed this big fish.
Now the problem is, How to decide our shares.
Look,
If you want, I can help you.
I take pleasure in solving the problems of others.
If you wish,
I could bring out an amicable solution to your dispute.
All right. I have no objection.
Provided, he too doesn't have any objections.
I too have no objection.
That's great.
Both of you please wait for me here.
I shall go and bring a knife from somewhere,
so that it becomes easy to cut the fish and decide your shares.
Yes.
Please go and bring the knife.
We shall wait for you here.
The Fox went into the forest searching for a knife.
And came back with one big knife happily.
Both the Otters saw him returning with a big knife,
happily
Come friends,
Now, I can help you solve your problem.
Saying this, the Fox cut the fish into three pieces.
First, he cut the head off, and then the tail.
You got the fish by the head, so you should get the head.
You got the fish by the tail, so you should get the tail
Both took the Shares and now,
they had their eyes fixed on the middle portion of the fish.
Both were thinking that the Fox would divide it also into two halves
and give them their shares.
But the Fox took the third piece in his position.
Friend, Will not divide the remaining piece?
This piece should not concern you friend.
This is for the job Done by me.
Will you not pay me for the pains taken by me
in going all the way to get a knife,
and decide your shares for you?
The fruits of hard work should be shared by all.
After all I too I am your friend.
Saying this, the Fox took the middle portion of the fish
in his mouth and went away.
Both the Otters were left behind to see him go,
With the largest of three pieces of the fish.
And by the time they realized what had actually happened,
It was too late.
Friend, How much better it could have been,
if we had decided our shares ourselves?
Now see?
He gave us the top in the bottom portions of the fish
as our shares,
and went away with the largest piece in his mouth.
I have heard someone say,
that a dispute between two friends ,
always benefits the third one.
Now let us take a lesson from this event,
that a marginal difference in our share ,
would not bother us.
And we shall never allow anyone to mediate between us.
So children, What you learn from this?
Never ever fight with your friend.
As the second Otter said,
Whenever there is a fight between two friends,
The third one is always benefited.
So the Moral of the story is,
Do not fight among yourselves.