the monkey, the river, and the foolish crocodile
in a vibrant, bustling jungle, a wide, rushing river divided the land. on one side stood a lush forest, teeming with fruit trees, and on the other, a dense mangrove swamp. the river was home to many creatures, but none were as formidable—or as foolish—as kora, a large crocodile.
on the fruit-rich side lived a monkey named mono, known for his agility and sharp wit. mono loved spending his days eating the sweet berries and mangoes from the trees that lined the riverbank. every morning, he would leap from the bank onto a large, grey stone that sat in the middle of the river, then jump to the other side to explore.
kora, the crocodile, was hungry. he saw the monkey crossing every day and thought, "that monkey would make a delicious meal. i will catch him."
kora thought himself quite clever. he decided to wait on the very stone that mono used for crossing. he laid himself flat against the stone, holding his breath and keeping his eyes closed, making himself look exactly like an extension of the rock.
the next morning, mono came down to the riverbank with a basket, ready for his usual fruit-gathering adventure. he looked at the familiar stepping-stone.
wait, mono thought, stopping in his tracks. that stone looks… different. it seems a bit thicker, and shiny.
mono was a smart monkey. he remembered the golden rule of the jungle: always be sure of your footing.
he stood on the bank, watching the "stone" closely. he did not jump. instead, he decided to test his suspicion.
"strange," mono said loudly to himself. "my friend, the stone, usually calls out to me and tells me the water is safe. why are you so quiet today, mr. stone?"
kora, hearing the monkey, fell for the ruse. he thought, "oh, i must act like the stone so the monkey will jump!"
kora raised his head slightly and made a deep, muffled grunt, trying to mimic a rock.
mono smiled to himself, his suspicion confirmed. he laughed, "ah, you are not a stone! you are kora, the foolish crocodile!"
kora, realizing he had been tricked, opened his massive jaws in anger, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "you cannot escape me forever, monkey! i will get you!"
but mono was already running down the bank, far away from the river.
"perhaps," mono called back, "but not today. and perhaps not tomorrow, if you keep trying to act like a rock!"
the other animals in the jungle, including some parrots in the trees, heard the commotion and chirped, "kora the fool! kora the fool!"
kora felt very embarrassed. he had lost his meal and his dignity. the monkey had used his wit to outsmart the crocodile's brute strength.
the moral of the story: think before acting, and do not let your foolishness guide your actions.
the lesson of true wealth
later in that same forest, a story was told about a similar mistake in judgment, this one involving a greedy king and his daughter.
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king midas, a ruler of a nearby kingdom, loved gold more than anything else. a mysterious being granted him a wish: everything he touched would turn to gold. at first, midas was ecstatic. he touched flowers, chairs, and his own clothes, all turning into glittering gold.
however, when he tried to eat, his food became solid metal. then, his beloved daughter ran to hug him, and in a moment of horror, she transformed into a cold, lifeless golden statue. midas realized his greed had cost him the most precious thing in his life. he begged to have his wish reversed, learning a valuable lesson.
the moral of the story: true wealth is not in gold, but in love and relationships.
the lesson of kindness
yet another tale from the jungle, often shared by the older creatures, was about a lion and a tiny mouse.
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