Fables Retold

The Fox in the Well

Once upon a time, there used to be a dense forest to the north of Bennville. Not many humans visited the forest and hunting was strictly regulated by the forest rangers. Hence, the wildlife thrived in those parts and many wild animals lived in the dense forest.

One such animal was a particular fox. The fox used to roam around the forest all by himself in search of food and water. One day the fox had walked to the outer parts of the forest, far from the river that flowed through the forest. He had walked a long way and was very thirsty. Since there was no spring or pool of water nearby, he walked further south and soon found himself in a clearing.  There were a few wooden cabins and at the centre of the clearing, there was an old stone-lined well. It appeared to be a dwelling meant to provide shelter to the forest rangers. No man was about.

The fox noticed the well while surveying the surroundings. Hoping to finally quench his thirst, he came to the well; and putting his front legs on the stones, peered into the well. He saw that the surface of the water was a little down below, close but out of his reach. The fox could not think of any way of reaching the water safely and thus was disheartened. He was about to retreat when his paws slipped and he fell into the well. The primary shock was followed by relief as he drank the cool refreshing water. Then he tried to scale the walls and get out of the well, but he could not get a good grip on the slippery surface. Panic followed as he realized that he was trapped.

Several hours passed and his hope started to dwindle. "This is it," he thought, "This is how it all ends."

He was contemplating the meaninglessness of life, the inevitability of death, and considering his predicament to be a karmic fruit, resulting from his deceitful ways. And then the distinct bleating of a goat reached him. And he saw the light of hope again.

As the sound of hooves neared the well, the fox began, "Welcome, visitor!"

This frightened the goat. "Waa-aaa! Who's that? Who speaks?"

"It is I, the keeper of the well. I welcome all thirty travelers and offer the sweet water of the well." the fox spoke in a mystical voice.

The goat came near the well and noticed the fox casually swimming in the water "Oh! thank you. I am indeed very thirsty. A little water would be great."

The fox laughed, "Little water? Do you not see all this?" he said as he made a splash. "Come on in. It's the sweetest water in the whole world. You've never tasted anything like this." the fox took a palm full of water and drank it with a show of immense pleasure.

The stupid goat, desirous of quenching his thirst and tasting the sweet water of the well, jumped into the well. And the fox, finding his window of opportunity, climbed onto the back of the goat, onto his horns, and jumped high. His claws reached the mouth of the well and he pulled himself up. 

The goat realized his mistake and complained to the fox. The fox gave one sorry look at the poor goat and left. The goat stayed in the well, alive for a few days. He kept crying for help but no other animal came that way and no one rescued him.

Moral: 1) People will sacrifice others to save themselves

2) Look before you leap. Do not just blindly walk into anything without thinking

3) You will be taken advantage of if you are not cautious of others

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