In a beautiful village surrounded by lush green hills, lived a little lamb named Mani. Every day, Mani and the rest of the flock would follow the shepherd to the meadow to graze. One sunny afternoon, Mani saw a bright, colorful butterfly and began to chase it, wandering further and further away from the safety of the group.
Suddenly, Mani realized it was all alone in a thick part of the forest. Just then, a hungry wolf stepped out from behind a large oak tree. "Aha! A perfect little snack!" the wolf growled, circling Mani.
Mani’s heart raced with fear, but instead of running, the lamb decided to use its wits. "Wait, Mr. Wolf!" Mani called out calmly. "If you eat me now, I am mostly bones and skin. If you let me graze for a little longer, I will become plump and juicy. You will enjoy a much better meal then!"
The wolf, being quite greedy, thought this made sense. "Fine," the wolf said. "I will wait for you to get fat."
After a short while, the wolf returned. "Are you ready now?" he asked hungrily. Mani replied, "Not quite. The grass I just ate hasn't settled in my tummy yet. If I dance and jump around, it will help the food digest faster, and I will become even heavier!"
Confused, the wolf asked, "And how will you dance?" Mani suggested, "I cannot dance well in silence. If you howl a loud, rhythmic song, I can dance to your beat. That way, I will grow big very quickly!"
Eager to have a feast, the wolf began to howl as loudly as he could. His piercing cries echoed through the entire forest. Hearing the loud and unusual noise, the shepherd immediately realized something was wrong. He grabbed his staff and rushed toward the sound.
When the wolf saw the shepherd approaching, he turned and bolted into the woods. The shepherd reached Mani and gave the little lamb a warm hug. Mani was relieved and happy that being smart had saved its life.
Moral
Thinking clearly in a dangerous situation can save you from trouble.
