Near a lush green forest, a sparkling river flowed steadily. In the middle of this river lay a small, beautiful island filled with trees bearing the sweetest mangoes. Kapi, a lively monkey, loved these mangoes dearly. To reach the island, Kapi would leap from a large, steady rock at the riverbank, flying through the air to land safely on the island's shore.
Deep in the river lived a hungry crocodile. For a long time, the crocodile had been watching Kapi, dreaming of a tasty meal. However, Kapi was too quick and agile for the crocodile to catch. One afternoon, the crocodile came up with a sneaky plan. 'If I pretend to be a rock, the monkey will surely jump on me,' it thought greedily.
The next morning, the crocodile lay perfectly still near the edge of the river, mimicking the shape of a flat stone. Kapi approached the riverbank, ready for the daily leap. But as Kapi looked at the 'rock,' something felt wrong. It didn't look like the hard, grey stone Kapi usually jumped from; it looked strangely smooth and soft.
Kapi, being a very observant monkey, decided to test the situation. 'What a wonderful rock!' Kapi shouted loudly. 'But it looks so different today. Are you really a rock, or are you hiding something?'
The crocodile, thinking it was being very clever, replied, 'I am not a rock, little monkey! I am just a very flat stone. Jump on me and you will reach the island in no time!'
Kapi smiled inwardly, realizing the trap. 'Oh, I see! But you look quite tired, Mr. Rock. If you are truly a stone, you should close your eyes and open your mouth wide so I can use you as a stepping stone. That is how real stones behave when they are resting!'
Believing the trick, the foolish crocodile squeezed its eyes shut tightly and opened its mouth as wide as it could. In a flash, Kapi used the crocodile's snout as a springboard, leaped high into the air, and landed safely on the far bank. The crocodile opened its eyes, realized it had been tricked, and swam away in deep shame.
Moral
Quick thinking can save you from even the most dangerous traps.
