Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Stories, Parables & Fables"

"I don't know what people see in you," said the Dog to the Cat. "All you do is sleep and preen." The Cat yawned. "Actually," she said, "I find your obsequious behavior a bit disgusting. Aren't you embarrassed by it, really, a little?" The Cat's words stung the Dog. He had never thought his friendliness unseemly. The Cat, meanwhile, was secretly hurt by the Dog's comments. She did not want to take advantage of anyone. When Mr. and Mrs. Smith came home that evening, they received an odd greeting. "Meow, meow!" cried the Cat excitedly, as she tried to drag Mr. Smith's slippers over to his favorite chair. The Dog lay squeezed into a shoebox, feigning sleep and pretending to snore. "I think there may be something wrong with our pets," said Mrs. Smith. Suddenly, a small rodent darted across the room. At the same time, a newspaper landed on the front porch. In a flash, the Cat leapt at the rodent, disposing of it in one bite. The Dog ran outside and brought in the newspaper. "What wonderful animals!" said Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Moral: Success comes most easily when you are true to your nature.

The Elephant was very proud of his new computer. He took it out of the box and examined it with his trunk. "With this computer I will become state-of-the-art," he announced. The other animals murmured approvingly. The Elephant attached the computer to a chain and hung it around his neck. "Now I will be faster and more powerful," he said. He ran to a nearby grove of trees. The computer around his neck swung from side to side. "If anything, this computer seems to weigh me down," thought the Elephant. "It doesn't make me faster at all." The Elephant wrapped his trunk around a small tree. He tried to yank it out of the ground, but the computer got in the way of his efforts. "How disappointing," said the Elephant to himself, "It hasn't made me more powerful, either." Toward sunset, the Elephant went for a relaxing mud bath. He replayed the day's mishaps over and over in his mind. Before going home, he took off his new computer and threw it in the river. Later, for a snack, he ate the instruction manual. Moral: Technology means nothing if you don't know how to use it.

Four disgruntled animals gathered in the meadow. "Since my marriage, I don't get to run with the herd as much," said the Stag. "Home life is like that," the Bear commiserated. "I only get time alone when I hibernate." "Try living with your wife in a little dirt tunnel," said the Otter. "It can be claustrophobic." "My kits have taken over the den," said the Fox. "It's murder. Murder." "Let's form a club," said the Bear. "The club for men. We'll do men-type things. First meeting's tonight by the pine tree." They all thought it a splendid idea. That night, the Bear, the Stag, the Otter and the Fox all met at the pine tree to do men-type things. "Okay," said the Bear, "Let's go get some honey!" "I thought we'd rub our antlers against a tree," said the Stag. "That's a manly thing to do." "I think we should go fishing," said the Otter. "Or at least watch a fishing program on TV." "I don't know about you fellows," the Fox broke in. "But where I come from, the men cruise for chickens." The four stood in silence for a while, and then each went home. Moral: Organizations work best when everyone shares the same objectives.

The Porcupine arrived at the club dining room. "I'm Mr. Porcupine," he said. "I'll be a guest of Mr. Bear this evening. I guess I'm a little early." The Maitre d' regarded him haughtily. "Please wait at the bar," he said. The Porcupine walked into the bar. A Deer and an Antelope jostled him. He overheard someone making a derogatory comment about Porcupines. A very obnoxious Rabbit blew smoke right into his face. The Porcupine could feel himself bristly, and it took real effort to get his quills to lie down. Just then the Bear arrived. "It's good to meet you," said the Bear, "I'm eager to hear about those salmon futures we discussed on the phone." "I don't know," said the Porcupine. "If you like this club, I don't think we'll enjoy doing business." He told the Bear what happened. The Bear stood up with a roar. "These rascals have tarnished my reputation with you!" he said. "I'm so sorry you were mistreated. Let's go somewhere else." So they did. Over dinner, the Porcupine realized the Bear was a decent fellow after all. Moral: You are often judged by the company you keep.

Every Sunday, the Fox loved nothing better to do than going to the meadow and meeting the other animals for a game of football. He was an excellent tailback -- shifty and quick -- and much admired for his running skill. But the acclaim went to his head. "Make me the quarterback," said the Fox. "I am crafty. My running will enhance the position. If I cannot play quarterback, I will not play at all!" His teammates grumbled, but the very next Sunday the Fox took his new position. On the first play from scrimmage, he fumbled and barely managed to pounce on the ball. He returned to the huddle. "Go long," he said to the Deer. "I will hit you down the sideline." The Deer ran like the wind, but the fox was confused by the unfamiliar defensive coverage. Before he could throw the ball, he was tackled for a ten-yard loss. The Fox stood in shotgun formation for third down. No sooner had the ball touched his paws than he was smothered by the blitzing Moose. Facing fourth and twenty-five, the saddened Fox trotted off the field. The Beaver came on to punt. Moral: It takes experience as well as talent to succeed.

The Chipmunk had planted a few ears of corn in the spring. Now, in fall, they were ready to be harvested. He asked the Muskrat for help. "I'll give you a couple of pounds if you'll help me bring in my crop," he said. A Crow in the sky called down to the Muskrat. "You want corn?" he cawed. "Across the mountain are acres of tall green stalks bursting with ripe corn. Field after field is ready for your dinner." The Muskrat turned to his friend. "Why should I work for a couple of pounds when I can have a couple of tons? I know you mean well, but I've got to look out for myself. I'm going!" The Muskrat traveled several days. His feet were blistered and bloody. He was hungry and thirsty, and his whole body ached. At last he reached the other side of the mountain. Just as the Crow had promised, there were fields and fields of tall green stalks. But there was no corn on them. The corn had been picked already. There were, however, some stray ears lying about. The Muskrat put them in his sack and ate them on his long walk back to the Chipmunk's house. Moral: Two pounds of sure are worth two tons of promise.

A young Goose invited some friends to dinner. She planned to serve her favorite dish -- five-grain casserole. What a delicious treat! The day before the party, she called her friend the Mouse to discuss the upcoming meal. "Five-grain casserole?" said the Mouse. "I think we'd prefer something with cheese." The Goose was a little unsure, since she did not do much entertaining. "Perhaps you are right," she said. "I will add some cheese to my casserole." The Goose then called Mrs. Osprey, another guest, and related her conversation with the Mouse. "I don't think the Mouse knows anything about dinner parties," said Mrs. Osprey. "Everyone knows fish is the right thing to serve company." The Goose made a note to add fish to her list of casserole ingredients. Conversations with Mrs. Frog and Mrs. Robin resulted in still more suggestions. The next night, when everyone was seated at the table, the Goose brought out her five-grain casserole. It was studded with cheese, fish, grasshoppers and worms. No one, not even the Goose, could eat a single bite. Moral: Trying to please everyone pleases no one.

The two kangaroo brothers were quite different. Older brother was a good dancer and a star athlete. All the girl kangaroos were enamored of him. He seemed to have a different girlfriend each week. Younger brother enjoyed browsing quietly in the eucalyptus. Girl kangaroos barely noticed he was alive. In high school, older brother was captain of the high jump team. Girl kangaroos hopped around him and swooned. Younger brother continued his browsing. Sometimes he bounded alone across the dusty plain. Other times he could be found in the library. At night, in the room they shared, Older Brother bragged about his successes. Younger Brother said nothing. Years passed. Younger Brother found a wonderful wife. They had two lovely joeys. He was sublimely happy. Older Brother still had many different girlfriends, though he no longer jumps so high nor so far as before. At a family reunion, Older Brother talked endlessly about his many new girlfriends. Younger Brother nodded politely and squeezed his wife's paw, content and serene. Moral: To the wise it is quality, not quantity that truly matters.

Once upon a time there was an island where all the feelings lived; happiness, sadness, knowledge, and all the others, including love. One day it was announced to all of the feelings that the island was going to sink to the bottom of the ocean. So all the feelings prepared their boats to leave. Love was the only one that stayed. She wanted to preserve the island paradise until the last possible moment. When the island was almost totally under, love decided it was time to leave. She began looking for someone to ask for help. Just then Richness was passing by in a grand boat. Love asked, "Richness, Can I come with you on your boat?" Richness answered, "I'm sorry, but there is a lot of silver and gold on my boat and there would be no room for you anywhere." Then Love decided to ask Vanity for help who was passing in a beautiful vessel. Love cried out, "Vanity, help me please." "I can't help you", Vanity said, "You are all wet and will damage my beautiful boat." Next, Love saw Sadness passing. Love said, "Sadness, please let me go with you." Sadness answered, "Love, I'm sorry but I just need to be alone now." Then, Love saw Happiness. Love cried out, "Happiness, please take me with you." But Happiness was so over overjoyed that he didn't hear Love calling to him. Love began to cry. Then she heard a voice say, "Come Love, I will take you with me." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that she forgot to ask the elder his name. When they arrived on land the elder went on his way. Love realized how much she owed the elder. Love then found Knowledge and asked. "It was Time", Knowledge answered. "But why did Time help me when no one else would?" Love asked. Knowledge smiled and with deep wisdom and sincerity, answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."

A long time ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to come and play around it everyday. He climbed to the tree top, ate the apples and took a nap in its shade. He loved the tree and the tree loved to play with him. Time went by... The little boy had grown up and no longer played around the tree everyday. One day, the boy came back to the tree and he looked sad. "Come and play with me," the tree asked the boy. "I am no longer a kid, I don't play around trees anymore." The boy replied, "I want toys. I need money to buy them." "I'm sorry, I don't have money but you can pick all my apples and sell them so you will have money." The boy was so excited. He grabbed all the apples off the tree and left happily. The boy never came back after he picked the apples. The tree was sad. One day, the boy returned and the tree was so excited. "Come and play with me" the tree said. "I don't have time to play. I have to work to provide for my family. We need a house for shelter. Can you help me?" "I'm sorry, I don't have a house but you can chop off my branches to build your house." So the boy cut all the branches off the tree and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but the boy never came back again. The tree was again lonely and sad. One hot summer day, the boy returned and the tree was delighted. "Come and play with me!" the tree said. "I am sad and getting old. I want to go sailing to relax myself. Can you give me a boat?" "Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy." So the boy cut the tree trunk to make a boat. He went sailing and never returned for a long time. Finally, many years later, the boy returned. "Sorry, my boy. But I don't have anything to give you anymore. I no longer have any apples for you...." the tree said. "That's okay," the boy replied, "I don't have any teeth to bite into an apple." "I no longer have any trunk for you to climb on." "That's okay, I am too old for that now" the boy said. "I really can't give you anything. The only thing left are my dying roots" the tree said with tears. "I don't need much now, just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years." The boy replied. "Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest. Come, come sit down with me and rest." The boy sat down and the tree was glad and smiled with tears... This is a story for everyone. The tree symbolizes our parents. When we were young, we loved to play with Mom and Dad. When we grew up, we left them. We only came to them when we needed something or when we were in trouble. No matter what, parents will always be there and give everything they can to make us happy. You may think the boy was being cruel to the tree but that's how all of us treat our parents.