SHIBUI,K_The Fox and the Stork

Your friend the Fox one day came up to you and said, “Hi Stork, you must come and dine with me today,” smiling to herself. It's a nice offer, but you have a hunch that the Fox is trying to play a trick on you, as she always does. [[Decline the invitaion->Decline]] [[Accept the invitation->Accept]]

Later, you heard from the Swan that they were insulted by the Fox at a dinner table she invited them to come, because the Fox set out the dinner in shallow dishes and they could not eat anything, because of their beak. You feel sorry for the Swan, but you are glad that your hunch was correct. [[Back to Title->The Fox and the Stork]]

You were much displeased at the trick, but you were a calm, even-tempered bird and saw no good in flying into a rage. You thought of doing the same thing in return to the Fox, to invite the Fox for a dinner but serve dinner in a tall jar with a very narrow neck, so that only long-billed birds like you could eat. [[Invite the Fox]] [[Don't invite the Fox]]

''''The Fox and the Stork'''' --- by Kota Shibui (text-style:"italic")[Adapted from "The Aesop for Children with pictures" by Milo Winter] [[Begin->Intro]]

You invited the Fox to dine with her in turn. The Fox arrived promptly at the time that had been set, and you served a fish dinner that had a very appetizing smell. But you served it in a tall jar with a very narrow neck. You could easily get at the food with your long bill, but all the Fox could do was to lick the outside of the jar, and sniff at the delicious odor. And when the Fox lost her temper, you said calmly: [[>->Win]]

You didn't invite the Fox to a dinner, because you felt it would be too mean to do a revenge on her. A while later, the Fox is still cunning and keeps annoying you by playing various tricks, such as chasing you with her canine friend the Hound. She's a bad neighbor in general and you can do nothing but to put up with her. [[Too bad!->The Fox and the Stork]]

''"Do not play tricks on your neighbors unless you can stand the same treatment yourself."'' "I'm sorry, Stork," said the Fox. And you forgave her. Later, the Fox invited you to a dinner again, this time using the kinds of dishes that each liked to use, and had a wonderful dinner together. You and the Fox began to get along with each other really well. [[The End->The Fox and the Stork]]

You arrive at the Fox's house with a good appetite and attention. For dinner the Fox served soup. But it was set out in a very shallow dish, and all you could do was to wet the very tip of your bill. Not a drop of soup could you get. But the Fox lapped it up easily, and, to increase the disappointment of you, made a great show of enjoyment. [[>->Stork's Turn]]

"Thank you for inviting, Fox, but I'm afraid I have to visit the Goose's tonight," you told her. The Fox clucked her tongue and said "Tut, tut! That's too bad you can't come. You should come next time!" [[>->Decline2]]