English Stories
Morals for kids – Aesop’s Fables – The Bear And The Two Travellers.
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
(Bob’s father, Bob, and Alan are in a hut in the forest)
Bob: I heard some gypsies came to town.
Alan: Is it true that they are fortune tellers?
Bob’s father: That’s nonsense!
Bob: Let’s go see them! I wonder what advice they could give me!
Bob’s Father: Not today… it’s getting late, and the forest at this time is not safe.
Alan: Don’t worry, sir… I’ll take care of Bob.
Bob’s father: I know you will Alan…
Alan: Bob is my best friend, and I will not let anything happen to him.
Bob’s Father: Very well, I’m trusting you… go ahead and have fun.
Bob: Thank you, father!
(Bob and Alan leave. They walk in the forest)
Alan: What do you think about gypsies?
Bob: Mm………I don’t know… but people say they have magical powers.
(they hear a bear roaring)
Alan: Did you hear that?
Bob: Sshhh, it’s a bear… my father was right… it’s getting dark and the forest is not safe.
Alan: We will be fine, don’t worry.
Bob: Alan, look! It’s the bear… it’s in the middle of the path.
Alan: Oh no! Run… run!
(Bob and Alan start to run. They find a tree)
Alan: Let me be the first one to climb the tree.
Bob: Fine… let me help you… get into my shoulders.
(Alan climbs into the tree)
Bob: Give me your hand… hurry up!
Alan: There’s no room for the both of us! Find another place to hide!
Bob: (thinking) What am I going to do?.
(the bear is approaching)
Bob: (thinking) I have heard my father telling me that a bear will not touch a dead body. So I’ll lay flat on the ground and pretend that I’m dead.
(Bob lays flat on the ground without moving. The bear approaches and sniffs his palms, then the bear leans over Bob’s ear, and leaves. Alan gets down from the tree).
Alan: Oh, Bob… I thought the bear was going to attack you! I saw him whispering something to your ear.
Bob: Oh, he was a fortune-teller bear!
Alan: A fortune teller bear?
Bob: Yes… he came along with the gypsies… and he read my palms!
Alan: Really…what did he say?
Bob: He told me never to travel with a friend who deserts me at the first sign of trouble…. just the advice I needed!
Alan: Oh!… sorry.
Bob: I’m going home… goodbye.
(Bob walks away)
Moral:
Misfortune tests the sincerity of friends.
