BY SARAH R
Long ago, a hyena lived beside a village where animals shared one well. Every morning, he stood beneath a big mango tree and preached kindness.
“A good heart feeds the hungry,” he declared.
Yet each night, he stole grain from the widow and poured thorns along tortoise’s path. By sunrise, he returned with a gentle smile, asking everyone to praise his wisdom.
One dry season, the well stopped flowing. Hyena blamed the smallest animals, calling them selfish and wicked.
But the old elephant discovered that hyena had blocked the spring to fill his private pond.
The animals gathered and removed the stones. Water rushed into the well, washing away hyena’s stolen grain.
Ashamed, he begged to speak.
Elephant shook her head.
“Your tongue has planted enough flowers while your heart scattered thorns.”
From that day, the village judged kindness by deeds and hyena’s speeches found no listeners beneath the mango tree ever again.
