Aesop
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Greece

A Dog, A Sheep, and A Wolf

The Dog borrowed food from the Sheep, forgot the debt, and refused to repay, leading to an unfair court decision against the innocent Sheep.
Justice
Deception
Kindness
Aesop's Fables - A Dog, A Sheep, and A Wolf
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, there was a Dog who borrowed some food from a Sheep. Time passed, and the Dog forgot about the debt he owed to the Sheep. The Sheep kindly reminded the Dog about the food he had borrowed, hoping he would return it.

But the Dog refused to repay his debt. Instead, he took the Sheep to a court. Surprisingly, the judges were a Kite and a Wolf, and the witnesses were a Fox and a Vulture. These animals were not known for their fairness or kindness.

During the trial, the Fox and the Vulture gave false evidence against the poor Sheep. They lied and said that the Sheep had never lent any food to the Dog. The judges, being unfair themselves, decided in favor of the Dog. They ordered the Sheep to pay the debt, as well as the costs of the trial and the expenses for the witnesses.

It was a grave injustice, as the Sheep had been honest and kind, while the Dog and his witnesses were deceitful. The poor Sheep had to bear the burden of the Dog's debt and the costs of the trial, all because of the unfair judgment.

Once upon a silly time, Dog strutted over to Sheep wearing goofy sunglasses. "Hey Sheep, got any extra food? I'll give it back, promise!"

Sheep, fluffy and nice, giggled. "Okie dokie, Dog. But don't forget, you gotta give it back!"

Time flew by like a race car—vroom! Dog totally forgot about the food. Sheep gave him a nudge, "Ahem, about that food you borrowed?"

Dog scratched his ear. "Food? What food? Let's ask a judge!"

So off they went to a very funny-looking court. The judges were Kite and Wolf, who weren't very nice. And guess who came to talk? Fox and Vulture, who were even less nice!

"Okay, everyone sit or whatever!" said Judge Kite, flapping his wings. "Tell us what happened!"

Fox stood up and did a funny dance. "Nope, no food from Sheep! She's making it up!"

Vulture agreed, scribbling something. "Yep, didn't see any food. But if anyone's got leftovers, I'm here!"

Judge Wolf grinned, "Well, Fox and Vulture said it, so it must be true. Sheep, you gotta give Dog more food. Plus, give us all a snack for being here!"

Sheep rolled her eyes big time. "You guys are being so unfair!"

And that's how Sheep ended up stuck with Dog's forgotten promise and extra snacks for everyone else. So, was it fair? Nope! But in this animal place, 'fair' was a four-letter word you wouldn't find in the dictionary.

The Dog once asked the Sheep for some food,
A little favor, in a friendly mood.
Time went by, memories grew thin,
The Dog forgot the situation he'd been in.

Sheep approached with a gentle nudge,
"Remember the food, I won't hold a grudge."
But Dog turned cheeky, and with a sly grin,
To court they went, where the trial would begin.

Judge Kite and Judge Wolf, with sharp eyes so keen,
And witnesses Fox and Vulture, the least fair ever seen.
They twisted their tales, made stories untrue,
Claiming Sheep never lent, which they all knew.

The judges declared, with voices so grand,
That Sheep must pay more, with a heavy hand.
Though injustice was served on that fateful day,
Kind-hearted Sheep went along, without dismay.

In a world that's not always fair or just,
We find some moments that break our trust.
But keep your chin up, wear a smile, not a frown,
For kindness, dear friend, will never let you down.

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Understanding Questions

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the Dog refused to pay back what he borrowed from the Sheep?
  2. How did the Fox and the Vulture contribute to the unfairness of the trial?
  3. Can you remember a time when you had to be honest, even when others were not?
  4. What does this story teach us about the importance of truth and fairness?
  5. How can we ensure that we always act fairly and honestly, even if others around us don't?

Fable Quotes

In the absence of justice, the burden of debt falls upon the innocent, a grave injustice indeed.
Deception veils truth, and in its shadow, justice becomes obscured, leading to unjust outcomes.
Kindness prevails even in the face of injustice, for it withstands the tests of deceit and unfairness.
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