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The Otters and The Jackal

A jackal outsmarted two otters by dividing a fish between them and taking the best part for himself.
Deception
Trust
Consequences
Jataka Tales - The Otters and The Jackal
Audio available for B1 version

Long, long ago, in a dense green forest, a jackal lived with his companion in the heart of a dense forest. One bright morning, his mate said, "I crave fresh fish today."

"Alright, let me fetch some for you," replied the jackal, and he swiftly headed toward the river.

Upon reaching the river, he noticed two busy Otters standing on the bank, their eyes set on the water, searching for fish. Suddenly, one of them spotted a big, shiny fish in the water. With a swift leap, the Otter plunged into the river and grabbed the fish by its tail. But the fish was powerful and started to swim away, dragging the Otter with it. "Come help me!" cried the Otter to his friend. "This massive fish will be plenty for both of us!"

The other Otter didn't waste a moment. He dived into the river, and together, they managed to bring the fish ashore. "Let's divide the fish into two parts," said one Otter.

"I want the half with the head," demanded one.

"No, I want that half," said the other. "You can have the tail."

The Jackal was watching and listening to this entire commotion. He walked up to them and the Otters asked, "Great, furry friend, can you help us? We caught this fish together, but can't agree on how to divide it. Could you do it for us?"

The cunning Jackal quickly made a decision. He sliced off the tail and handed it to one Otter, giving the head to the other. He kept the juicy, meaty middle part for himself. "Now, you can both enjoy your fish without any fuss." And before they could say a word, he sprinted off with the best part of the fish. The Otters just stood there, surprised and disappointed, realizing they'd been outwitted.

The Jackal, pleased with his cleverness, scampered toward his home, a mouthful of fresh fish ready for his companion. On seeing him, she rushed up to him, curiosity sparkling in her eyes. "How did you manage to get fish? We live on the land, not in the water!"

The Jackal, grinning, told her about the Otters' argument. "I helped them settle their quarrel, and I took this fish as my reward," he said, offering her the delicious fish.

Once upon a time, in a forest so green it was like living inside a giant broccoli, a jackal and his partner chilled out, chasing butterflies and playing tag. One sunny morning, his mate said, "I've got a tummy-rumble for fish!"

The jackal laughed, "Fish it is! I'll go ask the river if it's in a sharing mood." And he hopped and skipped all the way to the water's edge.

When he got there, he saw two Otters squinting hard at the water. "Hey, guys, what's up?" he asked, pretending to use binoculars made of his paws.

"We're trying to catch some breakfast, so shush!" answered one Otter without even looking.

Then, splash! One Otter jumped into the river faster than you can say "cannonball!" He grabbed a fish, but oh boy, this fish was like a water rocket. Zoom! Off it went, pulling the Otter behind. "Help, help! This fish is like a speedboat!"

The second Otter was all in. He belly-flopped into the water, and after some epic splashing, they got the fish onto the land. "Okay," said Otter One, "Let's split this fish right down the middle."

"I want the head!" shouted Otter Two.

"Nuh-uh! The head's mine!" yelled Otter One.

Our jackal friend was watching and thought, "Hmm, they've got a 'fishy' problem, get it? Maybe I can help." He cleared his throat and said, "Hey, need someone to be the referee here?"

The Otters looked at each other and then nodded. "Alright, Mr. Jackal, you slice it, we eat it. Deal?"

"Dealio!" said the Jackal with a grin. With super-quick paws, he cut off the tail and gave it to Otter One. Then he chopped off the head for Otter Two. And faster than you can say "Gotcha!" he grabbed the best, juiciest part of the fish and zoomed away. "Peace out, dudes!"

The Otters blinked. "Wow, that guy's slicker than a wet fish."

Back at the jackal's home, his friend rushed out to meet him, nose twitching. "Oooh, you smell fishy! What happened?"

"Let's just say I solved a fish problem and got dinner as a thank-you," he laughed, handing over the scrumptious fish.

His mate giggled, "You're not just the fastest paws in the forest; you're the smartest!"

And there you have it. In this forest, you don't just have to be fast or strong. Being funny and clever gets you a tasty dinner, too!

Once upon a tale, so neat,
A jackal and his mate wanted fish to eat.
"Fresh fish sounds nice today," his mate did say,
So off the jackal went, without delay.

To the riverbank, where Otters stood in view,
Searching in the water, as otters often do.
A big shiny fish, one otter soon found,
Into the water he leapt with a splashy sound.

"Help me, friend!" he cried, holding on so tight,
"This fish is strong; it's putting up a fight!"
Into the water, his friend did zoom,
They caught that fish, as if making room.

"How do we split it?" one otter asked,
Each wanting the head, for a dinner first-class.
"Let's ask for help," they both agreed,
And saw the jackal, who could do the deed.

"Kind, furry friend, would you mind,
To split this fish, so a fair share we find?"
The jackal smiled, his eyes so keen,
Thinking of a plan, sly and unseen.

He cut off the tail, to one otter he passed,
Gave the other the head, keeping the middle so vast.
"Now, you can both enjoy, there's no need for fuss!"
And off he ran, leaving them in a puzzled cuss.

Back to his home, with a fishy delight,
His mate rushed over, her eyes so bright.
"How'd you get fish? We're land folk, you see!"
He grinned and said, "Let's just call it my finder's fee."

With a chomp and a chew, they feasted with glee,
Happy and content, as a jackal family could be.
And so goes the tale, of cleverness so grand,
Of a sly, sly jackal, who always had a plan.

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Reflection Questions

  1. How did the Jackal take advantage of the Otters' disagreement?
  2. Why do you think the Otters asked the Jackal to divide the fish for them, even though they caught it together?
  3. Can you remember a time when you had a disagreement with a friend?
  4. What lesson does this story teach us about fairness and making decisions together?
  5. How can we use the lesson from this story to make sure everyone is treated fairly in a similar situation?

Fable Quotes

In the forest of deceit, the cunning prevail, leaving the unsuspecting to face the bitter truth.
Trust not the cunning words of others, for deceit may lurk beneath a friendly guise.
Actions have consequences, and even the smallest decisions can lead to unexpected outcomes.
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