The Crocodile and the Monkey

The Crocodile and the Monkey (Uganda): Emphasizes the value of wit and cleverness in tricky situations.

Once upon a time, in the lush forests of Uganda, there lived a crocodile and a monkey. They were neighbors but had never spoken to each other. One day, the crocodile decided to strike up a conversation with the monkey.
“Hello, monkey! How are you doing today?” the crocodile asked.
The monkey was taken aback by the sudden friendliness of the crocodile. He replied cautiously, “I am doing fine, thank you. How can I help you?”
The crocodile replied, “I have always admired your agility and grace. I was wondering if you could teach me how to jump from tree to tree like you do.”
The monkey was surprised by the request but agreed to teach the crocodile. So, every day, the monkey would jump from tree to tree while the crocodile watched and learned.
One day, the crocodile invited the monkey to his home for a feast. The monkey was hesitant but eventually agreed to go. As they were crossing the river to get to the crocodile’s home, the monkey noticed that the crocodile’s eyes were closed.
“Hey, crocodile, why are your eyes closed?” the monkey asked.
The crocodile replied, “Oh, I am just enjoying the warmth of the sun on my skin.”
The monkey realized that the crocodile was planning to eat him. He quickly thought of a plan to save himself.
“Crocodile, I forgot to bring my heart with me. I always keep it in the tree where I live. Could you please take me back so I can get it?” the monkey asked.
The crocodile, not suspecting anything, agreed to take the monkey back to his tree.
As soon as they reached the tree, the monkey jumped onto a branch and said, “Thank you for the ride, crocodile. But I am not coming down. You can’t fool me twice.”
The crocodile was left stunned and disappointed. He realized that the monkey had outsmarted him and that he could never catch him now.
From that day on, the crocodile and the monkey never spoke to each other again. The monkey continued to live in the trees, and the crocodile stayed in the river, waiting for his next prey.

Moral

The moral or lesson of the story “The Crocodile and the Monkey” is that in tricky situations, wit and cleverness are valuable traits to possess. The story teaches us that it is important to think creatively and use our intelligence to overcome challenges and obstacles. The monkey’s ability to outsmart the crocodile and escape with his life is a testament to the power of quick thinking and resourcefulness. Additionally, the story highlights the importance of being cautious and not trusting strangers blindly, as the monkey was able to avoid danger by being wary of the crocodile’s intentions. Overall, the story encourages us to use our wits and intellect to navigate difficult situations and make wise decisions.

Origin of the Story: The story of “The Crocodile and the Monkey” originated from Uganda.