Leopard And The Monkey

Once upon a time, a clever monkey was perched high in a leafy oak tree, enjoying a sweet, crunchy cob of corn. He was having a grand old time until a hungry leopard spotted him from the forest floor.

​The leopard licked his chops. Usually, leopards are known for being stealthy, but this one was a bit overconfident. The monkey looked down and gave the leopard a big, toothy grin. "Hey there! Want some corn?" the monkey chirped.

​The leopard didn't want corn; he wanted a monkey snack! Now, everyone knows leopards are expert climbers. With a powerful leap, he scrambled up the trunk, claws digging into the bark. He was sure he’d have that monkey in no time.

​But just as the leopard reached out a paw, the monkey swung his long tail and—sproing!—he launched himself to the next tree over. ​"You missed me!" the monkey laughed, taking another bite of his corn. ​ The leopard was frustrated. He crouched low and tried to leap across the gap between the branches. But he didn't realize how slippery the moss was. Instead of a graceful landing, the leopard’s paws skidded. He wobbled, lost his balance, and went tumbling down. ​Thump! He landed right in a thicket of prickly bushes. ​"Ouch," the leopard groaned, rubbing his bruised ego (and his nose). He looked up at the monkey, who was now safely snacking even higher up. ​ "I did a foolish thing chasing that monkey," the leopard thought. "I think I’ll stick to napping in the tall grass for the rest of the day. It’s much safer than trying to out-jump a gymnast!" ​From that day on, the leopard decided that if he wanted a snack, he’d pick something that didn't have a "getaway plan" involving gravity. And the monkey? He finished his corn and lived to swing another day.

​The Moral of the Story

​Play to your strengths, and don't let your ego lead you into a shaky situation!

​What do you think the leopard should have done instead of chasing the monkey?