This happened a long time ago. Then the cheerful cicada still had horns. Small horns, like those of a stag beetle or a snail. And then she lost them.
That's how it was.
One day, on a hot day, a monkey sat on a thick branch of a fig tree and feasted on ripe fruits. And the cicada lazily crawled along the branches, looking for a secluded place to sleep.
Suddenly a breeze blew and the fig tree rustled its leaves. How pleasant it was for the cicada! She chirped for joy, and so loudly!
The monkey choked and dropped the fruit.
And under the tree a young deer was dozing. The fruit slapped him on the nose, the deer got scared, jumped to his feet and rushed away, not making out the road, and did not notice how he got entangled in the shoots of a mountain pumpkin.
The deer rushed with all his might, and then the huge pumpkin could not stay on the stem and rolled down.
And below there was a sesame field. The pumpkin plopped right onto the sesame bush, and the ripe grains began to fall. And at that time an old elephant was sleeping on the field.
He heard a noise, woke up, and hard sesame seeds got into his eyes.
The elephant got up and trotted to the pond to wash his eyes. He didn’t even notice how he stepped on a stag beetle, which was peacefully crawling about its business. The elephant flopped into the water with a running start and only then saw an unfortunate beetle with broken horns on the shore.
And in that pond there lived a turtle, she was very old and famous for her wisdom. It was to her that the wounded beetle turned to her with a complaint about the elephant.
- Why did you step on a beetle and break its horns? - the turtle asked the elephant.
“Oh wise turtle, I was in a hurry to wash my eyes,” explained the elephant, “something hard and sharp got into them.” I closed my eyes and ran, not seeing anything!
- What got into the elephant’s eyes? - the turtle asked loudly.
“It’s us, sesame seeds,” came the answer. “Something large and heavy fell on our bush.” We couldn't resist and fell apart.
- It’s not even easier! - exclaimed the turtle. - Why did that fall in the sesame field?
“It’s me, pumpkin,” said the pumpkin and rolled up to the pond. “I was peacefully basking in the sun.” Suddenly someone pulled my stem. I lost my grip and flew downhill. Yes, I’ll plop down on a sesame bush!
- Gee! - the turtle thought. - And who could tear the pumpkin stem?
- It's me, the deer. But I accidentally,” the deer spoke plaintively. “I was very hot.” So I lay down to take a nap under the fig tree. I was just dozing off when suddenly something hit me on the nose. Yes, it hurts so much! I ran away. I didn't notice that pumpkin. My legs are entangled in the stem, I’m trying to pull! That's when the stem broke.
- There will be no end to this! - the turtle grumbled. “What fell from the tree onto the deer?”
“It’s me, the fruit of the fig tree,” a voice was heard. “I was almost ripe, and a monkey picked me.” Just took a bite, and how she shudders! So she dropped me! And I flew down - and right into the deer!
- Monkey, come here! - called the turtle. “Come on, tell me why you shuddered?”
- I was very hungry. I picked one fruit - I ate it, I picked another - I ate it, I picked a third...
- So you won’t finish until tomorrow! - the turtle interrupted her.
- I'm here now. So, I began to eat the third fruit, and the cicada began to crackle loudly! I was scared. I thought something was wrong. She shuddered and dropped the fruit!
“It seems that things are coming to an end,” the turtle said to himself. “Hey, cicada, where are you?”
“I’m here,” the cicada waxed. “Don’t judge me harshly!” I was so tired from the heat, I didn’t know where to hide. And suddenly a fresh, cool breeze blew. I was happy and started singing. I didn't think it was so loud. And why the monkey was scared - I don’t understand!
- It turns out that there are no one to blame, everyone seems to be right! - decided the old turtle. - But the beetle’s horns are broken. You are all right in your own way. But everyone is a little guilty. And the cicada is the biggest one. Everything happened because of her. The cicada must pay. Give your horns to the beetle instead of your broken ones.
Everyone liked the turtle’s decision, because she judged fairly. And the careless cicada had to part with her horns, and she didn’t need them at all!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru