The Fox and the Grapes

Told in English, Telugu.

Once upon a time, in a warm green forest, there lived a little red fox. He had a bushy tail and a busy nose that was always sniffing.

One hot afternoon, the fox was very hungry. His tummy went grrr, grrr. He walked and walked, looking for something good to eat.

Then he stopped. He lifted his nose. Sniff, sniff. What was that sweet smell?

He looked up. A vine had climbed high into a tall tree. And from the vine hung a big bunch of grapes. They were round and purple and shiny. They looked so juicy, as if they would burst.

"Oh, how lovely!" said the fox. "Those grapes are just for me."

But the grapes were high up. Very, very high up.

The fox bent his legs. He wiggled his tail. And he jumped!

Up went the fox, and down came the fox. Bump! The grapes were still up there.

Can you say it with me? Up went the fox, and down came the fox!

"That was only a little jump," said the fox. "This time I will jump higher."

He walked back a few steps. He ran fast, fast, fast, and he leaped!

Up went the fox, and down came the fox. Bump! The grapes swayed gently in the breeze, as if they were waving hello.

The fox tried again. And again. He climbed onto a stone and jumped from there. He stretched his neck long, long, long.

Up went the fox, and down came the fox. Each time, the grapes stayed high in the tree.

Now the fox was tired. His legs were wobbly. He sat down under the tree, puffing and panting.

He looked up at the grapes. He wanted them so much. But he could not reach them.

Then the fox stuck his nose up in the air. "Hmph!" he said. "Who wants those silly grapes anyway? I am sure they are sour. Sour, sour, sour! I never even wanted them."

And off he walked, with his tail held high, pretending he did not care at all.

But tell me, little one, were the grapes really sour? No! They were sweet and juicy. The fox only said they were sour because he could not reach them.

That is just what our grandmothers mean when they say, andani draksha pullana. When we cannot get something, sometimes we say it was no good anyway.

But here is a little secret. It is perfectly all right to say, "I tried, and I could not do it today." That is honest, and that is brave.

And then you can think of a new way. The fox could have asked his friend the monkey, who climbs so well. The monkey could have climbed up the tree, picked the grapes, and shared them with him. Two friends, one sweet bunch of grapes. How happy they would have been!

So the next time something is too high or too hard, what will you do? Will you call it sour, like the fox? Or will you say, "I will try again," or "Can you help me, please?"

I think you know the answer. Now close your eyes, my dear, and dream of sweet, juicy grapes. Goodnight.