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The Painted Jackal

A jackal dyed blue pretends to be a peacock, but his failure to mimic one leads to rejection by his friends.
Humility
Authenticity
Identity
Featured in Fable Book
The Painted Jackal
Audio available for B1 version

One day, a sneaky jackal fell into a big tub full of blue dye. When he got out, his fur was bright sky-blue! He went back home, and all the other jackals stared at him in surprise.

“What happened to you?” they asked.

The jackal flicked his tail and said proudly, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m not just any jackal anymore. Look at me! I’m so special! From now on, don’t call me a ‘jackal’ ever again.”

“What should we call you then?” they asked.

The jackal lifted his head high and said, “Call me Peacock. I’m as beautiful as a peacock now!” He strutted around, showing off his blue fur.

But the other jackals weren’t convinced. “If you’re a peacock,” one of them said, “can you spread your tail beautifully like a peacock does?”

The jackal stopped and said, “Well… no, I can’t do that.”

“And can you make the proud, special cry that a peacock makes?” asked another.

The jackal lowered his head and admitted, “No, I can’t do that either.”

“Then it’s clear,” they said. “You’re not a jackal anymore, but you’re definitely not a peacock either!”

The other jackals laughed at him and sent him away.

One day, a sneaky jackal fell into a big tub full of blue dye. When he got out, his fur was bright sky-blue! He went back home, and all the other jackals stared at him in surprise.

“What happened to you?” they asked.

The jackal flicked his tail and said proudly, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m not just any jackal anymore. Look at me! I’m so special! From now on, don’t call me a ‘jackal’ ever again.”

“What should we call you then?” they asked.

The jackal lifted his head high and said, “Call me Pearooster. I’m as beautiful as a pearooster now!” He strutted around, showing off his blue fur.

But the other jackals weren’t convinced. “If you’re a pearooster,” one of them said, “can you spread your tail beautifully like a pearooster does?”

The jackal stopped and said, “Well… no, I can’t do that.”

“And can you make the proud, special cry that a pearooster makes?” asked another.

The jackal lowered his head and admitted, “No, I can’t do that either.”

“Then it’s clear,” they said. “You’re not a jackal anymore, but you’re definitely not a pearooster either!”

The other jackals laughed at him and sent him away.

One day, a sneaky jackal fell into a big tub full of blue dye. When he got out, his fur was bright sky-blue! He went back home, and all the other jackals stared at him in surprise.

“What happened to you?” they asked.

The jackal flicked his tail and said proudly, “Isn’t it obvious? I’m not just any jackal anymore. Look at me! I’m so special! From now on, don’t call me a ‘jackal’ ever again.”

“What should we call you then?” they asked.

The jackal lifted his head high and said, “Call me Pearooster. I’m as beautiful as a pearooster now!” He strutted around, showing off his blue fur.

But the other jackals weren’t convinced. “If you’re a pearooster,” one of them said, “can you spread your tail beautifully like a pearooster does?”

The jackal stopped and said, “Well… no, I can’t do that.”

“And can you make the proud, special cry that a pearooster makes?” asked another.

The jackal lowered his head and admitted, “No, I can’t do that either.”

“Then it’s clear,” they said. “You’re not a jackal anymore, but you’re definitely not a pearooster either!”

The other jackals laughed at him and sent him away.

Once upon a time, a curious jackal found himself sniffing around where he shouldn’t. “What’s this big, mysterious tub?” he said, peeking over the edge. “Could it be... soup? A jacuzzi? Oh, please be pudding!” He leaned in too far, slipped, and *plonk!*—he splashed right into the tub, which, to his surprise, was full of blue dye.

When he crawled out, dripping and shivering, he caught a glimpse of himself in a puddle. His fur wasn’t the usual dusty brown anymore—it was bright sky blue! He gasped. “Whoa! Look at me! I’m like a walking summer sky… or a piece of candy! This is amazing!”

He strutted back to his jackal friends, swishing his tail like a runway model. The other jackals stared with wide eyes.

“What in the world happened to you?” one of them asked, blinking.

The blue jackal puffed out his chest and replied, “Oh, isn’t it obvious? I’ve evolved! I’m not your average jackal anymore. I’m something special, something rare. I am… drumroll, please… the Peacock!”

The jackals looked at each other, baffled. “Peacock?” one said, tilting their head. “Are you feeling okay, buddy? Did you eat something weird?”

“Call me Peacock,” the jackal said, ignoring the question. “Look at this fur! Look at this elegance!” He did a little twirl, nearly tripping over a rock but recovering quickly. “From now on, I demand respect. No more jackal nonsense for me. I am majestic!”

One jackal squinted at him. “Majestic, huh? If you’re a peacock, then can you spread your tail all fancy-like? You know, make it fan out and look all shiny?”

The blue jackal paused mid-strut. “Well… no. But who needs a tail when I’ve got… uh… personality?”

Another jackal piped up. “Okay, fine. But can you do that loud ‘Aaawk’ thing peacocks do? You know, the sound that’s halfway between an opera singer and a car alarm?”

The blue jackal gulped. “I, uh… I could try? Ahem. CAW! ARGH! BLAH!” His attempt was so bad it made a passing squirrel drop its acorn in horror.

The jackals burst out laughing. “You’re no peacock!” one of them said, rolling on the ground. “You’re just a blue jackal with a funny voice!”

Realizing he wasn’t fooling anyone, the jackal sighed. “Fine, I admit it. I’m still a jackal. But can we at least agree that I’m a *very stylish* jackal?”

“Sure,” one of them said, still giggling. “Stylish and totally ridiculous!”

And so, the blue jackal slinked away, his sky-colored fur losing its shine as the laughter echoed behind him. He muttered to himself, “Well, that didn’t go as planned. Note to self: you can’t just declare you’re special. You’ve gotta actually be special… and maybe avoid tubs that smell like paint.”

One sunny day, a jackal sly,
Tumbled into a tub of dye.
He climbed back out, his fur bright blue,
A shade that no one ever knew!

He pranced back home, head held up high,
And all the jackals wondered, "Why?"
"What happened to you? How can this be?
You're not the same—we clearly see!"

With a swish of his tail and a smug little grin,
The jackal declared, "A change from within!
I’m not just a jackal, plain and small,
From now on, I’m better than all."

"Call me Peacock!" he said with pride,
"Look at my fur, my glorious hide!
I’m rare, I’m grand, I’m truly unique—
A creature of beauty, a sight to seek!"

The jackals frowned and shook their heads,
"You’re no peacock," one of them said.
"If you’re a peacock, then prove it’s true—
Show us the things that peacocks do!"

The jackal blinked and swayed his tail,
"But I can’t spread feathers in a trail.
I cannot fan them in the sun,
Like peacocks do when having fun."

"And can you cry with a peacock’s call,
That echoes wide and proud to all?"
The jackal sighed, his head hung low,
"I cannot do it. The answer is no."

"Then you’re no jackal, not anymore,
But you’re no peacock—we’re still sure!"
They laughed and jeered and turned away,
Leaving him blue and sad that day.

His fur stayed blue, but now he knew:
Pretending’s not the thing to do.
Be who you are, don’t fake or lie—
True colors shine; no need to try.

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Word Finder

  1. Sneaky

    Someone who tries to do things secretly.

  2. Tub

    A big container for holding things, like water.

  3. Dye

    A color used to change how something looks.

  4. Fur

    The soft hair covering an animal's body.

  5. Special

    Different and better than usual or normal things.

  6. Strutted

    Walked proudly, showing off to others.

  7. Convinced

    Made someone believe something is true.

  8. Spread

    Opened wide or made something cover more area.

  9. Admitted

    said something is true, even if it’s embarrassing.

  10. Proud

    Feeling happy and confident about yourself or something.

Understanding Questions

  1. What happened to the jackal's fur when he fell into the tub of blue dye?
  2. How did the other jackals react when they saw the jackal’s blue fur?
  3. What new name did the jackal want the other jackals to call him?
  4. Why did the other jackals say he couldn’t be a pearooster?
  5. What did the other jackals do to the blue jackal at the end of the story?
Word Finder
  1. Sneaky

    Someone who tries to do things secretly.

  2. Tub

    A big container for holding things, like water.

  3. Dye

    A color used to change how something looks.

  4. Fur

    The soft hair covering an animal's body.

  5. Special

    Different and better than usual or normal things.

  6. Strutted

    Walked proudly, showing off to others.

  7. Convinced

    Made someone believe something is true.

  8. Spread

    Opened wide or made something cover more area.

  9. Admitted

    said something is true, even if it’s embarrassing.

  10. Proud

    Feeling happy and confident about yourself or something.

Understanding Questions
  1. What happened to the jackal's fur when he fell into the tub of blue dye?

    1. It turned blue.
    2. It became shiny.
    3. It fell out.
    4. It got dirty.
  2. How did the other jackals react when they saw the jackal’s blue fur?

    1. They were scared.
    2. They laughed.
    3. They ignored him.
    4. They admired him.
  3. What new name did the jackal want the other jackals to call him?

    1. Blue Jackal.
    2. King Jackal.
    3. Rainbow Jackal.
    4. Blueberry Jackal.
  4. Why did the other jackals say he couldn’t be a pearooster?

    1. Because he was not a rooster.
    2. Because he was blue.
    3. Because he was too shy.
    4. Because he was too small.
  5. What did the other jackals do to the blue jackal at the end of the story?

    1. They accepted him.
    2. They chased him away.
    3. They ignored him.
    4. They painted him green.
  1. What happened to the jackal's fur when he fell into the tub of blue dye?
  2. How did the other jackals react when they saw the jackal’s blue fur?
  3. What new name did the jackal want the other jackals to call him?
  4. Why did the other jackals say he couldn’t be a pearooster?
  5. What did the other jackals do to the blue jackal at the end of the story?
  1. What happened to the jackal's fur when he fell into the tub of blue dye?
  2. How did the other jackals react when they saw the jackal’s blue fur?
  3. What new name did the jackal want the other jackals to call him?
  4. Why did the other jackals say he couldn’t be a pearooster?
  5. What did the other jackals do to the blue jackal at the end of the story?
Reflection Questions
  1. Why did the jackal want to be called a peacock instead of a jackal?
  2. How did the other jackals figure out that the blue jackal wasn’t really a peacock?
  3. Why do you think the jackal wanted to pretend to be something he wasn’t?
  4. Can you think of a time when pretending to be something you’re not didn’t work out?
  5. What does this story teach us about being true to ourselves?
Fable Quotes
Humility is knowing who you are and being at peace with it.
Being yourself is the truest form of beauty.
Identity is not a costume you can wear; it’s the essence of your soul.
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