The Fox with the Swollen Belly
Aesop | Greece
A hungry fox ate a large meal in a tree but got stuck and had to wait until its belly shrank to escape.
Once upon a time, in a dense, lush forest, a very hungry fox found some bread and meat in the hollow of an old oak tree. The food was left by shepherds. With a growling stomach, the fox crept into the hole and ate until he was full. The meal was so big and hearty that his belly puffed up like a balloon.
Just then, when he tried to come out of the hole, he realized he was stuck. No matter how hard he pushed or pulled, he just couldn't get out. He was stuck! He began to moan and groan, upset about his unfortunate situation.
While the fox was groaning in despair, another fox was passing by. He asked what was wrong. The stuck fox explained he had eaten too much and now he couldn't get out of the tree.
The second fox chuckled and said, "Well, my friend, it seems you'll have to stay in there until your belly shrinks down to the size it was when you first crawled in. Only then will you be able to get out."
So, the stuck fox had no choice but to wait until he was thin enough to escape, learning a lesson about the consequences of overindulging.
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