Freedom

Long long ago in a forest there lived a little wolf with his friends - the birds, the bunnies and the snakes and the rivers and trees and plants and flowers. The little wolf was fond of mangoes and his friends would often trick him by saying they found a new mango tree and the wolf will be tricked. And so the wolf lived with his friends running and playing and teasing and doing exactly as they pleased. Then winter hit the forest. The birds migrated, the snakes went into hibernation and the bunnies too retreated in their little burrows to keep away from the cold. The beautiful trees and grasses got covered in a thick blanket of snow. And there was nothing left to eat. Tired and hungry the little wolf wandered in the forest looking for food. The wolf tired and hungry walked into a village. He saw children Playing, peeped into homes with fireplaces around which women knitted and children read. Then in one house, he saw something that shocked the life out of him! He saw a dog. Pretty much his own size sprawling comfortably around the fire. Then someone came with a bowl of delicious-looking food. The Wolf's hungry stomach churned and his mouth watered. The dog gobbled up the food hungrily and was even given more. Then laid down sleeping peacefully in the warmth of the fire. The wolf could not get this scene out of his head. Here he was tired, cold, and hungry there was that dog warm, fed, and comfortable. How the wolf wished that he was in that place of the dog. He watched the dog from the window all day and then towards evening the dog came out of the house in the front yard. Immediately the wolf called out to him. A wolf in the village? What are you doing here? Asked the dog. And how did you get here? In this beautiful life full of food, warmth, and comfort. Would you like to stay here with me? It will be nice. My owners want a new pet and they would be happy to have you here. Plus, I too get a little lonely you know! The dog asked. Wait a minute! What do you mean by your owners? Asked the wolf curiously. The humans who own me! In whose house I stay and who feeds me and looks after me? Said the dog. Why do they do that? Asked the wolf. Because I am their pet! And they want me to be with them and play with them and guard them, said the dog. But why do you get lonely then? Asked the wolf. Because there is no one of my kind here, you know! Surely you can go to the forest to meet your family! Said the wolf. Oh no! I am not allowed to go anywhere on my own you know! You see this collar, they attach a leash to it whenever we leave the house, said the dog. You are not allowed to go anywhere on your own, which means no running in the wind, no hide and seek with friends, no splashing in the lake, no fighting with your friends! None of it? Asked the wolf. Do you get to do all of that?! Asked the dog. Every single day! Said the wolf. Well, all I can do is to lay by the fire and let them cuddle me whenever they want! Want to stay with me? Asked the dog. And leave my friends and the mad running about and the freedom of the forest for a few scraps of food! No! I shall take the ice skating and falling and laughing with my friends any day overlying before someone else's fire. I will not be fed in a prison. Instead, I will roam free and with the help of my friends, make the most of whatever I have and enjoy it. Hey, Come on!

Called the dog owner. Come and visit me sometimes! said the dog. And the wolf went back to its beautiful free life in the forest.

True! it was tough but not tougher than having to stay on the leash all your life.

Moral: Every choice in life has its good and bad sides. But we must always do what suits our spirit.