The frog and the scorpion
January 25th, 2010 by Donn McCleanA frog was swimming merrily along in his favourite stream one fine summer’s day. The sun was shining, a cool breeze was blowing, and everything was good in the world.
Suddenly, the frog heard a voice behind him.
“Good day to you, Mr Frog.”
He stopped swimming and looked around. There, standing on the bank of the stream, was a scorpion.
“And good day to you, Mr Scorpion,” said the frog. “What brings you to the banks of this stream on this fine day?”
“I think I am lost,” said the scorpion, “and I need to cross this stream so that I can find my way home. I haven’t been able to locate a crossing place where I will not get washed away by the current, so I was wondering, would you be so kind as to carry me across on your back?”
The frog looked at the scorpion, slightly bemused.
“Mr Scorpion,” he said. “Forgive me, but I do not think that would be such a good idea. You are a scorpion. If I allow you climb onto my back you will sting me with your venom and I will die.”
“Mr Frog,” said the scorpion with a smile. “Of course I will not sting you. Don’t you see? If I sting you with my venom, you may die, but I will drown, and I can assure you, I have no desire to drown.”
“But you are a scorpion,” said the frog thoughtfully. “It is in your nature.”
“But I know if I sting you, I will drown,” said the scorpion. “Why would I do something that I know will bring certain death on me?”
The frog thought about this for a moment. He wanted to help the scorpion, but he realised the danger. Eventually, he concluded that the scorpion was right, if he stung him, he would drown, and he could not possibly be that foolish.
“Okay,” said the frog. “I will carry you across.”
“Thank you very much, Mr Frog,” said the scorpion. “You are most kind.”
The scorpion climbed onto the frog’s back, and the frog began to swim across the stream. The scorpion was surprisingly light, and the current was not strong. Then, suddenly and without warning, when they were about half way across, the frog felt a piercing pain in his back. His arms and legs went weak and his head felt dizzy. His energy drained away, he began to find it difficult to swim, impossible to even stay afloat. As he struggled, he looked up at the scorpion, still on his back, the water beginning to encircle him as well.
“You said you wouldn’t sting me,” spluttered the frog. “Why did you do it?”
The scorpion looked sorrowfully down at the frog.
“I am a scorpion,” he said.
NEW ENDING
The scorpion climbed onto the frog’s back, and the frog began to swim across the stream. The scorpion was surprisingly light, and the current was not strong. They reached the other side safely and the scorpion climbed up onto the bank.
“Thank you very much, Mr Frog,” he said.
“You are most welcome, Mr Scorpion,” said the frog, and went on his way.
* For more of Donn’s thoughts, visit www.donnmcclean.com.
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