Twistales

A wolf gobbled his prey so greedily that a bone got stuck in his throat, and in extreme pain, he ran and howled across the forest, pleading every animal he met to pull out the bone. He even offered a generous reward to anyone who could pull it out. Moved by his request as well as the prospect of the money, a crane ventured her long neck down the wolf’s throat and drew out the bone. She then modestly asked for the promised reward, but the wolf just grinned and bared his teeth.

“Ungrateful creature!” he replied with seeming indignation. “How dare you ask for any other reward than your life? After all, you’re among the very few who can say that you’ve put your head into the jaws a wolf and were permitted to draw it out in safety.

Old Learning: Expect no reward when you serve the wicked, and thankful if you escape injury for your pains.