Fable Story: The Arrogant Sun Bear

Once upon a time in tropical jungle, a muscular sun bear was walking gallantly. 

“I am strongest smartest animal in this forest. I can control this jungle. Move out of the way,” the bear said, showing his muscular arm and body. 

The birds were tweeting and chirping. 

The leopard cat was hissing and the rabbit was trembling as the bear kicked them.

“Oops! I’m sorry. You are unseen. You are too low. You are cute animals but without you, this jungle is still beautiful,” the Sun Bear smiled.

 In their minds, birds laughed at the bear’s ridiculous attitude.

“Hi birds, stay lower than I am,” said Sun Bear, moving his claws toward the birds.

“He is sun bear and he is not as strong as grizzly,” a parrot whispered.

“He shows his scary face. Many animals said he always had arrogant attitude,” said a leopard cat, called Kuwuk.

“Just give him the way. He needs to earn something – to respect the others,” said Mousedeer.

The day after, Sun Bear came again.

“My friends, give our star the way!” Mousedeer said.

Mousedeer approached the sun bear and saluted him.

“Well, you are smart for the animal with your head size,” Sun Bear mocked.

“Sir, please come this way and you’ll enjoy your journey and learn precious think. Please take care,” said Mousedeer, bowing his head.

“What did you say? Learn something? I know everything. Without your suggestion, I have already known about the way,” said Sun Bear.

While walking, Sun Bear ate banana. He tossed banana peel on the trail. It was littering.

“Yuck!” Sun Bear stepped on something disgusting. He smelt something strange.

“Oh No! I step on cat’s poop!” Sun Bear yelled.

“What a disgusting animal! Caaat! You are not supposed to exist in this jungle!” Sun Bear shouted.

He cleaned his feet with leaves.

“Sir, you should step carefully. Sometimes, you need to look down while walking” said Mousedeer.

“No time for lower animals,” Sun Bear said, crossing his arms.

He continued walking, raising his chin.

“Aah!”

Suddenly, Sun Bear stumbled banyan’s tree roots and he pitched forward and fell.

“Be careful sir,” said Banyan Tree.

“Sir, you only see something higher. You really need to be aware of the things lower than you are,” said Mousedeer.

Sun Bear stood up and say, “it’s bad day. I get bad luck. I should choose another way.”

Sun Bear took other path and he did not realize that he was walking back to the track he had walked through.

 “This way is better. No poops. No disturbing little things. I am tall. I won’t see short things. I am big. Small things are not important,” said Sun Bear.

“Ouch!” Sun Bear screamed. He slipped on banana peel. He lost balance and fell backward. 

“What a bad luck!” Said Sun Bear.

“Friend, it’s not bad luck. It’s consequence,” said Mousedeer.

“Are you too high to see the lower? Are you too big to be aware of the smaller? Are you too tall to respect the shorter?” said Leopard Cat.

Sun bear learnt that he should respect the small things even if he was big, that he needed to be aware of his steps and that even if he was head, and he must see his feet and respect his subordinates.

The End

Written by YW Purnomosidhi, a man who loves fable.