The Tortoise & The Sparrows
Once, in a sunlit meadow, a tortoise was wandering when he happened upon a group of sparrows, flitting merrily in the sky. They danced gracefully, swooping down and rising up, enjoying the vastness of the sky.
Watching them, the tortoise felt a pang of envy. "How wonderful it must be to fly," he mused aloud.
Hearing him, one of the sparrows alighted beside him. "Why not join us?" she chirped playfully.
"But I have no wings," the tortoise replied, his voice laced with sadness.
The sparrows conferred amongst themselves, and after a moment, two of them swooped down, offering their twigs. "Hold these twigs in your mouth and we will carry you. You’ll experience the thrill of flying."
Excited, the tortoise did as instructed, clutching the twigs firmly in his mouth. The sparrows grabbed the other ends and lifted the tortoise into the air.
The sensation was exhilarating! The tortoise saw the world from a vantage he had never imagined. But as they soared higher, he couldn’t contain his joy and opened his mouth to exclaim. He plummeted to the ground, narrowly escaping a disastrous fate.
The sparrows, chastened, flew down. The elder amongst them spoke, "Remember, not everyone is suited for every situation. We should cherish what we have and not risk it all for what isn't ours."
