In the beginning Fox and Duck were friends. They could be seen everywhere together. Duck was a boasting creature, very proud and very vain. He would brag to all the animals about how fast he could run, which was even faster than Fox; for he did not have the webbed feet that we know today belong to him. Fox, on the other hand, was not caught up on looks. He had a very quick wit, and could usually outsmart anyone. Then one day a famine struck the land where Fox and Duck lived. Duck was not effected by the famine for he was able to eat the plants and grasses that grew in the ponds. But Fox went very hungry indeed. He was so hungry, in fact, that he developed a plan to trick his friend Duck into slipping and tripping so that he could catch and eat him. One day, during the worst part of the famine, Duck was telling Fox of all the lovely things he had just eaten, when Fox became so angry at Duck’s boasting that he challenged him to a race.
“Alright,” agreed Duck, knowing he could outrun Fox.
“But first,” replied Fox, “you should put on these flippers, since you are so much faster and stronger than I.”
Duck again agreed that this would only be fair and put the flippers on his feet.
“On your mark… Get set… Go!” shouted Duck as the two began the race. Duck tried to run his fastest, but the flippers on his feet kept tripping him up. After a particularly bad fall, Fox turned around and pounced on Duck and gobbled him up. And that was the end of Duck and his boasting.
As a reminder to Duck’s descendants, and all of the animals today, Duck has continued to wear the flippers on his feet, and is still the prey of Fox. So remember, if you enjoy bragging, just think of Duck and how crafty Fox was able to catch him due to his own imagined indomitability.
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