fables folktales · Ages 6-8

The Two Goats Who Met on the Narrow Bridge

Two stubborn goats block each other above a stream until one kneels down, proving that yielding can move everyone forward.

The whole story

1. Early one morning, a small white mountain goat with curved black horns, bright brown eyes, a red scarf around the neck, and a blue satchel walked toward a narrow bridge. A basket of apples hung from one hoof.

2. At the other end, a sturdy brown mountain goat with curved cream-colored horns, golden eyes, a green vest, and a yellow cloth bag tied at the side came carrying carrots. Neither goat saw the other goat until both stepped onto the bridge.

3. The bridge was too narrow for two goats. The white goat planted all four hooves. The brown goat planted all four hooves too.

4. “I am going first,” said the white goat. “I am going first,” said the brown goat. The stream chuckled below them.

5. They argued about horns, hooves, baskets, and whose side of the bridge was better. Still, neither goat made room.

6. The sun climbed higher. The apples stayed on one side, and the carrots stayed on the other. The goats stayed exactly where they were.

7. Then the white goat looked at the bridge. An idea curled up like a tiny green leaf. The goat bent one front leg.

8. The white goat knelt down. “You may step over me,” said the goat. “Then we can both go home.”

9. The brown goat stepped over the white goat carefully. No apples fell. No carrots fell. The bridge gave a friendly creak.

10. Soon they stood on opposite banks. The white goat lifted the basket of apples. The brown goat lifted the bundle of carrots.

11. They shared apples and carrots beside the stream. After that, whenever the bridge was narrow, one goat knelt down. Then everyone could move forward.

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