fables folktales · Ages 9-12

The Two Goats Who Would Rather Fall Than Step Aside

Two stubborn goats meet on a narrow bridge and learn too late that dignity is not lost by making room.

The whole story

1. At sunrise, a sturdy white mountain goat with a charcoal-gray muzzle, amber eyes, short cream horns, a rust-red scarf, and a woven blue satchel stepped onto the bridge. He was carrying fresh herbs to the village market.

2. At the same moment, a small golden-brown goat with a white forehead star, dark brown eyes, curved black horns, a violet neckerchief, and a round green basket reached the other end. She was bringing apples home from the orchard.

3. They met where the bridge was narrowest. The river flashed below their hooves, and there was room for only one goat at a time.

4. “I am already halfway across,” said the white goat. “You must turn around.” The golden-brown goat tightened her grip on the basket. “I have come just as far,” she replied. “You turn around.”

5. Neither goat moved. The white goat pointed to his herbs, and the golden-brown goat pointed to her apples. Each had a reason. Neither had a plan for making room.

6. The bridge creaked. The white goat spread his legs wider. The golden-brown goat did the same. Their loads bumped the rails, but still neither took one step back.

7. Then a plank shifted beneath them. The white goat grabbed the rope, and the golden-brown goat lowered her basket to steady herself. For one breath, both understood that pride made a poor handrail.

8. The bridge dipped, and both goats tumbled onto the soft riverbank. Their herbs and apples were safe, but the crossing was not. They had reached the shore without reaching the other side.

9. The white goat looked at the broken bridge. The golden-brown goat looked at the shallow ford downstream. At last, neither goat had won, and neither goat had lost anything worth keeping.

10. The white goat found a branch. The golden-brown goat found flat stones. Without announcing an apology, they began to build a crossing neither could have made alone.

11. When the stones were ready, the white goat stepped aside. The golden-brown goat crossed first, then held the branch while he followed.

12. By sunset, both goats were across, and the market was still waiting. They had learned too late that dignity is not lost by making room.

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