Storyclover
Storyclover
At late morning, a young fox balanced a polished wooden table between the apple trees. He had invited a stork for supper and planned a trick so elegant that she would have to admire his cleverness.
The Fox and the Stork Set a Table for RevengeA fox's cruel joke returns to him at the stork's tall jar, and both learn that clever revenge still leaves everyone hungry.
1. At late morning, a young fox balanced a polished wooden table between the apple trees. He had invited a stork for supper and planned a trick so elegant that she would have to admire his cleverness.
2. By late afternoon, the stork arrived, and the fox bowed deeply. "Welcome, dear friend. I have made a special soup," he said. The stork thanked him and took her seat.
3. The fox poured the soup into two broad, shallow plates. He lowered his muzzle and drank at once. The stork bent her long beak toward the soup, but the plate gave her nowhere to begin.
4. The stork tapped her beak against the plate. The fox finished every drop, wiped his mouth, and laughed. "What a pity," he said. "A feast can be so small when a beak is so long."
5. The next afternoon, the stork invited the fox to supper. She placed a fragrant stew in a tall, narrow jar. The fox's smile tightened when he saw it, but he sat down and reached for his spoon.
6. The fox pushed his muzzle toward the jar, but the opening was too narrow. He tried his spoon, then his paw, and found no way to reach the stew. The stork took one small mouthful and lowered her beak.
7. The stork studied the fox's empty bowl. "You served me a meal I could not eat," she said. The fox looked at the tall jar. "And you served me one I could not eat." Neither of them laughed.
8. They set the stew aside and began planning a wide bowl for tomorrow. For now, the fox and the stork walked home hungry. The fox's cruel joke had returned to him at the stork's tall jar, and both learned that clever revenge still leaves everyone hungry.
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