The Monkey and the Turtle

A turtle once stole some bananas. He was carrying them along a hot, dusty road when a monkey sitting high in a tree called out to him, “Give me some of your bananas.”

“Why don’t you get your own bananas? You are lazy!” said the turtle.

“No, I am not,” said the monkey. “You have so many bananas that half of them will spoil before you eat them.”

“Then I shall throw them away,” replied the turtle.

The monkey decided to change the subject. “Friend,” he said, “it is very nice and cool up here, and the view is beautiful. To the north, I see a ship in full sail. To the south, a great city. To the east, farmers are working in a wide valley. And far to the west, there is a mountain and a lovely waterfall.”

The turtle liked these words so much that he stood on his hind legs and looked up at the monkey. “I want to learn how to climb. Can you teach me?”

“Of course,” said the monkey.

“All right, you may begin,” said the turtle. He left the bananas and started toward the tree.

“Very well,” said the monkey. “But I always charge my pupils for lessons. Give me six bananas and I will teach you to climb up here.”

“That is too much,” said the turtle.

“Four then?” asked the monkey. “No,” said the turtle. “Two?” asked the monkey. “No, but I will give you one if I can choose,” said the turtle.

“All right,” said the monkey and came down the tree. The turtle gave him a small banana. The monkey ate it, but it was green and not tasty.

“Are you ready?” asked the monkey.

“I am,” said the turtle.

“Take the end of my tail in your mouth,” ordered the monkey. The monkey began to climb the tree, and the turtle hung on to his tail. Up, up they went until they reached the top.

The monkey placed the turtle in a crow’s nest, then went down to sit beside the bananas.

After a while, the turtle said, “I have seen enough for now. Teach me how to climb down.”

When the turtle looked around and saw the monkey on the ground beside the bananas, he became angry.

“Come back and teach me how to get down!” he demanded.

“Oh no!” laughed the monkey. “I agreed to teach you how to climb up, but you said nothing about coming down.”

“How many bananas will you take to teach me to climb down?”

“Ten,” said the monkey.

“That is too much,” said the turtle. “Five?” “Too much.” “Three?” “I will give you two if I can choose.”

“All right,” said the monkey. Then he shouted, “It is very simple. Jump down!”

But the turtle did not jump. The monkey took the bananas and walked away, laughing. Maybe the greedy old turtle is still up in the tree.