The Talkative Tortoise

In a beautiful lake full of blooming lotuses, there lived a Tortoise named Kambu. He was a friendly fellow, but he had one big problem: he loved to talk. Yakity-yak, yakity-yak. He talked all day long. “The water is so wet today,” he would say. “Look at that cloud! It looks like a fish. Do you know fish can’t fly? But birds can fly. Why can’t I fly?” The fish in the lake would just swim away to find some peace and quiet.

Kambu’s best friends were two majestic white Swans who visited the lake every year. They loved Kambu despite his chatter because he told funny stories. But one year, a terrible drought struck the land. The rains failed to come. The green grass turned brown. The rivers shrank. Day by day, the water in the lotus lake dried up. “We cannot stay here,” said the Swans sadly. “We must fly north to the Great Manasarovar Lake, where the water never dries. It is time to say goodbye, Kambu.” Kambu began to cry. “Please don’t leave me!” he wailed. “If I stay here, I will dry up like a raisin! I will die! Take me with you!”

“We would love to,” said the Swans. “But you cannot fly. And it is a long journey.” Kambu thought hard. “I have an idea!” he shouted. “Get a strong stick. You two hold the ends of the stick in your beaks. I will bite the middle of the stick with my strong jaws. Then you can fly up, and I will hang on!” The Swans looked doubtful. “It is a clever plan,” said one Swan. “But it is very dangerous. You must keep your mouth shut tight. If you open your mouth to talk, you will fall.” “I promise!” said Kambu. “I won’t say a single word. My lips are sealed.”

So, they found a sturdy stick. The Swans clamped their beaks on the ends. Kambu bit hard on the middle. Flap! Flap! Flap! Up they went! Kambu felt the wind rushing past his shell. It was amazing! He was flying! They flew over hills and valleys. Soon, they flew over a village. People looked up and pointed. “Look at that!” shouted a man. “Two birds carrying a tortoise!” “How funny!” laughed a boy. “Look at his dangling legs!” “He looks like a flying rock!” teased a woman. “I bet he will fall!”

Kambu heard them laughing. His face turned red with anger. He wanted to tell them he was not a rock, but a clever adventurer. “Stupid humans!” he wanted to shout. “I am flying!” He forgot his promise. He opened his mouth to speak. “You are st—” As soon as his jaws opened, he lost his grip on the stick. Waaaaaah! Down, down, down he fell. THUD! Luckily, he fell into a large haystack in a farmer’s field. He wasn’t seriously hurt, but his shell was cracked, and he was very dizzy. The Swans looked down sadly and flew on. They could not help him now. Kambu sat in the hay, bruised and alone. “I should have kept my mouth shut,” he wept.

Moral of the Story: Know when to speak and when to stay silent. Listen to good advice, or you will suffer for it.