Tortoise was sad for days and refused to go out. You see, tortoise had no friend because he had deceived every animal in the kingdom- the hare, the birds, the snake and even the fox that prided itself as the most cunning one! However, some animals visited him. Some went to sympathize with him, some went to see what his destroyed shell looked like, some went to mock him.
Among these visitors was Chicken in all his glory- his shinning red comb standing at the tallest heights, his beautiful feathers dutifully obeying the curves of his plump body and his smooth and manicured feet that made the ground look unfit for existence. Thanks to his great beauty, Chicken was a very haughty one and he believed no other animal was more beautiful than he was. He was always happy to show off and his visit to the tortoise was no different.
“They say you fell”, Chicken scoffed. “Was it hard?” he laughed at Tortoise.
Tortoise cried. He was very sad and angry.
“Well-”, said Chicken, “you may cover your face in tears but your shell will never be mended. I, on the other hand, am on my way to win the crown as the beautifullest animal in the world with my bright red comb, pure white feathers and shiny smooth feet” he roared in laughter.
An idea came to Tortoise. “Why don’t you let me help you?” Tortoise suddenly said
“An ugly old thing like you? Help me? Is that a joke?” Chicken laughed some more
“I hear the beautifullest competition is in the next town. As a flightless bird, you’ll have to walk and that will ruin your precious smooth feet”
Chicken looked puzzled.
“If you wear a loaf of bread on each foot, the bread will soak up the dirt of your journey and keep your feet safe”
“You want to trick me?” quizzed the Chicken
“I plan to mourn and avenge my shell. I have no time for you” Tortoise was irritated
“Fine then”, said Chicken. “I shall take your bread” and Chicken grabbed the two loaves of bread gently resting on a table beside Tortoise.
“That stale bread is the last meal my family has”, Tortoise cried out
Chicken shouted, “My feet are more important than your bellies”. The chicken wore the bread on each foot and stormed out of the house.
Chicken danced happily on his journey to the beautifullest competition as he pictured himself with the prize crown perched around his bright red comb. At the competition, Chicken sneered at the other animals and boasted about his beauty. Next, chicken removed the bread to reveal his beautiful feet but was shocked at the horror that covered it. His feet were wrinkled, hard and smelly.
Chicken cried and cried as he ran back to Tortoise’ house. The journey had made Chicken dirty but he didn’t care to clean up; the tortoise had deceived him and he wanted revenge. He broke down the door to Tortoise’s house and screamed at Tortoise, “You deceitful ugly animal!”
“Well-”, said Tortoise, “you may cover your face in tears but your feet will never be smooth”
Till this
day, the chicken’s legs are rough and scrawny.
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