[Chris O'Carroll]

No 4260
Set by Leonora Casement
We asked you to think up new fables, complete with a moral, for the world today.

This week’s winners
Well done. Winners get £20 each and the Tesco vouchers go, in addition, to Chris O’Carroll.

Cat’s eyes
A poor, childless widow living on benefits was so lonely that she adopted two stray animals, a mongrel of insanitary habits and a very plump, greedy cat. Though they never showed her much affection and had none for each other, they provided the company she longed for. In a small but important way, her life improved. Unhappily, the day came when new benefits rules slashed her income, meaning that she could hardly feed herself, let alone two companion animals. Both dog and cat resented the new regime of austerity and soon left, though not without a final act of wilful malice. The dog took some drapery that was drying on the line and the cat went off with her spectacles. Now, she was worse off in every way and only hoped for death.
Moral A dirty dog may steal your curtains but a fat cat will rob you blind.
Basil Ransome-Davies

Hidden in plain sight
“Now then, now then, now then!” Smiley Stoat exclaimed as he grinned his toothy grin for the television cameras. “Smiley loves the pretty little mousies so. This programme is all about making their wishes come true. And my wishes, too.” He reached over to pet some mousies.
Two bulldogs watched from a corner of the studio. “Isn’t there something a bit off about him?” one whispered.
“He’s prodigiously popular with the viewing public,” the other replied. “So let’s say that nothing is.”
There didn’t seem to be quite as many mousies in the studio as there had been a moment ago. Smiley Stoat licked his lips. “Later today,” he said, “I’ll visit some helpless mousies in hospital to stroke and comfort them. How’s about that, then?”
Moral Sometimes the whole world is watching but nobody sees anything.
Chris O’Carroll

Acting up
A drongo bird and a meerkat are sunning themselves in the Kalahari Desert, watched by an admiring Englishman and a camera crew. The meerkat is enjoying a meal with his family. Then, suddenly, “Eagle! Eagle!” warns the drongo. The meerkat and his family scurry to safety and the drongo flies down and begins to eat the meerkat’s dinner. The meerkat emerges from his burrow and angrily chases away the deceitful bird. “Extraordinary!” breathes the Englishman. “Extraordinary. What a truly exceptional bird the drongo is. How truly amazing is the truly arid Kalahari Desert,” he continues, as he turns away in search of other entertainment. Watching him leave, the meerkat and the drongo exchange high-fives. “You were brilliant!” exclaims the meerkat. “You, too,” laughs the drongo. “Matt Damon, eat your heart out. I can’t wait to see that in HD. Extraordinary!”
Moral Things are not always as they seem.
David Silverman

Unreliable witness
A fox was trying to leave a forest, when he was stopped by a crowd of magpies. The magpies said he should leave by another route but the fox became very angry and swore at them and called them nasty names.
The fox was shunned by the other foxes, who said he should not have abused the magpies. Then, it was discovered that a witness to the incident had lied about his true identity and was discredited. The other animals were wondering whom they should believe, when they noticed a gamekeeper’s camera in a tree close to where the incident took place. They watched the film and found that the witness had lied not only about his identity but about the number of bystanders present. Yet the fox was still shunned.
Moral Proof means nothing when dirt sticks.
Katie Mallett

Tweet intolerance
A bird twittered constantly from its city nest. I am safe here, he thought. Everyone loves me and follows my songs. Whatever I sing, people applaud. And the bird twittered every thought that came into its small brain and smirked with pleasure at its own cleverness.
A sparrowhawk perched high over the city listened to its noise. He wasn’t very hungry but he heard the twittering and a small snack is always tempting. The notes led him to the nest and he pounced. The bird’s song was silenced (to the relief of many), the sparrowhawk had enjoyed a tasty morsel and the city was a quieter and pleasanter place.
Moral Many a twitter ends in someone’s tears.
D A Prince