In a certain forest there was a bright clearing where animals gathered every day. They talked to each other, argued about things, and even put on real concerts. Usually there was quite a commotion, but today only two voices could be heard.
What do you know? You live in the lap of luxury!
The Hare protested indignantly.
As if your life is so hard!
The Wolf snapped back.
Nobody in our forest bothers you, you just eat your carrots and steal cabbage from gardens.
Oh, really! And you just run around the forest and have tea parties with the fox. While I…
Enough arguing.
Suddenly a voice rang out in the forest. The Wise Owl had come to the clearing.
I can help you decide whose life is harder. I'll swap your tails for a day, and you'll each live the other's life.
And then the Owl waved her wing—and a short gray tail grew on the Wolf. She waved a second time—and a long gray tail grew on the Hare. And so it was decided.
The Hare hopped through the forest contentedly, showing off to the local gossips. But his happiness didn't last long. He decided to snatch some cabbage in the village, but it didn't work out. As soon as his tail flashed in the bushes—shots rang out! The hunters chased the poor bunny for a long time, and he barely escaped with his life. After thinking hard, he went to the clearing to wait for the Wolf.
Things didn't go smoothly for the Wolf either. At first he was delighted, running through the forest unnoticed by anyone. But in his excitement, the forest creature wandered onto someone else's clearing.
And there sat a fox.
Oh, what a lovely little rabbit.
She smiled cunningly.
What are you talking about, are you blind?
The gray hunter protested.
I'm a Wolf.
What wolf? A tiny gray tail—definitely a rabbit.
I agree.
A bear emerged from the bushes. And they reached out with their clawed paws toward the poor Wolf. He too had to run away. They met at the clearing—the exhausted Wolf and the breathless Hare with his tail tucked between his legs.
Forgive me, Gray One.
The Hare pleaded.
Your life is hard, I was wrong.
No, you forgive me. How do you manage to run from everyone and get everything done? You were right, your life is harder.
And don't argue anymore.
The Wise Owl came to the clearing again.
Life is difficult for everyone, it only seems easy from the outside. And until you've lived a day in someone else's shoes, don't judge anyone!
