The Grumpy Tree - Fables By Shapes - A Folktale From India

Hello, it's me, Badger, and I've got a great story for you today. You want to hear it? Of course, you do! So here it is - the tale of the Grumpy Tree. Shapes, over to you!

The Grumpy Giant

Once upon a time, in a forest not too far away, stood a magnificent banyan tree. Now, we're talking about a tree that was taller than all its forest companions put together. Impressive, right? But here's the twist - this tree wasn't as happy as you'd expect.

He was grumpy.

This towering banyan tree had a habit of grumbling about everything under the sun. Quite literally. He'd grumble about the sun, the rain, and even his fellow forest inhabitants.

"I don't like the sun," he'd moan. "And I don't like the rain."

Even the cheerful songs of the parakeet, meant to bring joy to the forest, seemed to irk the Grumpy Tree even more.

"He's too noisy," he'd mutter.

The Comedic Trio

Now, let's introduce you to the forest's quirky trio. First up, we have the tigress, who had a penchant for napping in the Grumpy Tree's shade. Of course, the Grumpy Tree had something to say about this.

"My beautiful stripes!" he'd grumble. "We need stripes for the lady, not spots!"

Then there was the elephant, always seeking relief by rubbing his itch against the Grumpy Tree's trunk. You can guess how that went down.

"That feels good," the elephant would sigh in relief.

But the Grumpy Tree? Not a fan.

"I don't like any bottoms rubbing against my trunk."

Finally, the parakeet, with its melodious tunes, aimed to serenade the forest. Yet, you guessed it, this wasn't music to the Grumpy Tree's ears.

"I wish I didn't have friends that sing, snore, or rub their hides on me," he'd grumble.

The Lonely Grump

So, what did our Grumpy Tree do? He chased away each of his friends, convinced that solitude was the key to his happiness. And for a while, it seemed like it was.

Yet, as the days passed, the Grumpy Tree found himself increasingly bored and lonely.

A Fiery Twist

Then, one fateful day, disaster struck. A forest fire raged, threatening to consume everything in its path. The Grumpy Tree, rooted in place, could only watch in terror.

Desperate, he called out for his long-lost friends.

"Parakeet! Tigress! Elephant! I need you! Help!"

In a flash, they returned to his side, ready to face the flames.

The parakeet took to the air, a flurry of feathers and determination. The tigress dug fiercely with her claws, creating a barrier of earth and stone. And the elephant, with his powerful trunk, worked miracles only an elephant could.

A Grump No More

In the end, they succeeded. The fire was extinguished, and the Grumpy Tree was saved.

"Thank you for saving my life," he whispered, gratitude in his voice. "I'll never be grumpy again about your singing, snoring, or scratching."

From that moment on, the giant banyan tree was transformed. He was never grumpy again.

And so, dear reader, what did our Grumpy Tree learn? The importance of kindness, of cherishing friends who stand by you, even when you're at your grumpiest.

What a story, right? Remember, just as you are important to me, friends are crucial to us all. So, until next time, stay in shape - physically and emotionally. You matter!