THE DEAF FROG
Pic.: Mini Milind
Years ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor
English, one of the things I did – and found very effective – was telling a
nice story in two tenses… the Present and the Past. Over the years, I have
helped hundreds of people, who were earnest about improving their English, with
the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and, then,
tell it to someone…
I had heard this inspiring story, too,
from my friend, Dr. Deepak…On the graduation day of our little and young frogs,
he would recount this fable – ‘THE DEAF FROG’ – in his own inimitable style…
THE DEAF FROG
PAST:
Once, in a town, all the frogs decided to hold
a competition among them. The challenge was: to see who would be able to climb
the tallest tower in the town!
When the day of the competition arrived,
the people from the town came to the spot to witness the grand spectacle. When
they saw the tiny creatures near the town’s gigantic tower, all set to climb,
they all became cynical and cried, “Silly frogs… They can’t!”
And, the gun-shot went up in the air...
The race began. As the frogs tried desperately to climb, and fast, the
spectators began to scream hysterically, “You fools, you can’t,”… “Give up… Go
home!”
When the little frogs heard the cry of
the mob around, they got discouraged and disheartened… and, one by one, they
gave up. But, one frog didn’t. He kept climbing, persistently… till he made it
to the top of the dizzy tower!
“Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”… It was the same
cynical crowd, now, cheering the brave one!
After the presentation ceremony, one of
the quitter-frogs asked the winner, “Friend, how did you do it? How come you
didn’t get discouraged?”
The quitter-frog was in for a shock… Our
‘hero’ – the brave winner – was deaf… Completely deaf!
PRESENT:
(Once,) in a town, all the frogs decide to hold
a competition among them. The challenge is: to see who will be able to climb
the tallest tower in the town!
When the day of the competition arrives,
the people from the town come to the spot to witness the grand spectacle. When
they see the tiny creatures near the town’s gigantic tower, all set to climb, they
all become cynical and cry, “Silly frogs… They can’t!”
And, the gun-shot goes up in the air...
The race begins. As the frogs try desperately to climb, and fast, the
spectators begin to scream hysterically, “You fools, you can’t,”… “Give up… Go
home!”
When the little frogs hear the cry of
the mob around, they get discouraged and disheartened… and, one by one, they
give up. But, one frog doesn’t. He keeps climbing, persistently… till he makes
it to the top of the dizzy tower!
“Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!”… It is the same
cynical crowd, now, cheering the brave one!
After the presentation ceremony, one of
the quitter-frogs asks the winner, “Friend, how did you do it? How come you
didn’t get discouraged?”
The quitter-frog is in for a shock… Our
‘hero’ – the brave winner – is deaf… Completely deaf!
GERALD D’CUNHA
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