TWO GOATS






Pic.: Anima D'Cunha



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…

Here is a little story that comes back to me, again and again, with the warning sign - ‘DANGER’… yes, every time I am about to lock horns with another goat right in the middle of a narrow bridge…



TWO GOATS

PAST:

Two goats lived on either side of a mountain. Every day, they left home looking for pastures. On their way, they had to pass through a very narrow bridge that stood over a deep river. 


One day, the goats faced each other right in the middle of the narrow bridge… and both were unwilling to make way for each other.


“Step aside,” screamed the first goat, “let me pass.”


“No way,” protested the other goat, “it is my way… or no way!”


So, they locked their horns and started pushing and charging at each other… till their stubbornness took them to the edge of the narrow bridge. And, finally, both of them went crashing down into the fierce river which gushed deep down!


PRESENT:

Two goats live on either side of a mountain. Every day, they leave home looking for pastures. On their way, they have to pass through a very narrow bridge that stands over a deep river. 


One day, the goats face each other right in the middle of the narrow bridge… and both of them are unwilling to make way for each other.

“Step aside,” screams the first goat, “let me pass.”


“No way,” protests the other goat, “it is my way… or no way!”


So, they lock their horns and start pushing and charging at each other… till their stubbornness takes them to the edge of the narrow bridge. And, finally, both of them go crashing down into the fierce river which gushes deep down!


GERALD D’CUNHA

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