THE GOOSE THAT LAID GOLDEN EGG

Pic.: Chetna Shetty

Years ago, when I had decided to do something about my poor English, one of the things I did – and found it very useful – was telling a nice story in two tenses… Past and Present. Over the years, I have helped hundreds of people who were earnest to improve their English with the same method… Yes, write a nice story down in both the tenses… and tell it to someone.

This popular Aesop’s fable was one of the earliest childhood stories I had heard. But, the temptation seems so familiar and lifelong!

THE GOOSE THAT LAID

GOLDEN EGG

PAST:

In a certain town, there lived a man and his wife. They owned a goose which was special. It laid a golden egg every morning. This made the couple reasonably rich and happy.

But, one morning, after the goose had laid the day’s egg, the wife said to her husband, “This goose just gives us only one golden egg a day. Just imagine how quickly we can become wealthy if we could have all the eggs in one go!”

“That sounds great,” agreed the husband, “We do not have to wait for long to become wealthy.”

Thus, the couple slit open the goose’s belly with the hope of getting all the golden eggs in one go.

A rude shock awaited the couple… The goose’s belly was empty!

PRESENT:

In a certain town, there live a man and his wife. They own a goose which is special. It lays a golden egg every morning. This makes the couple reasonably rich and happy.

But, one morning, after the goose has laid the day’s egg, the wife says to her husband, “This goose just gives us only one golden egg a day. Just imagine how quickly we can become wealthy if we can have all the eggs in one go!”

“That sounds great,” agrees the husband, “We do not have to wait for long to become wealthy.”

Thus, the couple slits open the goose’ belly with the hope of getting all the golden eggs in one go.

A rude shock awaits the couple… The goose’ belly is empty!

GERALD D’CUNHA