THE MONKEY’S JUSTICE

Pic.: Mini Milind

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 monkey comes before me every time I am set to pick a fight with my fellow-being over the ‘stuff’ we find along the street called Life…

THE MONKEY’S JUSTICE

PAST:

One day, two cats were wandering along a street. They saw a big chunk of cake and one of the cats swiftly grabbed it.

“Give it here,” screamed the other cat, “I sighted it first.”

“Maybe, my friend,” retorted the cat with the cake, “I grabbed it first.”

The argument, soon, turned into a bitter fight… Just then, there appeared on the scene a monkey.

“Why are you fighting my dear friends?” the monkey enquired.

The cats explained to the monkey the reason for their fight.

“Don’t worry, my friends,” the monkey pacified the quarrelling cats, “Can I help you solve your problem?”

“Please do,” the cats agreed.

The monkey broke the chunk of cake into two parts and gave each cat a portion. The cats were happy. But, just when they were about to eat their shares, the monkey yelled, “Wait a minute… This piece seems to be a little larger than the other… and, that’s not fair, you see.” Saying so, he ate a portion of one of the parts. “You can eat it now,” he declared.

But, just as the cats were about to put the cake into their mouths, the monkey jumped again, “Hold on… hold on… Now, this piece seems a bit larger and that’s not fair, you see.” So, the monkey gobbled a portion of the other piece. “Please eat now,” he handed the justice.

But, each time the cats tried to eat, the same monkey-trick continued and before the cats could come to their senses, the whole chunk of cake was gone into the monkey’s stomach!

And, with that, the monkey, too, was gone!

PRESENT:

(One day,) two cats are wandering along a street. They see a big chunk of cake and one of the cats swiftly grabs it.

“Give it here,” screams the other cat, “I sighted it first.”

“Maybe, my friend,” retorts the cat with the cake, “I grabbed it first.”

The argument, soon, turns into a bitter fight… Just then, there appears on the scene a monkey.

“Why are you fighting my dear friends?” the monkey enquires.

The cats explain to the monkey the reason for their fight.

“Don’t worry, my friends,” the monkey pacifies the quarrelling cats, “Can I help you solve your problem?”

“Please do,” the cats agree.

The monkey breaks the chunk of cake into two parts and gives each cat a portion. The cats are happy. But, just when they are about to eat their shares, the monkey yells, “Wait a minute… This piece seems to be a little larger than the other… and, that’s not fair, you see.” Saying so, he eats a portion of one of the parts. “You can eat it now,” he declares.

But, just as the cats are about to put the cake into their mouths, the monkey jumps again, “Hold on… hold on… Now, this piece seems a bit larger and that’s not fair, you see.” So, the monkey gobbles a portion of the other piece. “Please eat now,” he hands the justice.

But, each time the cats try to eat, the same monkey-trick continues and before the cats can come to their senses, the whole chunk of cake is gone into the monkey’s stomach!

And, with that, the monkey, too, is gone!

GERALD D’CUNHA