One day a dog sneaked into a butcher’s shop and stole a fat, juicy bone. He was just slinking out of the door when he was spotted by the butcher. "You rascal," he shouted. "Come back here!"
The dog did not wait to hear any more. He began to run as fast as his legs would carry him, down the hill, over a stile and out into the country. He ran so far and so fast that he was soon very tired.
"It’s no good," he panted as he reached a little bridge over a stream. "I’ve just got to have a rest." And, puffing hard, he stepped slowly on to the bridge.
"How refreshing that water looks," he thought, peering into the stream. "It’s exactly what a hot, thirsty dog needs." And then his eyes almost popped out of his head. "That’s amazing! There’s a funny dog down there - and it’s got a bone that’s even bigger than mine!"
He growled angrily. "After all I’ve been through, I deserve the biggest bone. And what’s more, I’m going to have it."
He opened his mouth in a threatening snarl - but suddenly there was a huge splash. The bone had dropped straight out of his mouth and into the water. As the water settled he saw that the dog in the stream had also lost his bone. And then he realized what had happened.
"Oh, No!" he whimpered. "I’ve been looking at a reflection of myself. How could I have been so stupid - and so greedy? Now I’ve got no bone at all!"
Story Time � 1984-1989 by Rubicon Press CC