The Grateful Crane
Once upon a time, by the edge of a lake, lived a beautiful crane. He was the most beautiful bird there, but he was not grateful for it. He hated his legs, his wings, his beak, and complained about it all year long.
Everyone heard him complaining, from the birds in the tallest tree to the fish swimming in the deep lake. Everyone was tired of hearing him.
The Discontented Crane
One night, resting in a tree, he started complaining as usual.
— Oh, these legs of mine are useless. And my wings aren't strong at all. They're not even pretty. If only I had colorful wings like a butterfly. Boo-hoo! — Oh, oh! You startled me! Oh, my heart is beating so fast. What a useless heart I have! Boo-hoo! — How strange to say such a thing! No one has a useless heart. — Then I am no one. For everything I have is useless. My legs are like twigs. My beak is long and ugly, and my wings... So pale and white, they have no color at all. How I wish I were a butterfly! — Little crane, be careful what you say! Do you really think it would be better to be a butterfly? — Ah, yes, I do. Everyone would love and adore me. I would be the most beautiful creature in the world. I want to be a butterfly. — Boo-hoo! — I warn you, crane! I speak the truth and not lies. By morning you will be a butterfly! Boo-hoo!
The Wish Granted: The Butterfly
The next morning, the crane woke up, but something was wrong. He wasn't by the lake, and he wasn't a crane anymore.
— Oh, what a beautiful flower! I've never seen such a big flower in my life. Mmm? What are these behind me? Ah! Wings! Yay! I'm not a crane anymore! Am I a butterfly?
Indeed, the crane had made a wish, and now he had transformed into the most beautiful butterfly. His wings had such brilliant colors, and he looked wonderful in the sun.
— Wow! These wings are fantastic! How beautiful! And what lovely colors! Ha-ha-ha!
And he flew off, showing his wings to all the flowers and bees he saw. He flew as high as he could to boast about his wings to the world.
— Oh, how beautiful I look! These wings are so lovely! Oh, I hope this isn't a dream!
At that moment, an eagle came after him.
— Ah!
He was so scared that he started flapping his wings very fast. But his wings weren't much help. They were tiny, and it was very hard for him to escape.
— Ha, ha, ha! No! Go away! Oh, oh, no! Oh, what shall I do? Fly faster! Fly faster!
He hid in the bushes, and the eagle flew on.
— Ah, ah, ah! That was a close call! These wings aren't very good for running away. And now what will... Huh?
At that moment, a frog noticed him. The butterfly looked very beautiful, and the frog thought he would be a delicious meal for her.
— No! Ugh! Stop! Ugh!
The Wish Granted: The Fish
— Oh, dear me! It's terrible to be a beautiful butterfly! It's brought me nothing but big troubles. Maybe if I were a fish underwater, it would be better. A body full of shimmering scales, with no eagles wanting to eat me. Ah, maybe I'd have a better life if I were a fish.
The little butterfly fell into a deep sleep. He was very tired after all the running and fright he had experienced.
— Boo-hoo!
— Ah! What a strange dream I had! Butterflies and eagles! Ah! Scary! Mmm? Mmm? What is this? Why can't I fly?
He soon realized that the wings he was trying to fly with were now fish fins.
— Fish wings? Where are my wings? Ah! I'm a fish! And this is the ocean! My wish has come true! Hooray! These scales are wonderful, they shine like colorful mirrors! Ha-ha-ha!
And he set off into the water, looking at the wonderful corals and beautiful fish swimming everywhere.
— The sea is so beautiful, and I am so beautiful! I fit in perfectly here! Nothing can bother me down here. Hm-hm-hm.
But as he swam along, humming, he soon reached a very deserted area. He was looking around when, suddenly, he bumped into something pink and soft.
— Mmm. What is this? Oh! It's so soft! And it squeaks. I can play with it! Ha-ha!
He continued to play with that strange thing until, suddenly, a giant octopus appeared from behind a rock. It was one of her tentacles, and the octopus was not happy that the fish was playing with it.
— Oh, oh, dear, oh dear! Ha-ha! Please, don't hurt me! Bye! Huh?
And they started chasing him. The poor fish swam very fast, trying to escape the giant octopus. But the octopus was fast, and the little fish wasn't very used to swimming.
— Oh! That was a close call! I didn't expect so much trouble in the sea too! — Boo-hoo! — I mean, mmm, brrr! There are problems everywhere, little fish! Don't you know that? — Who are you? Do I know you? — Mmm, no, I don't think you know me. — But you seem familiar. — Boo-hoo! I mean, brrr! Hoo-hoo-hoo! Of course you don't know me! The ocean is very big, you know? Mmm.
The Wish Granted: The Lion
— If I were the strongest animal, then no one would dare to do anything to me. The strongest would be the lion. I want to be a lion. — Is that so? Aren't you happy to be a fish with shimmering scales? — They're no use to me at all. How fantastic it would be to be the bravest king of all! — Mmm, well, if that's what you believe and if that's your wish, then it shall come true, little fish! Ho-ho-ho!
And in an instant, the little fish was surrounded by many bubbles. He closed his eyes in fear, and then the roar of the sea enveloped him.
— Oh, no!
And just as suddenly, the noise stopped. He opened his eyes and woke up in the middle of the jungle.
— Jungle? Why am I here? Wait! Paws and a tail? I'm a lion! Grrr!
His roar was so powerful that all the leaves around him trembled and shook.
— Ha-ha-ha! I'm a lion! The king of the entire jungle! The master of all animals! No one dares to harm me! Ha-ha!
And he set off for a walk through the jungle, feeling grand and magnificent. He roared at all the animals he met, and they ran away from him.
— This is amazing! I didn't know how much power a lion actually has! Ha! It's fun! Grrr!
But as he walked along, he fell into a trap set by hunters. And soon he found himself in a cage from which he couldn't escape.
— Grrr! What is this? Let me go! Let me go!
And from behind the bushes, two hunters appeared. They had a wicked look, and the lion began to feel scared.
— What a wonderful lion! If we take him now, we can sell him for a very good price. — He-he! Yes! Let's hurry and take him away from here!
The poor lion, hearing this, began to tremble very much.
— No! No! Please, don't take me anywhere! Oh! Someone help me! I don't want to be a lion anymore! I was happy when I was a crane! I want to be a crane again!
The Lesson Learned
— Huh? It was just a dream. Oh! Oh, how good! Oh, I'm so happy to be myself again! My superb legs! My beautiful beak and my wings! My strong and magnificent wings! I'm so proud of them all! Mmm.
The crane had learned his lesson. It's important to be grateful for what you have and for who you are. A simple dream taught him that. Or maybe it wasn't a dream at all.
— Mmm.
