The Donkey, the Elephant, and the Lion: A Fable for My Daughter on the Eve of an American Presidential Election
There was once a forest filled with every kind of animal. Once verdant and full of green, the abundance of the woods had withered, making food, shelter, and security for the animals scarce – a premium controlled by those in power.
The animals of the forest gathered one night, unclear about who should have this power. After little debate and less reflection, a race was proposed between a donkey and an elephant. The winner would rule them all.
It was an exciting race, full of twists and turns, the very height of entertainment. And entertainment it was, for all the other animals watched and waited in anticipation for who would finally win this very, very long race.
The donkey and the elephant were neck and neck, and at each other's necks, biting and tearing at each other. Blood was spilt, tears as well. Some of the animals turned away, others asked why these two were selected for the race. Still others wondered how such a race could ever determine a true leader.
But the python reassured them all: 'This is the way it's done.'
And then a squirrel looking for a lost nut ran into a wall. It was a large wall, so that not even the giraffes could see over it. As the squirrel scampered along its perimeter, he soon realized that it surrounded the entire forest – and that all the animals were trapped inside.
The squirrel scaled the wall and from the top he could see the vast world outside. It was lush and green, the most beautiful landscape he could ever imagine.
He looked up and saw at the top of the highest hill a Lion, seated on a throne. With tears in his eyes, the Lion gazed down into the enclosed forest, broken-hearted at the loss of dignity, civility, and peace he saw.
Jumping down the other side of the wall, the squirrel scurried up the hill and to the feet of the Lion. ‘Who are you?’ the squirrel asked, excited.
‘I am the Lion. The ruler and king of all you see.’
The squirrel looked around and could see all of creation. He then noticed the place from which he had escaped and he could see the race raging on within the wall.
‘But what about them?’ the squirrel asked, ‘They are racing to see who will be ruler of all the animals.’
‘They race to see who will rule a zoo.’ The Lion turned to the squirrel, ‘I want to set them free from that prison.’
The squirrel stood baffled.
‘I sent them a lamb with a map to escape,’ the Lion continued, ‘but they slaughtered him.’ Sorrow reverberated in his voice. ‘Now, I am sending you.’
‘Me? But I am just a squirrel looking for a lost nut. What good can I do?’
The Lion smiled, ‘You can tell them the truth.’
Fear seized the squirrel and he began to shake. ’Won’t they slaughter me too?’
‘Perhaps.’ The Lion sensed the squirrel’s fear. ‘But don’t be afraid, for I will be with you. I will send other squirrels to help you.’
‘How many squirrels?’
‘As many as it takes. Indeed, I will send many kinds of animals.’
The squirrel looked down at his fellow animals trapped within the walls. ‘What truth shall I tell them?’
The Lion rose from his throne, ‘Tell them I am coming soon. And when I do, the walls of their prison will be torn down forever. Tell them what you have seen here and what you now know is true. They can leave the zoo at any time, but they must choose to do so. I will not force them from their prison until it is destroyed.’
Locking eyes with the squirrel and placing his paw upon him, the Lion roared: ‘Now go!’
The squirrel ran down the hill, his heart fluttering, and forgetting all about his lost nut, he climbed the wall and jumped back down into the forest – where he was immediately confronted by the python.
‘Where have you been?’ the python asked. The squirrel’s response was full of joy and anticipation, as he related to him all that he had seen and heard outside the wall.
The python appeared to listen with great interest, moving closer to the squirrel.
‘Outside this wall is a beautiful and vast land, full of all kind plants and food, enough for everyone to satisfy every hunger and thirst!’
‘Is that so,’ the python asked, slowly encircling the squirrel as he spoke.
‘And on the hill overlooking it all is a lion seated on a throne!’
‘Oh really,’ the python responded with flickering tongue as he wove himself around the squirrel, bright-eyed and bushy tailed. ‘A lion you say?’
Distracted with excitement, the squirrel did not realize he’d be enclosed. ‘Yes! He’s the King! And he’s coming soon to tear down this wall and save us—’
Suddenly, the python pulled his coiled body tight, squeezing the life from the squirrel. As the body went limp, the python stretched his mouth over the squirrel’s head and swallowed him whole.
Quenched with his victory and satisfied by his meal, the python slithered back to the race where all the animals were gathered.
He had not seen the tiny rabbit huddled under a bush nearby, looking for a lost carrot. She overheard everything the squirrel had said and she had seen what the python did to him.
Forgetting about her carrot, she hurriedly hopped off toward the race, eager to warn the others about the python and share the good news of the Lion’s coming.
