By Aesop as retold by Rebecca Lunsford
One day two old dogs were laying down on their master’s porch reminiscing about days when they were younger.
“I remember one time I had just gotten myself a nice, juicy, piece of steak,” one began. “I was in a hurry to get back to my house so I could eat my prize without being bothered.”
“I’m the same way,” commented the other dog. “Otherwise I get paranoid.”
The first dog ignoring the interruption continued, “In order to get home I had to cross a rickety board that had been laid across a stream. About halfway over the makeshift bridge I glanced down into the water and noticed my reflection. At the time I thought it was a different dog with another piece of steak in his mouth. I studied the other dog and decided I could easily take his slice of steak away from him. So I barked at the other dog, but by doing so I had to open my mouth which caused my chunk of meat to topple out and land in the stream with a splash. I saw the other dog ripple as the meat landed in the middle of him and sank out of sight. It was then that I realized that the other dog was only my reflection.”
“I guess you learned a valuable lesson,” the second dog on the porch replied. “Beware, lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.”
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