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The Dove and the Ant

Aesop Fable as Retold by Dr. Mike Lockett, The Normal Storyteller

Once upon a time, an Ant was walking along a path made by his friends.  That's what ants usually do.  One ant follows another - back and forth they go.  But this Ant stopped where it was and said out loud, "I'm thirsty!"

A Dove in a tree nearby had been watching the long line of ants.  She had been entertained by the way the ants had kept running at one speed from their home to a sugary piece of fruit that had fallen from a tree then back to their home again without stopping.  Yet, the one Ant suddenly stopped and was talking to itself.  This attracted the dove's attention.

"I'm thirsty!" the Dove heard the Ant say.

"Why not get a drink from the stream?" said the Dove.  "It will only take you a few minutes.  Just be careful not to fall in."  The Dove went back to looking at the rest of the ants and relaxing on the branch.  The Ant listened and left to go to the small stream for a drink.

A few seconds later, the Dove hear yelling.  "Help," said the ant.  " I'm drowning.  The Ant had gone for a drink as the Dove suggested and had fallen into the stream.

The Dove knew she had to help the Ant.  After all, she was the one who had suggested that he visit the stream.  She used her beak to pluck a leaf from the tree and flew to the stream.  She dropped the leaf beside the ant.  The Ant climbed onto the leaf and used it like a raft to float to safety.  "Thank you, friend," said the little Ant.

Not very long after, the Ant saw a hunter.  He was using a trap to catch birds.  The Ant watched as the ant was flying right towards the Hunter and his trap.  Now it was the Ant's turn to try and save the Dove.

The Ant opened its jaws wide and bit the Hunter on the ankle.

"Ouch!" the Hunter yelled.

The Dove heard the Hunter and flew away safely.  As she flew away, she heard a familiar voice say, "One good turn deserves another."