The Two Goats on the Bridge

A narrow log bridge stretched across a rushing stream between two green hills. The animals used it to reach fresh grass, visit friends, and carry food home. It was sturdy when crossed carefully, but only wide enough for one large animal at a time. Everyone knew that waiting a moment on the bank was safer than squeezing past another traveller halfway across.

One morning, a white goat approached from one side while a brown goat approached from the other. Both were eager to reach the tender grass beyond the stream. Neither looked carefully before stepping onto the log. They trotted forward until they met in the middle, nose to nose. Below them, water rushed around smooth stones. Behind each goat stretched the narrow path it had just taken.

"Move back! I was here first!" shouted the white goat. "No, you move!" answered the brown goat. Each planted its hooves firmly, certain that giving way would mean losing the argument. The white goat lowered its horns. The brown goat did the same. They pushed against each other, and the log shook dangerously. A few loose bits of bark fell into the stream and vanished with the current.

A little rabbit watching from the bank called out, "If you both keep pushing, you'll both fall in!" Neither goat wanted to listen at first. "Tell him to move," the white goat demanded. "Tell her!" said the brown goat. The rabbit stayed where it was and spoke again. "The bridge doesn't care who was first. It can only hold you safely if you stop fighting. Look at your feet."

The goats glanced down. One hoof was close to the slippery edge, and another was balanced on loose bark. Suddenly, the rushing water seemed much louder. They stopped pushing. For a few moments, both stood very still, breathing hard. "Backing up will be difficult," the white goat admitted. The brown goat looked at the space between them, then carefully lowered its head. "I have an idea."

"I'll lie down," the brown goat said. "You step over me carefully." The white goat hesitated. "Are you sure?" "Only if you go slowly and listen," replied the brown goat. It folded its legs and rested along the log, keeping its weight steady. The white goat lifted one hoof, then another, moving gently over its companion. The rabbit watched from the bank without rushing either of them.

At last, the white goat reached the far side. It turned and waited while the brown goat stood up and finished crossing in the other direction. Both were safe, and neither had lost anything important. "Thank you, friend," called the white goat. "Tomorrow, I'll lie down for you." The brown goat smiled. "Tomorrow, perhaps we can look before stepping onto the bridge and save ourselves the trouble."

After eating their grass, the goats met again beside the stream. They thanked the rabbit and agreed to wait their turn whenever another animal was crossing. The bridge had not become wider, and the water had not become calmer. What had changed was the way they treated each other. From then on, the sound heard most often at the banks was not "Move back!" but "You go first." And everyone crossed a little more safely because two stubborn goats had learned to cooperate.

Moral: Cooperation is better than stubborn pride.