The Wolf and the Crane

One day, a hungry wolf was eating his meal too quickly.

As he swallowed a large piece of meat, a sharp bone became stuck in his throat.

The wolf coughed, gasped, and tried to remove it with his paws, but the bone remained firmly lodged.

He ran through the forest asking every animal for help.

— Please remove this bone from my throat, — the wolf begged. — I will give a generous reward to anyone who saves me.

The smaller animals were frightened of the wolf and hurried away.

At last, the wolf met a tall crane with a long, narrow beak.

— You can reach the bone, — said the wolf. — Put your head inside my mouth and pull it out. I promise to reward you well.

The crane looked nervously at the wolf’s sharp teeth.

— How do I know you will not bite me? — she asked.

— I cannot even swallow, — answered the wolf. — Help me, and you will receive a fine reward.

The crane wanted to help, so she carefully placed her long beak inside the wolf’s mouth.

She reached deep into his throat, grasped the bone, and slowly pulled it free.

The wolf immediately began breathing normally again.

— I saved your life, — said the crane. — Please give me the reward you promised.

The wolf stared at her and laughed.

— Reward? You placed your head inside a wolf’s mouth and removed it safely. Is that not reward enough?

The crane understood that the wolf had never intended to keep his promise.

She was relieved to be unharmed, but she also learned to be cautious when trusting someone known for selfish and dishonest behavior.