The Clever Fox and the Juicy Grapes

The Fox and the Grapes

Once upon a time, in a quiet, green countryside, there lived a hungry fox. The fox had shiny red fur and a long bushy tail. He was very clever, but sometimes he got angry when things did not go his way.

One sunny morning, the fox woke up very hungry. His tummy was growling. “I need to find some food,” said the fox. “I am very hungry today!”

The fox walked through the fields. He sniffed the ground and listened carefully. He saw birds flying, rabbits hopping, and butterflies dancing in the air. But he wanted something more tasty than birds or rabbits. He wanted something sweet.

After walking for a long time, the fox saw something that made his eyes shine. There, under the warm sun, he saw a big vine. On the vine hung many shiny, juicy grapes. They were purple and looked very delicious.

“Oh, wow! These grapes look so tasty!” said the fox. His mouth watered. “I must eat them!”

The fox ran toward the vine. He jumped high to reach the grapes. He jumped once. He jumped twice. But the grapes were too high. No matter how much he tried, he could not reach them.

The fox stopped and sighed. “These grapes are too high,” he said. “I can’t reach them. What a shame!”

He jumped again. “One more time,” he said. But it was no use. The grapes hung just out of his reach. He felt frustrated.

“I can’t get these grapes,” said the fox. “Maybe… maybe they are sour. Yes! I think they are sour. I don’t want sour grapes anyway.”

The fox felt a little better after saying that. But deep down, he was still a little sad. He really wanted those grapes.

Then the fox had an idea. “Hmm… if I can’t eat them, I will pretend they are not tasty. That way, I can feel smart and happy,” he said to himself.

The fox turned to the grapes and shouted, “Oh no! Yuck! These grapes are sour! I would not eat them even if I could reach them!”

The fox fluffed his tail and strutted away. “I am smart,” he said. “I do not need sour grapes.”

As he walked, he kept telling himself, “Yes, the grapes are sour. I do not want them. I am better than the grapes.”

But the truth was… the grapes were not sour at all! They were very sweet and juicy. The fox had tricked himself because he could not reach the grapes.

Later that day, the fox met his friend, the wise old owl. “Hello, Fox,” said the owl. “Why do you look so proud today?”

“I just outsmarted some grapes,” said the fox. “They were sour, so I didn’t eat them.”

The owl looked at him and smiled. “Really, Fox? Did you taste the grapes?”

“No… I didn’t need to,” said the fox. “I know they are sour. I am smart.”

The owl laughed softly. “Sometimes, Fox, we pretend things are not good only because we cannot have them. That does not mean they are really bad. You tricked yourself today, not the grapes.”

The fox thought about what the owl said. He felt a little silly. “Hmm… maybe you are right,” he said. “I wanted the grapes, but I couldn’t reach them. Instead of feeling sad, I told myself they were sour. I guess I tricked myself.”

The owl nodded. “Yes, Fox. It is okay to be sad when we cannot get something. But it is better to be honest with ourselves. Pretending things are bad does not help us.”

The fox nodded slowly. “I understand, Owl. Next time, I will try my best. And if I can’t get it, I will accept it without lying to myself.”

That evening, the fox walked through the fields again. He saw many other foods: berries, mushrooms, and even some fallen apples. He remembered the grapes and smiled. “I won’t trick myself again,” he said.

From that day on, the clever fox learned an important lesson: it is easy to lie to yourself when you feel angry or upset. But being honest about what you can and cannot have makes you feel much better.

And so, the fox lived happily in the countryside. He searched for food every day, but he never pretended something was bad just because he could not reach it. He became even smarter and wiser than before.

THE END

Moral of the Story:

It is easy to fool ourselves into thinking things are not good, especially when we feel upset or angry. Sometimes, it is better to admit we cannot have something and move on. Pretending things are bad does not make us happy. Being honest with ourselves brings real joy.

So, remember the story of the clever fox and the juicy grapes. When you cannot have something you want, do not lie to yourself. Accept it and try to find something else. You will feel much better, just like the fox.

Comprehension Questions

Q1: Who is the main character of the story?
A1: The main character is the fox.

Q2: What was the fox looking for at the beginning of the story?
A2: The fox was looking for food because he was hungry.

Q3: What did the fox see on the vine?
A3: The fox saw big, juicy grapes on the vine.

Q4: Why couldn’t the fox eat the grapes?
A4: The grapes were too high, and he could not reach them.

Q5: What did the fox say about the grapes after he couldn’t reach them?
A5: He said, “These grapes are sour,” even though they were not sour.

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Thinking Questions

Q6: Why do you think the fox said the grapes were sour?
A6: Because he was angry and upset that he couldn’t reach them.

Q7: Did the grapes really taste sour?
A7: No, the grapes were sweet. The fox tricked himself.

Q8: How did the fox feel after he said the grapes were sour?
A8: He felt proud and tried to convince himself he was smart.

Q9: What lesson did the fox learn from the wise owl?
A9: He learned that it is better to be honest with yourself rather than pretend something is bad when you cannot have it.

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Moral and Values Questions

Q10: What is the moral of the story?
A10: The moral is that it is easy to fool ourselves when we are upset. Being honest and accepting what we cannot have is better than pretending something is bad.

Q11: Can you think of a time when you wanted something but could not have it? What did you do?
A11: (Open-ended — encourages children to relate to the story personally.)

Q12: Why is it important to be honest with ourselves?
A12: Because being honest helps us feel better and happier, and we don’t trick ourselves.