Laughter Shared.

There once lived on the African plains a rhino that was very easily angered. One day a giant turtle strayed into his territory unknowingly. On spotting the turtle the rhino ran over with the intention of getting rid of him. The turtle in fear did as all turtles do in such situations withdrew into his shell.

When the rhino demanded he leaves, there was not a sign of any movement. This angered the rhino so much, he thought the turtle was fooling with him. He started banging on the shell with his marvellous horn in an effort to get the turtle to come out. With no success, he tried harder and harder. The poor turtle was hurtled this way and that. From a distance, it looked as if the rhino was practising for an important football match.

Soon a load of monkeys gathered in the trees to watch the spectacle making it even more like a football game. They laughed and laughed at the antics of the rhino. The rhino was so angry he didn’t even notice that the monkeys were there. On and on it went until he had to stop for breath.

In the moment of silence, he heard the monkey laughter. He became aware that they were making fun of him. 

Neither the rhino or for that matter the turtle who had emerged from his shell enjoyed the fact that they were being mocked by a gang of monkeys.

They looked at each other and the turtle nodded and retreated back into his shell. The rhino gathered himself, stepped back a few paces as if making ready to take a penalty kick, and ran hard kicking the turtle straight at the monkeys. The turtle flew through the air and hit the monkeys like a row of skittles sending them flying.

Suddenly the place looked like an emergency ward for monkeys. They lay all over the place bruised and battered. 

Meanwhile, the turtle and the rhino, smiling like old friends walked off the scene together. 

The monkeys realised that there had to be better ways of amusing yourself than mocking and laughing at others.

 There is nothing more beautiful than laughter shared but nothing sadder than laughter at the expense of another.

May your day be full of laughter and your heart be full of joy. Have a great day.