As told by MV Anam Ullah, 35 years old, a Rohingya religious teacher, living in Balukali Refugee camp
Recorded in Kutupalong Refugee Camp, Cox’s Bazaar Bangladesh
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There were once three dear friends: a snake, a tortoise and a frog. These friends lived together on a farm surrounded by dense forests. They were such good friends and enjoyed every day that they were living with each other. Each of them had different talents and skills: the snake was the most intelligent, the tortoise was second most-intelligent, and although the frog was the least intelligent, his friends loved him anyway.
The farmer who owned the farm did not like snakes, tortoises, or frogs living on his farm, and for this reason, their lives were always at risk. They did sometimes discuss what they would do if faced with mortal danger, but as they had never actually seen the farmer himself, it didn’t seem like a serious matter.
Once, one of them asked, “If the farmer comes, how can we save ourselves from danger?”
“I’ll be able to save myself,” said the snake. “I am, after all, the most intelligent”
The tortoise added, “Although, I have only some intelligence, I am also confident that I’ll be able to save myself if needed”.
Not wanting to be left out, the frog chimed in, “Even if I am the least intelligent of all of us, I think I will be able to save myself if the farmer comes.”
One day, the farmer went to an area of his farm next to where the three friends lived. Wanting to burn all the extra sticks that he had cut, he lit a larger fire.
As fire grew and grew, the three friends realized that they were in mortal danger!
“Quick, friends!” shouted the snake. “Save yourselves!”
Without hesitating, each took to save themselves in their own way.
The clever snake slithered to the place where he always escaped to, the top of the nearby tree. Unfortunately, the fire grew too large, and quickly engulfed the tree and the snake.
The tortoise, remembering how he had saved himself from wild animals before, climbed into a small hole in the ground. But the heat became too intense, and the tortoise died, leaving only his dried shell.
The frog was scared and didn’t know what to do. Suddenly, he remember that there was a nearby stream that he often felt very safe in, and he hopped off in the direction of the steam. Cozy and safe in the wet stream, the frog watched as the flames leapt high in the air and eventually burned out.
Although you may be the most talented and clever person in the community, if you can’t use your skills in the right way, your talents could be wasted. So try to use your intelligence in the right way.