The apples are in the basket, the pig loves apples. The pig decides to live in the basket. The basket says, No I am full of apples and anyway you won’t fit. The pig is disappointed and spills the apples out of the basket and puts one foot in the basket. The basket says, Really, and the pig feels foolish, but even so he puts another foot in the basket. This is not going to work, says the basket, Give up now to avoid disappointment. The pig puts a third foot into the basket and sways a little from side to side. The basket, visibly shaken and terrified by the creaking of its own structure stays silent. The Pig, with enormous poise, places his fourth foot into the basket. For a wonderful moment the edifice of the pig in the basket exists, but then something, maybe a breath of wind or the rotation of the earth, causes the pig to fall with a resounding crash upon its side on the ground, feet still firmly in the basket. I live in a basket, said the Pig. That, if I may say so, is stretching the truth beyond its known limits, said the basket, No one is a winner here.
That is a better story than the last one, said the elders of Az, would it be possible to include some kind of lesson that the children could learn from? The stories so far appear to be just some form of entertainment. At least this story has some coherent characters and a narrative arc.
I’ll see what I can do said the Blue Knight, but I can’t guarantee anything. The world is an unpredictable place, and we don’t do ourselves or our children any favours by trying to impose false structures upon it.
We see that, replied the elders, but there are ways of using stories to facilitate the understanding of a moral issue or code. This would enhance your worth amongst the people of Az, and we would stop hassling you.
I see where you’re coming from, said the Blue Knight wistfully, but depicting the world in all its wonder and woes teaches a lesson we must all learn I fear.
Might we suggest a story about being good, or at least recycling, said the Elders and left the Blue Knight alone at his desk.
The Guardians of the Cave 