The General Assembly of the Animals
The animals met together because the old lion had died and his place had to be filled. So the new chief said,
“Every Sunday we will do a bit of work in order to improve our society.”
The animals applauded their leader, who was a very old and very wise owl. But one did not applaud: it was the toad, idle and selfish, who said,
“Oh, Yeah, sure! As it happens, on Sundays I have a nap and then go for a swim!”
And Sunday came round and everyone went off to do their chores. But the toad, in his pond, kept saying,
“Bunch of morons — I'm not going to work — the water is cool and it's great having a siesta here.”
Several Sundays went by in this way, until the old owl once again gathered the animals together and told them the following,
“Friends: all of us are happy with the work we have done and the duties carried out. But there is one amongst us who does not deserve to live amongst us, in society, who does not want to help the rest and so should be expelled from here.”
All the animals looked at each other and murmured in low voices. But the toad was silent. So the owl continued,
“I don't want to accuse anyone directly; I'll just say that he is green, has pop eyes and lives in the water.”
With this, the toad hopped madly up and down, shouting wildly,
“You're right, you're right — expel the crocodile!”
Text: Koldo Izagirre
Translation: Joe Linehan
Voice: Tim Nicholson
