This story is from Aesop’s Fables. This story is about a deer. The deer has antlers on his head. But his antlers get him in trouble. Let’s start the story.

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The Deer and His Reflection

A deer is in the forest. He is thirsty. So, he walks to the lake. A rabbit runs in front of him. He stops to let the rabbit pass. The rabbit runs between the trees. Then a fox runs across the path. The deer says, “Hello, fox!” The fox does not answer. The fox is in a hurry. The deer arrives at the lake. He brings his head down to drink water from the lake. The water is calm. He sees himself in the water. He sees his reflection. He sees his legs. His legs are long and thin. He sees his nose. His nose is round and black. Then, he sees his antlers. His antlers are so big. His antlers are bigger than his head. He says, “The other animals do not have antlers. The rabbit doesn’t have any. The fox doesn’t either. My antlers are so beautiful.” He looks at his antlers in the reflection for a while. Then he is hungry. So, he turns around to go back to the forest. He wants to eat grass in his favorite place. He feels really hungry now. He jumps over the rocks. He runs between the trees. Then, he catches his antlers on the branches of a tree. He stops. He can’t move. His antlers are stuck in the tree branches. He says, “My nose helps me find food. My legs help me run. But my antlers just get in my way!” The end.

In this story, the deer likes to look at his antlers. He says his antlers are so beautiful. Other animals, like the rabbit and fox, do not have antlers. But when the deer wants to eat, he needs his legs. He needs his nose. His antlers aren’t helpful at all. Sometimes the things that are less beautiful are more useful.