The Goat and the Sheep

The two children gazed down from the grassy hill upon a huge flock of millions of white sheap. as they watched in silent fascination, a very large goat with shiftly yellow eyes, twisty, pointy horns and flendish look of malice on its ugly face, emerged from the sea of bleating, woolly forms and stamped the ground with its shaggy hooves.

Suddenly the goat reared up on its hindlegs and stretching out a forefoot, let out a commanding nicker which made the children clutch their mother's hand in fright.

"Baah," replied the sheep.

Again the goat nickered.

"Baaaaah," replied the sheep.

The two bewildered children looked up at their mother in surprise.

"What is that goat telling the sheep?" asked the boy.

"He isn't really telling them anything at all," replied his mother, "He is using a clever method of dealing with huge crowds, which is to shout a simple phrase they can all understand over and over again, very loudly."

"Are all sheep as stupid as this flock?" asked the girl.

"They certainly are, Kelly," replied her mother. "And if any of them should give any signs of being less stupid, the Great Goat's bodyguard would soon use their sharp horns and heavy hooves to bring them back into line, or else destroy him as an enemy of the flock."

"But what use is the Great Goat to all these silly sheep?" asked the boy.

"No use at all, Michael," replied his mother, "except that, being a more aggressive beast, the sheep will obey his commands, as sheep always like to do. They get a big thrill from having such a fierce commander who promises them many fine things such as sheep like to dream of. This gives them the pleasure of anticipation and makes the leader feel proud and generous."

"And does he ever keep his promises?" asked Kelly.

"Why should he?" chuckled her mother. "The sheep have very short memories and don't really expect him to keep them, nor do they wish it, for every day he promises something better and the flock are very happy to have such a 'promising' leader."

"I think the sheep are very silly," muttered Kelly.

"Perhaps they will wake up one day," said her mother, "and then the goats had better watch out!"

WRITTEN BY MERCEDES DANNENBERG