The Trial Among the Animals

The Trial Among the Animals

Long ago, near Mount Arayat, there lived a wise man named Sinukuan. He had once lived among people, but over time the town became full of quarrels, jealousy, and endless arguments. Sinukuan left the noise behind and made his home in a cave on the mountain. There he became a friend to the animals. Sinukuan listened carefully, never rushed to conclusions, and always tried to understand both sides. So the birds and beasts decided that whenever they had a dispute, Sinukuan should be their judge. One morning Bird arrived at the cave. He was angry and very tired. “Honored Sinukuan, I wish to complain about Frog. She croaked so loudly all night that I could not sleep.” Sinukuan nodded. “Then let us call Frog and hear her side.” Frog came and sat politely before him. “Frog,” Sinukuan asked, “why were you making so much noise last night?” “I was frightened,” Frog replied. “I saw Turtle carrying an entire house on her back. I thought it might fall on me, so I croaked in alarm.” Sinukuan considered this. “Fear can certainly make us louder than we intended. Very well, Frog. You may go. Let us speak with Turtle.” Turtle climbed the path very, very slowly. “Turtle, why do you carry your house on your back? Frog was so alarmed by it that she woke Bird.” Turtle bowed her head. “Honored judge, I was protecting my home. Last night I saw Firefly carrying a light. I was afraid it might set dry leaves ablaze. Is it wrong to keep one's home safe?” “No,” Sinukuan said. “Protecting your home is sensible. You may go. Call Firefly.” Soon a tiny golden light appeared inside the dark cave. “Firefly,” said Sinukuan, “why were you carrying your light so close to Turtle's home?” Firefly answered quietly. “My light helps me find my way and keep away from Mosquito. He has a sharp little mouth, and I did not want him bothering me.” Sinukuan nodded again. “Then we must speak with Mosquito.” Mosquito arrived quickly, buzzing around the entrance until Sinukuan asked him to sit still long enough to answer a question. “Mosquito, why do you keep flying at others and bothering them?” Mosquito turned in little circles. “Well... I suppose I am used to it.” “That is not an explanation,” Sinukuan said. “Maybe I do it because everyone runs away from me.” “And why do they run away?” Mosquito fell silent. The cave became so quiet that grass could be heard rustling outside. At last Mosquito said softly, “Perhaps because I bother them too often.” “Now,” Sinukuan said with a smile, “we have reached the beginning of our very long story.” Bird blinked. Frog stopped croaking. Turtle peered from her shell. Firefly's light flickered. Sinukuan stood. “Look how one thing led to another. Bird could not sleep because of Frog. Frog cried out because of Turtle. Turtle worried because of Firefly. Firefly was avoiding Mosquito. And Mosquito had not stopped to consider that his habits were making life difficult for everyone else.” Mosquito lowered his head. “What happens now?” “For three days,” said Sinukuan, “you will practice being quieter and think about how to approach others without troubling them. And everyone else will remember that before becoming angry, it is often useful to ask why something happened.” For three days, Mosquito behaved with surprising restraint. When he returned to the forest, his voice no longer seemed quite so grand. From then on, the old tale says, mosquitoes did not sing across the whole forest. Instead, they made a thin little hum close to one's ear. Whenever that sound annoyed the animals of Mount Arayat, they remembered Sinukuan's old court and said: “Do not hurry to blame. First find out where the trouble began.”

May this story leave a little light in your heart ✨