Pig came to the barn one morning and addressed all the animals.
“From today onwards, I’m going to eat more than my usual share because I’m not mediocre,” said Pig. “I want all of you to give me half of your food.”
The horse snorted. “This is not fair. I will starve.”
“Well, you can learn to fast,” said Pig.
The cow shook its head. “I can’t live on half a meal. I will die.”
“No, you’ll just be thinner than me, that’s all,” said Pig.
The donkey brayed. “You’re greedy.”
Pig smiled. “So I am.”
The ducks quacked in protest. “No, no, no, no!”
“You don’t have a choice. Remember, I’m your leader,” said Pig.
“I hate you, Pig,” said the goat.
Pig shrugged. “Join the line.”
The tuxedo cat and the white mouse looked at each other then stared at Pig.
“If the cow becomes malnourished, where do I get my milk?” the tuxedo cat asked.
“And no goat cheese for me,” said the white mouse.
“I don’t care,” said Pig.
A year past and every animal in the barn became malnourished and sick while Pig grew fatter and fatter. Eventually, all the animals died except for the tuxedo cat and the white mouse who decided to migrate for greener pastures.
Meanwhile, the farmer had been monitoring the affairs of the animals in the barn. He could not understand why they were losing weight and dying though he noticed the pig growing fatter.
One day the farmer’s land was hit hard by the worst drought in history. He decided to tighten his belt. Seeing the fat pig, he realized he could survive on it for months while he waited out his bad luck. So he dragged Pig out of the barn and slaughtered it.
Miles away in the barn on the next farm, the tuxedo cat was having a bowl of milk while his friend, the white mouse, was having cheese. A bird flew into the barn through a window and told them what happened to Pig.
“I wonder if there’s a moral to the story,” said the white mouse.
The tuxedo cat looked up. “Yes, there is … a pig will always be a pig just like a scorpion will always be a scorpion.”
