Fox and Scorpion
                                                                                       copyright © 2004 by Robert L. Blau

According to the old story, the scorpion asks the fox to carry him across the river on his back.  The fox demurs, saying that the scorpion will sting him.  The scorpion counters that, if he should sting the fox, they both would drown.  The fox then agrees to carry the scorpion across.  Half way across the river, the scorpion stings the fox.  "What are you doing?" asks the fox. "Now we'll both drown."  "Gosh," says the scorpion. "I couldn't help myself.  I'm a scorpion."

    The Fox was foraging near the river one day when he was accosted by a Scorpion.
    "Psst!" whispered the Scorpion.
    "What do you want?" asked the Fox suspiciously.
    The Scorpion waved a conspiratorial claw in a summoning motion.
    "Wanna score some venom?" it whispered.
    "What?" retorted the Fox. "What would I do with venom?  Go away!"
    "Shh!" cautioned the Scorpion. "Ok.  No venom.  Look, I need a lift across the river.  What do you say?"
    "I'm not going across the river," said theFox. "Get lost."
    "Wait wait wait," wheedled the Scorpion. "I really need a lift, and I can't make the swim myself."
    The Fox paused.  "Look, if I let you on my back, you'll sting me."
    "I won't I won't I won't!" insisted the Scorpion. "Honest."
    "Well, if you stung me, you would drown, too," relented the Fox. "Oh, ok.  I guess I can give you a lift.  I haven't seen the other side of the river in a long time, anyway."
    And so the Fox permitted the Scorpion to climb onto his back and waded into the river.  Around midstream, the Scorpion stung the Fox.
    "Yee-ouch!" screamed the Fox. "What did you do that for?"
    "You were about to sting me with your gigantic tale," said the Scorpion.
    "That's ridiculous!" yelped the Fox. "Foxes don't sting!  That tail is all hair!"
    "But reliable sources state that you attempted to acquire scorpion venom," countered the Scorpion.
    "You mean when you tried to sell me venom, and I refused?" asked the Fox. "Yikes!  I can't feel my back legs."
    "Well, I've been getting bad information," said the Scorpion.
    "Oh, really?  Where from?" inquired the Fox.
    "I don't know, but I'm going to find out!  I'm just as shocked as you are!" declared the Scorpion. "I demand a full and impartial investigation!  I appoint my nephew to conduct it!  All I know is that it isn't my fault."
    "I'm going down!" glubbed the Fox.
    "It's your own fault," insisted the Scorpion. "I had to sting you."
    "How is it my fault?" whined the Fox. "I didn't try to 'sting' you, and I never tried to acquire venom."
    "But you might have been thinking about it!" parried the Scorpion. "Anyway, none of that matters because you're an evil animal."
    "Don't you understand that you're going to drown, too?" asked the Fox.
    "Nonsense!" declared the Scorpion. "I am Good!  I am Righteous!  I am Powerful!  Glub glub ..."