The Hyena and the Sheep

A long time ago there was a sheep who was lost by her owner. While she was walking alone, she met a hyena walking on the road. As soon as the hyena saw the sheep, he looked around to see if anyone was looking. He called to the sheep, “Hey, sheep. Who is with you today?”

The sheep said, “No one is with me. I am lost, and I don’t know where I am.”

The hyena got excited, and he couldn’t believe his good luck at finding a sheep alone. He asked her again, “Is it true that you are all alone?”

The sheep said, “Yes, it’s true. I’m all alone. I am lost from the other animals and the people that own me.”

The hyena closed his eyes, and laughed and laughed as hyenas do. The sheep knew that the hyena’s laugh meant danger. The sheep ran away. When the hyena finally opened his eyes, he couldn’t find the sheep. He got mad, and he yelled, “Sheep, come back! I won’t eat you.”

The sheep continued running. She said to herself, “The hyena can find someone else to trick, but he won’t trick me.” The hyena missed his chance.

Lesson: Don’t be too quick to let people know that you are alone. Don’t be too quick to trust strangers who offer help when they know you are alone.

Somali Foktale