The Tiger Got His Stripes: A Short Story

How the Tiger got His Stripes In the beginning, the animals in the jungle had plenty of food. They all walked along the ground and had no need to search for anything. Then one day they suddenly discovered they were low on food. The larger animals ran out before the smaller ones. The Tiger was the first to go on the hunt. The bright orange fur did not camouflage well, yet none of the animals expected to be hunted to pickings were easy for the Tiger. The Monkey noticed the Tiger stalking him one day. He prepared for the day that the Tiger would strike. “That silly beast, his orange fur is so noticeable. I can see his stalking trail, and he is mine.” That night the Tiger walked around the Monkey’s ground shelter. He went his usual route. Nothing was different until, snap! Claws like iron clamped around the Tigers torso. A sticky, black substance ran down his perfect,
We were fine before you decided to eat other friends for food!” The Monkey said. “You do not know the pain of hunger like I, little rodent. I do what I must to survive.” He snarled back. The Monkey pondered his words for a moment. “Well, since you need the food, I must look out for the needs of the Jungle. So, I could just leave you here and no one else will be eaten.” “No!!!” Roared the Tiger. “We can reach a compromise.” The Monkey responded. “I could possibly reach a compromise.” The Tiger decided that there was no way to get out of his entrapment unless he granted the Monkey immunity. “My proposition is that I will not eat you at all. But, I cannot resist my urge to eat. So, I will need you to make your house somewhere in the trees. I can’t reach you there. If you sleep there I cannot eat you.” The Monkey thought about his proposal. “This is the best thing for me. You will not ever look in trees for food from this day forward. The stained stripes on your fur will remind you of that forever.” So ends the tale of how the Tiger got his