In a sunny jungle clearing lived Penny the peacock. She strutted everywhere, fanning her bright feathers like a rainbow cape.
“Look at me!” she sang. “I’m the most beautiful bird in the world!”
The monkeys rolled their eyes. The parrots squawked in annoyance. Even the crocodiles yawned. Penny didn’t care, she loved her daily parade.
The Boast Gone Wrong
One morning, Penny bragged louder than ever. “Even the sun hides when I spread my feathers!” she said proudly.
The wise old owl frowned. “Be careful, Penny. Too much pride makes silly problems.”
But Penny twirled, ignoring the advice.
Just then, a strong breeze swept through the clearing. WHOOSH! Penny’s feathers blew straight into a mud puddle. SPLAT! She slipped and landed with a muddy face.
The jungle animals roared with laughter. “Some sunshine you are!” teased the monkeys.
The Peacock’s Punishment
Ashamed, Penny tried to clean up, but her feathers stayed brown and sticky. The jungle animals declared, “No more showing off until you’ve learned some humility!”
“That’s not fair!” Penny huffed. But soon, she realized her punishment wasn’t cruel—it was silly. Wherever she walked, her muddy feathers looked more like floppy pancakes than sparkling jewels.
“Behold, the Pancake Peacock!” joked the parrots. Penny blushed, but deep down, she started to see the funny side.
Lesson in Laughter and Kindness
A week later, Penny’s feathers finally dried and gleamed again. But this time, instead of strutting alone, she shared her beauty.
“Would anyone like a feather for their nest?” she asked kindly.
The monkeys clapped. The parrots cheered. Even the owl gave a wise nod. Penny laughed at herself. “I may be beautiful, but I’m even better at making friends.”
From that day on, the proud peacock wasn’t punished anymore; because she’d learned that laughter, kindness, and sharing were the true treasures of the jungle.
The End !
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