Two Tales of Teamwork: Mountains and Grasslands

Tale 1: The Stone in the Stream

1Long ago, high in the Andes Mountains, a cold, clear stream ran past the potato fields where the animals grew their food. One night, a great stone tumbled down the mountainside and landed in the stream with a crash. By morning, the water had stopped flowing, and the potato plants were starting to droop.

2"I will move it," said Llama, who was proud of his strong legs. He pushed and pushed, but the stone did not move. Next, Condor spread her wide wings. She gripped the stone with her claws and flapped hard, but she could not lift it even an inch. Then Bear leaned his heavy shoulder against the stone and grunted, yet it only wobbled.

3Little Guinea Pig had watched the whole time. "Each of you tried alone," she squeaked. "Let us try together." So Llama pushed, Bear leaned and Condor pulled from above, while Guinea Pig called out, "One, two, three!" On the count of three, the stone rolled out of the stream, and cold water rushed down to the fields once more.

4Since that day, the animals of the high mountains plant and harvest their fields side by side, and the smallest animal always does the counting.