Home > Mind , Body & Soul > Grandma stories >The stork and the crab Once upon a time there lived a stork by the side of a tank. There were plenty of fish in the tank and the stork had enough to eat.

Years passed. The stork grew old and weak. He found it difficult to catch all the fish he wanted for his food. At times he had to go without food. He feared he would die of starvation.

The stork thought of a plan. He stood by the side of the tank, looking sad. He did not even try to catch the fish, which went past him. The fish, frogs and crabs in the tank noticed how sad the stork looked and wondered what had happened to him. A big crab went up to him. "Why do you look so sad? Why are you not taking your food?"

The stork replied, "I have spent all my life by the side of this tank. I have always been happy. Now things are going to change. All the fish in the tank will soon die and I shall be left without food."

"Why, Uncle?" asked the crab.

"Because I heard people say that they will soon fill this tank with soil and grow crops to cover it. Then there will not be any fish left alive."

The fish, crabs and frogs in the tank heard what the stork said. They were alarmed. So they went to the stork and said, "Uncle, you have given us bad news. But you are wise. Please tell us how we can avert this danger."

The stork said, "I am only a bird. But I may be able to help you in a small way. There is a bigger and deeper tank some distance away. It cannot be filled up with soil to grow crops so easily. If you wish, I can take you all there."

"You are our only friend, Uncle.," said the fish. "You can save us. Please take us to that tank."

"It is indeed a difficult job," said the stork. "But I shall do my best."

"Take me first, take me first," cried every fish in the tank.

"Have patience, please," said the stork. "I can carry only a few at a time. But I shall try to take as many trips as possible. You must know that I am old now and I would need a little rest after every trip."

Soon the stork set out on his first trip. He took a few fish in his beak and flew away. He did not, however, take them to another tank as he had promised. He carried them to a big rock and ate them up. Then he returned to the tank. He took a few more fish, only to fly with them to the rock and make a meal of them. Having had enough food, he rested for a while. When he felt hungry again, he went back to the tank to pick up some more fish. He came to the tank as often as he felt hungry.

Still left in the tank was the big crab. He felt he should also leave the place and save himself. So he said to the stork, "Uncle, save me also."

The stork was getting tired of eating fish and thought of trying a crab for a change.

"Of course, my young friend," said the stork, " I am here to help you. Come, I shall take you to the big tank."


The crab was happy when the stork picked him up and flew away. After a while, the crab looked down. He wanted to see the tank he was going to live in, but he could not see any water anywhere. Soon the stork was flying down.

"Uncle, where is the big tank you are taking me to?"

"Ha, ha, ha," laughed the stork, "Don't you see the huge rock down there? That is the place I am taking you to. That is the place I took all the fish to."

The crab could now see the rock clearly. There were heaps of fish-bones on the rock. He was frightened. He knew the stork would land on the rock, kill him and eat him, just as he had done with all the fish.

The crab thought hard. Suddenly he dug his sharp claws into the stork's neck. The stork struggled, flapped his wings and tried his best to get rid of the crab. But the crab was pressing the bird's neck with all his strength. Soon the stork fell to the ground. The crab cut the head off the stork's body and dragged it to the tank in which he lived.

His friends in the tank were surprised to see him back. 'Why, brother?" they asked. "Why have you come back? What happened to Uncle Stork?"

"Here he is," said the crab, "but only his head." He then told them how the stork had been cheating them and how he had put an end to him.