Once upon a time there was a lazy sloth named Slough who lived in a dilapidated tree. One day, he had a strange delusion that he could ascend to the top of the tree in just one minute. He put all his effort into it but he was too gaudy and kept dissipating his energy.
However, with the help of an all-encompassing membrane, he finally reached the top in the nick of time. To his surprise, he found a basket of ripe fruit waiting for him, the fruition of his hard work. From then on, Slough learned that sometimes taking the expedient way isn't always the best choice.
The end.

Reflections

1. Why did Slough want to ascend to the top of the tree?
2. What was the all-encompassing membrane used for?
3. How did Slough feel when he finally reached the top and found the basket of fruit?
4. What lesson did Slough learn about taking the expedient way?
5. How does this story relate to our own lives?