The Ostrich and the Lion's Mane

In the beginning, the Lion was bald and the Ostrich had a magnificent, flowing mane of beautiful feathers on his head and neck. The Lion was very jealous. He went to the Ostrich and said, "Brother, your mane is so beautiful, but it must be heavy in this heat. Let us trade for just one day. You can enjoy the coolness of my bald head, and I will enjoy the beauty of your mane." The foolishly vain Ostrich agreed. They traded, and the Lion looked magnificent and royal. At the end of the day, the Lion refused to trade back. "A mane like this belongs on a king," he roared, and he chased the Ostrich away. The Ostrich was left with a long, bare neck, a mark of his foolish vanity. This is why the Lion has his proud mane, a symbol of royalty he stole, and why the ostrich has a bare neck and runs with its head low to the ground, forever ashamed of the day it traded its true glory for a moment of comfort.