It’s Only Fair!

A Light-Hearted Fable About Justice

A buff and burly lion had just taken down a zebra after a difficult hunt. And boy was he hungry. Putting on his bib and licking his chops, the lion prepared to chow down.

But, before he was able to sink his teeth into the black-and-white prey, other members of his pride approached, licking their chops, intending to join in the meal.

But, the first lion showed his fangs and let loose with a ferocious roar, warning the others to stand back.

“In this pride, you only eat what you kill,” he told the others. “This is mine. Go get your own.”

Not to be rebuffed, the other members of the pride reminded the first lion about how they had helped — first, by separating the zebra from its herd . . . next, by giving chase and tiring the zebra out. . . and finally, by helping to corner the animal, so it could not get away.

“You could not have brought down this creature were it not for our help,” the group said to the first lion. “Because of our assistance during the hunt, we should share in the feast. It’s only fair.”

The first lion didn’t want to give in to the demands of the others, but aware he was outnumbered, he offered the following concessions. “I probably can’t eat all of this myself. You can have some, but only after I have first eaten my fill of the most tasty and delicious parts.”

The other members of the pride reluctantly accepted the terms offered by the first.

Just then, before the lion and his pride could eat, a second group of lions approached. They put on their bibs and began to lick their chops, ready to join in the meal. This group of lions was not from the same pride as the first, and they had not participated in the hunt.

The lions from the first pride snarled and showed their fangs, warning the lions from the second pride to stand back.

“In this world, you only eat if you have helped in the hunt,” they told them. “This is ours. Get your own.”

Not to be rebuffed, the lions from the second pride reminded those from the first, “We are members of the same species as you. We should be able to share in the feast because all lions take care of one another. Surely, you agree that we should be able to eat before you leave the remains to the scavengers. It’s only fair.”

The first pride didn’t want to give in to the demands of the second, but aware they were outnumbered, they offered the following concessions. “We will never be able to eat it all. You can have some, but only after we have had our fill . . . and only if you keep away the hyenas and the buzzards, so we can eat in peace.”

The lions from the second pride reluctantly accepted the terms offered by the lions in the first pride. They may have been greater in number, but they were smaller in stature than those in the first pride.

Right then and there, in the middle of the savannah, the lions decided to make a formal agreement on what they had just discussed.

“The lion that brings down the beast eats first and gets to dine on all the tastiest parts.

Lions who participate in the hunt eat next.

All other lions have a chance to eat before the buzzards and hyenas do, so long as they do guard duty while the other lions are eating.”

“It’s only fair,” the lion who brought the zebra down said.

“It’s only fair,” the other lions who participated in the hunt said.

“It’s only fair,” the lions in the second pride agreed.

Thus, it became the law. Everyone agreed it was fair.

Well, everyone except the zebra!

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