Snake and Mouse

a fable for when fretfully it dawns on you that lack of effort isn't the problem by zack eswine

 Once upon a time, a mouse tried to scoot down a hole. 

A snake said, “If you do that, I will take offense, and I will eat you.” 

So, the mouse tried to step aside and skitter up a tree. 

The snake said, “If you do that, I will take offense, and I will eat you.”

At that, the mouse tried to tip-toe within the grasses. 

The snake said, “If you do that, I will take offense, and I will eat you.”

Finally, the mouse asked, “What can I do so that you will not take offense and eat me?”

“Nothing,” said the snake.