Big Bear, Little Bear

A Modern Fable

The big bears lived on the northern side of the river. The little bears lived on the southern.

The big bears grew close to two meters crouched. The little bears didn't even reach a meter when they stood on their hind paws.

The big bears were good fishermen. The little bears would get washed away by the powerful tides.

The little bears were expert tree climbers. The big bears would crack limbs and fall if they climbed.

The big bears did not like the little bears. The little bears did not like the big bears.

"Because that's how it always was, that's how it is, and that's how it always will be," said the elders on both sides.

There was a small island in the middle of the river. Recently, some of the cubs had figured out that they could float on logs and paddle to get there.

All of the cubs who paddled out to the island were small. No one could tell if they would grow or remain small forever.

The cubs would build forts, play hide and seek, and climb trees together. The cubs didn't ask each other what side of the river they lived on. They just played.

Over time, some cubs grew into big bears and others remained small forever.

The big bears and little bears no longer visited the island because it was something only cubs did.

But one by one, the elders died and something happened.

The big bears and little bears that had played together missed each other. They missed each other desperately.

One day, the big bears swam to the island. The little bears floated on logs and paddled there as they had when they were cubs.

The big bears brought fish, the little bears brought nuts, and they ate and they played and they laughed together.

"Because that's how it always was, that's how it is, and that's how it always will be," said the new elders on both sides.

A story by Pemba Umoja