A Fable: The Boy Who Cried "Waa!"

There once was a baby boy who was bored as he sat in the playroom looking at his toys. To amuse himself he took a great breath and sang out, "Waaaaaaa!"

His mother came running from the kitchen to see what was wrong. But when she arrived at the top of the stairs, she found nothing wrong. The baby laughed at the sight of her concerned face.

"Don't cry ' Waa!', baby boy," said the mother, "when there's no problem." She went grumbling back down the stairs.

Later, the boy sang out again, "Waa! Waa!" To his naughty delight, he watched his mother run up the stairs to help him.

When the mother saw no problem she sternly said, "Save your frightened song for when there is really something wrong! Don't cry 'Waa!' when there is nothing to cry about!"

But the boy just grinned and watched her go grumbling down the stairs once more.

Later, he was at the doctors office, watching a REAL problem (sharp and shiny) coming his way. Alarmed, he opened his mouth and sang out as loudly as he could, "Waa! Waa!"

But the mother just laughed and said, "Nobody believes a liar...even when he is telling the truth!"