Week 26- #GRIMMread2019
This week's stories feature magical porridge, another ex-soldier who makes a deal with the Devil (this one had a happier ending), a wife beater, and a senseless war between animals. I'll be focusing on this last one, The Willow-Wren and the Bear.
The Bear and his buddy, the Wolf, are strolling through the forest when the Bear hears a bird singing and asks about it. The Wolf tells him that it's the King of the forest, who is a Willow-Wren, and that they must bow down to him. The Bear is very eager to see the palace, and the Wolf tells him he can't just waltz in. He needs to follow protocol. So, they do this, but when the Bear finally gets to see inside the palace, he is disappointed, and he insults the King's children, by calling them disreputable. Maybe, the Bear's expectations were too high, maybe they were just ugly children. Whatever the reason, the Bear is being mean. He really should have apologized for that. He should have realized how rude it is to insult anyone's children, no matter how ugly or bratty they may be. Instead he runs back to his den when they tell him he will pay for that insult. The baby birds complain to their parents and threaten to go on a hunger strike unless they make the bear pay. (What toddler hasn't threatened this?) The king and queen give into this tantrum and declare war not only on the bear, but on all four-legged animals. All the flyers, including insects have to fight on the bird's side. The Fox is put in charge of the Bear's army because he is clever. He says that if the war is going well he will keep his tail up, but he will let it down if they are to retreat. The gnat, who is the clever one in the bird's army, (I've never considered the gnat to be a clever creature. They are crazy: going up noses and in eyeballs and ears, and for what?) is a spy and overhears this plan. When the fighting starts it's going well for the Bear's side, but the wasp is told to sting the Fox under his tail. The Fox pushes through the pain the first two times, but after the third sting, he has to let his tail down, and so the Bear and his army retreat, and the birds win the war. Still, this doesn't slake the royal babies' thirst for revenge. They continue their hunger strike until the Bear is forced to apologize to them. The King and Queen give in this time too, and the Bear apologizes, and the birds are finally satisfied. So, the Bear should have apologized, but forcing someone to apologize when they aren't sorry is rather pointless in my opinion. We don't know if the Bear is sorry or not, but his main motivation seems to be fear of the birds.
News flash to the King and Queen: Your babies will cave. They will only go on a hunger strike until they are really hungry. These birds reminded me of the little "Al Capone" sparrow from "The Sparrow and the Dog". They are all kinds of trigger happy. This whole problem between the bear and the birds should've been able to be solved by talking it out, but that route wasn't even attempted. War was the first resort, and everyone in the forest was dragged into the royal family drama.
In summary, don't be a jerk, if you are in the wrong you should apologize for it. Don't underestimate others just because they seem weaker or smaller than you. Don't give into baby tantrums, AND don't start senseless wars.
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