A beautiful morning in the courtyard. Grandfather brought out a small wooden bowl containing exactly five large, perfectly ripe figs for the two boys.
Steve, being older and faster, quickly grabbed three of the figs for himself, leaving only two in the bowl for his younger brother Kynthos.
Kynthos looked disappointed and protested, holding his two figs, while Steve looked smug and ready to eat his larger share.
Suddenly, Milo the monkey dropped down from the trellis and swiftly snatched one of Steve's figs right out of his hand!
Steve got upset and protested. Milo sat, happily eating the stolen fig.
Grandfather walked over, looking calmly at Steve. Steve felt wronged, complaining that the monkey had stolen what was his.
Grandfather knelt beside them.
"You are angry because he snatched a fig,"
Grandfather explained gently.
"Yet the monkey only took his share. It was you who chose to take more. A wise person does not leave fairness to chance; they ensure justice for the whole group."
Steve understood. He looked at his two remaining figs, and Kynthos's two figs. He smiled at the fairness of it all, and the brothers sat together, eating happily while Milo enjoyed his own share.
