The Eagle Who Thought He Was A Chicken

Our HR dept is fond of sending out emailed short stories with morals in them to all executives.  I thought the following original story wasn't dramatic enough and didn't have a proper ending, so I edited it and gave it a better ending and changed the moral as well.... 

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The Chicken

Once upon a time, there was a large mountainside, where an eagle's nest rested. The eagle's nest contained four large eagle eggs. One day an earthquake rocked the mountain, causing one of the eggs to roll down the mountain to a chicken farm located in the valley below. The chickens knew that they must protect and care for the eagle's egg, so an old hen volunteered to nurture and raise the large egg.

One day, the egg hatched and a beautiful eagle was born. Sadly, however, the eagle was raised to be a chicken. Soon, the eagle believed he was nothing more than a chicken. The eagle loved his home and family, but his spirit cried out for more. While playing a game on the farm one day, the eagle looked to the skies above and noticed a group of mighty eagles soaring in the skies. "Oh," the eagle cried, "I wish I could soar like those birds."

The chickens roared with laughter, "You cannot soar with those birds. You are a chicken and chickens do not soar."

The eagle continued staring at his real family up above, dreaming that he could be with them.   Each time the eagle would let his dreams be known, he was told it couldn't be done.   That is what the eagle learned to believe.

The eagle, after time, stopped dreaming and continued to live his life like a chicken. But somehow he knew somewhere inside him there was an eagle waiting to soar into the skies.  

One day there was a lot of crying and screaming on the chicken farm.  All the chickens were flapping their wings and running around.  Feathers and dust flew about in every direction.  The eagle who was brought up as a chicken ran out to see what was happening.  It seems the chicken farm was under attack by a lone eagle from the mountain who was catching and taking away baby chickens. 

On his next attack he was surprised at meeting up with a chicken who dared to face him and prevented him from taking anymore baby chickens. 

"Stop!"  Said the eagle who was brought up as a chicken.  "You will not take anymore of my little brothers and sisters away."

"Hahaha!"  The eagle from the mountain laughed with scorn in his voice.   "And who do you think you are.  Are you trying to stop me?  What can you do stop me?  You are only a chicken!"

"I may only be a chicken, but I am going to stop you from attacking my family.  Someone has to do it.  And I am that someone."   He declared.

He immediately jumped at the eagle from the mountain, scratching and pecking at his face.  The eagle from the mountain was surprised that a chicken could move so fast and attack so fiercely.  Slightly wounded, he backed off and flew into the sky.  The eagle who was brought up as a chicken made a final jump at him with his sharp claws.   At the same time he opened his wings to balance himself.  He was surprised to see his own huge wings and also found that he could fly after the eagle from the mountain.  He chased the eagle all the way into the mountains.

Finally, satisfied that his family was safe he flew back and soared around in the sky over the farm.  He was greeted by a loud cheer from his adopted family. 

 

MORAL OF THE STORY:  

Don't judge yourself by the names they call you.  Know yourself and be the best of what you are.