The North Wind and the Sun

High above the hills, the North Wind and the Sun were having a friendly argument. The Wind puffed out his cloudy cheeks. He could bend branches and send leaves dancing over fields. Surely that made him stronger. The Sun shone softly behind a silver cloud. Perhaps, she thought, there was more than one way to be strong.

Below them, a traveller walked along a winding lane. She wore a long blue coat and carried a small red bag. The Wind noticed her and had an idea. Whoever could make the traveller take off her coat would win their contest. The Sun agreed to wait behind a cloud while the Wind tried first.

The North Wind took a deep breath and blew across the lane. Leaves swirled around the traveller’s boots. The edges of her blue coat fluttered, and she stopped to fasten every button. The Wind blew again. The traveller tucked her chin into her yellow scarf and held the front of her coat close.

Now the Wind blew harder. The grass bent low, and the branches shook. The traveller stepped behind a sturdy stone wall to shelter from the gusts. She pulled her coat tightly around her and waited. The harder the Wind blew, the more she wanted to keep it on. His great effort was not helping.

At last, the Wind let out a tired sigh. The leaves settled on the lane, and the grass stood tall again. He could not make the traveller remove her coat. Now it was the Sun’s turn. She came out from behind the cloud and sent a little warmth down to the quiet fields.

The traveller peeped over the wall. The wind had stopped, and the lane looked bright and welcoming. She stepped out of her sheltered spot and walked on. The Sun warmed her shoulders gently. Soon, the traveller loosened her scarf. A little farther along, she undid the top button of her coat and smiled.

The Sun kept shining, warm and steady. Beside a leafy tree, the traveller found a bench. She sat down, slipped off her coat, and folded it beside her red bag. Then she rested in the dappled shade. No one had tugged or pushed her. She had taken off the coat because she felt comfortably warm.

Above the fields, the North Wind watched in surprise. The Sun had done what all his blustering could not. He gave one small, thoughtful puff that barely stirred the leaves. The Sun smiled through the branches, and the traveller enjoyed her peaceful rest. Sometimes, the Wind had learned, a gentle way works better than a mighty push.