Gus the Goat Who Would Not Budge
A funny story about stubbornness and finding another way.
Gus was a brown and white goat with a stripe down his nose. He lived on Cooper’s Farm, and he had one rule. If he wanted to stand somewhere, he stood there, and nobody could move him.
One morning, Gus decided to stand in the middle of the track, between the barn and the gate. The farmer’s children, Ana and Luke, wanted to get through with their wheelbarrow. “Move, Gus,” said Luke. Gus stayed put.
Luke pushed. Gus planted his hooves and leaned back. Ana pulled his collar. Gus held on tight. They tried carrots, which Gus ignored. They tried pleading, which Gus enjoyed. He chewed a thistle and looked bored.
The farmer came by, and watched for a moment. “Hmm,” he said. “You are pushing and pulling, but you have not asked why he is there.” Ana frowned. “Why would a goat be in the middle of a track?”
They all looked at Gus. He was not looking at them. He was looking at a patch of clover growing in the gap by the fence. It was long and juicy, and it smelled very fresh.
“Oh!” said Luke. “He just wants to eat the clover!” Ana laughed. “We could take another path,” she said. “Or we could give him some clover, and he will move.” She picked a handful and held it out.
Gus’s ears twitched. He took a few steps forward, and ate the clover out of her hand. The track was clear. Luke wheeled the barrow through, and Ana put the rest of the clover by the fence for Gus.
“Next time,” said the farmer, “try asking what someone needs before you try to move them.” Ana and Luke nodded. They called out “Thank you, Gus!” and he gave a short, polite bleat in return.
✨ Key Takeaways
- Understanding why someone behaves a certain way can solve problems.
- Pushing harder is not always the answer.
- Listening and observing can show us a better way.
💬 Questions for Discussion & Reflection
- Why would Gus not move from the track?
- What did Ana and Luke do in the end?
- When have you solved a problem by thinking about what someone needed?