The three owls

The weather was very cold. Everyone snuggled in their blankets and the four residents of the house sat around the roaring fire. The old man looked at the three young children around him and smiled fondly. The children sitting around his knees looked up expectantly. The old man cleared his throat grandly and began-

“Once upon a time, there were three old owls in the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania…… are you following me?”

“Yes grampa” they replied in unison.

“Good. So in the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania, these three owls couldn’t decide who was the wisest. There was only one who could be called the wise owl of the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania. And all three owls wanted that lovely sounding title.”

“But grampa, why can’t we call them the three wise owls of the great big wood of…er…east…”

“No sonny, there is always only one owl. You remember when I told you the story of Winnie the Pooh?”

“Yes grampa”, he replied with a beaming smile.

“So that is why, there could only be one owl. The three owls then decided they would hold a contest. But who would judge? Only the wisest could and they didn’t know who that was yet. So they decided to call the wise owl of the great big wood out in the far west of the east of Lithuania.”

“But that… that…”

“Yes, my love?”

“I’m confused grampa.”

Elisa wouldn’t admit this easily and the old man felt sorry for her but she would know soon enough.

“Patience darling, you will know soon. So yes, where were we?

“The wise owl of the great big wood of…er…east….?”

“Ha-ha, yes. The wise owl of the great big wood out in the far west of the east of Lithuania came to solve the problem. All the owls knew theology and philosophy and could solve the problems of everyone whole lived in the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania. So he thought of a simple problem. Whoever could solve it would be called the wise owl of the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania.”

“What was it grampa? What was it?”

“Slow your horses sweetie, you’ll know in a minute.”

“He asked the three owls to fly to the point where the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania don’t meet the great big wood out in the far west of the east of Lithuania. The first owl took flight immediately. The second owl thought a while; looked to the east and west; and thought some more. After two hours he flew away too. The third owl just sat there. He didn’t move.”

The wise owl of the great big wood out in the far west of the east of Lithuania, went back and asked to be called when all three had answers.

Three months passed away. One day all the animals were standing under the big tree waiting for the third owl to solve their problems; when they saw a small figure flying in from the east. He came closer and collapsed under the tree. It was the first owl. At the same moment, the second owl too came in from the west and collapsed next to him. All the animals looked at them.

A few hours later, the wise owl of the great big wood out in the far west of the east of Lithuania arrived and asked for an answer.

The two tired owls admitted defeat. They had flown nonstop for three months, looking all over Lithuania, but they had not found the place where the great big wood out in the far east of the west of Lithuania, did not meet the great big wood out in the far west of the east of Lithuania. They passed each other many times but never stopped until finally they collapsed.

The wise owl then asked the third owl. He replied- I didn’t bother looking because-

“Elisa you tell me.”

“Because since the two owls left, there was no one else and he was the only owl and so the wise owl of  the great big wood of… er… it’s still a little confusing grampa.”

“Good, Elisa; you’re right. But what did you learn?”

“That… umm… owls are not always wise.”

The old man laughed heartily.