Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxa.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!whuxle!spuxll!abnjh!u1100a!pyuxn!pyuxww!pyuxa!wetcw From: wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) Newsgroups: net.jokes Subject: A Long One Message-ID: <614@pyuxa.UUCP> Date: Mon, 12-Mar-84 14:07:18 EST Article-I.D.: pyuxa.614 Posted: Mon Mar 12 14:07:18 1984 Date-Received: Wed, 14-Mar-84 07:58:51 EST Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J. Lines: 70 Once upon a time, there was a tribe of people called Trids. Now, the Trids were a small race, not being over 12 inches high at their tallest. The Trids lived in a small, but lush valley between two mountain ranges. Trids were quiet and happy in their valley until one year, a terrible drought reduced the floor of the valley to a wasteland. As the principle food supplies began to vanish, the Trids had to move further and further up the sides of the valley to find food. As they moved upwards, they came into contact with the great Ogre that lived in the mountains. Each time the Ogre found some of the Trids in his territory, he would kick the helpless little Trids until they retreated to the valley floor. Things began to look desperate for the liitle folk. It was becoming more and more dangerous to go up the mountain to gather food. The Ogre had taken to laying in wait for the Trids and jumping out to kick them. One day, after a foraging party had returned all bruised and swollen from the Ogre's kicks, a great meeting was called. "What can we do? We must have food but the great Ogre will not stop kicking us." cried their leader. "We must find someone who will talk to the Ogre for us." said one of the Trids. "But who can talk to him? He always kicks us if he sees us." said another. "I know, let us ask the Rabbi from the village down the valley." cried yet another Trid. "He can talk to the Ogre for us." The Trids all cheered and elected a committee to go ask the good Rabbi to intercede for them. The committee followed the long path down to the village where they found the Rabbi. After much persuasion, the Rabbi finally, much to his apprehension at facing a great Ogre, agreed to climb up the mountain and talk to the Ogre. The Rabbi, accompanied by the Trid committee, wound his way back to the Trid village, where, after resting, he began to climb up to meet the great Ogre. The climb was very difficult for the Rabbi, but he kept moving up the mountain. At last he came to the mouth of a cave that looked as if someone occupied it. "Hellooo there. Is anyone here?" cried out the Rabbi. "Yes, Hello, Who's there?" came a booming voice from the depths of the cave. "It's me, the Rabbi. Can I talk with you?" said the Rabbi The Ogre came out of the cave, stretched out his hand and shook the Rabbi's hand. "I'm glad to see you Rabbi. I've heard a lot about you." said the Ogre in his deep voice. "Won't you sit down and then we can talk. What's on your mind?" The Rabbi, not wanting to press the issue about the Trids, began to talk about the weather, the drought, and many other things. As the Rabbi talked, he thought to himself that the Ogre seemed like a nice chap and he wondered why the Trids thought so badly of him. As the time and stimulating conversation passed, the Rabbi finally decided to ask the Ogre about the Trids. "Mr. Ogre, I am puzzled. Whenever the Trids come up from the valley, you kick them all the way back down the mountain yet you do not kick me. Why is this?" asked the Rabbi. The Ogre sat back and roared with laughter. When he had calmed down, he smiled and looked at the Rabbi and said. "Silly Rabbi, kicks are for Trids."