An ant was crossing the kitchen floor when it sensed another ant following close behind. The ant quickened its pace, the other ant did the same, then it began to swerve left and right and back again and sure enough the other swerved left and right as well. Eventually, the ant turned and confronted its pursuer.

“What do you think you are doing?” it asked, somewhat rhetorically. “Stop following me.”

Assuming the matter was settled, the ant resumed its journey, but it soon realised the other ant had not heeded its request and was still following close behind. The ant lost its temper.

“Are you stupid, or just hard of hearing? I told you to stop following me.”
“You did, but—” the other ant began.
“But nothing,” the ant interrupted. “You need to find your own way in this world. If you want to get anywhere.”
“Okay, but…”

The other ant paused in the middle of its statement to look at the line of ants behind, stretching back to a tiny crack beneath the skirting board, and ahead, where the front of the line was already returning laden with breadcrumbs and grapeskins and other good things.

“… Aren’t we all going to the same place?”

© Richard Parkin 2026

Further reading: Misadventures in the Land of Fables #78