“We are planting this seed,” said the beautiful pheasant.
“And watering it,” added the long-eared rabbit, proudly.
“Perhaps I could fertilize it and weed it,” offered the brown-furred monkey.
While all three were helping to tend to the seed in their own ways, a wrinkly-skinned elephant
swayed by. “Can I help you guys, too?” asked the elephant. “If I stand guard to protect it, no one will
dare eat or damage it while it is growing.”
Together all four friends nurtured the seed, watching it break through the surface of the earth as
a tiny shoot, grow into a young sapling, and mature into a tall, strong tree. Before long, it seemed,
the tree’s branches were laden with an abundant crop of fruit.
Just as the four friends worked together in planting and caring for the tree, so they now worked
together to help harvest the fruit.
“Here,” said the wrinkly-skinned elephant to the brown-furred monkey, “climb up on my back
so that you can reach closer to the tree.” Having got in position on top of the elephant, the monkey
extended a hand to the long-eared rabbit.
“Hop up on my shoulders. That way we will get a little closer,” he said to the rabbit.
Finally the pheasant took its position on the back of the rabbit. By forming this ladder of friends,
they were able to reach the fruit and pluck enough to feed them all.
STORY 35
NEGOTIATING A SOLUTIONTherapeutic Characteristics
Problems Addressed
■ Conflicting wants
■ Stalemates in a relationship
■ Failure to see the other’s perspective
■ Lack of negotiation skillsResources Developed
■ Looking at things from the other’s perspective
■ Building strategies for negotiation
■ Finding acceptable compromises
■ Learning to gain win-win outcomes
■ Making negotiation enjoyableOutcomes Offered
■ Negotiation strategies
■ Win-win solutions
Suzi wanted to go to a party. Who wouldn’t? Especially as this was no ordinary party. It was a
beach party. It had been almost the only thing her friends had been talking about for the last couple
108 Healing Stories, Teaching Stories