I started writing this as an inside joke, but ended up putting way too much thought into it and taking so long that the people in on the joke have probably forgotten all about it.
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Wilsop's Fables: The Goose and the Raccoon
By Wilson Chung
Contributing authors: Kathleen MacAulay, Brodie Reinhart, Mary-Claire Sanderson
Once upon a time, there lived a young goose in a stone tower high above the land. Bored, restless, and alone, the goose had no way to leave the tower, as he was still too young to fly. His only friend was a raccoon who lived in the surrounding forest, who would climb the tower every day to bring him food and keep him company. They would chat about anything and everything for hours on end, but there was one thing in particular the goose kept bringing up.
"I can see another tower over there." said Goose. "Far across the forest and the river. I wonder what's in it? It's probably beautiful, far better than this pile of rubble."
"Don't worry too much about it, Goose." Raccoon yawned. "That tower is way out in another land, another country, and we have no way of reaching it."
"Maybe you can't reach it, but I will. I'll be able to fly soon enough. Then I'll finally leave this stupid tower and this stupid forest behind."
"This 'stupid forest' is my home, Goose. And what about me, hmm? After you fly off to this other tower, where will that leave me?"
"I don't care! I need to get there!"
Raccoon fell silent and climbed back down to the forest. After that, day after day, their conversations grew strained. Goose's obsession with the other tower worsened, and tensions between the two friends grew. One day, it finally all came to a head, and the two fought viciously, with tooth and claw and beak and wing.
"After all I've done for you, Goose! You have a good life! Why must you pine over something you don't need?"
"Shut up, Raccoon! All you've ever done is hold me back! I'm getting out of here!" Goose drove his beak into Raccoon's neck, leaving him collapsed and barely breathing. Goose leapt from the tower window, and spread his wings.
And he flew. Finally, after months and months trapped in that stone tower, he was free. The other tower was visible on the horizon, slowly getting closer. Goose felt the wind beneath his wings, overjoyed.
But he didn't make it far. He was still too young to fly such a distance, and he was badly wounded from the fight. His strength left him, his wings gave out, and he plummeted from the sky, falling unconscious as he crashed into the harsh coldness of the river.
He awoke soon after, flailing and terrified. He was on a fishing boat, with a man's hands around his neck. The scene was loud with shouting and laughter from the fishermen, as well as his own screams. He managed to wriggle free, summoned what strength he had left, and flew off, managing to reach a nearby mountain before falling back to the earth, exhausted.
And in front of him stood a quaint little cottage, abandoned but still inhabitable. Goose took in his surroundings and entered, and realized that it was all perfect. His fixation with the other tower disappeared; he decided that this cottage would be just as great a new home for himself, if not better.
After he regained his strength, he went back to find Raccoon. He was glad to see his old friend still alive. Warily, they spoke again, and tried to rekindle the deep friendship that they had once had. But they could never find it again.
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Morals of the Story
Don't get so fixated on your goals that you become blind to everything else. The path to your goal may be filled with unexpected danger, or may branch off towards a better opportunity; you must be able to see and adapt to either one.
Don't let your ambition stand in the way of your friendships. Take care of those who care about you; otherwise, even if you reach your selfish goal, you'll find yourself without friends.
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