Reading time: 325 words, 2 pages, 1 to 2 minutes.

I read this story many years before the internet and have since searched and been unable to find it so I’ll try to reconstruct it as best as I can.

Mr. Earthworm Climbs the Mountain

Mr. and Mrs. Earthworm were crawling along when they noticed a mountain off in the distance covered with Earthworms climbing the mountain.

Mr. Earthworm said, “I must climb that mountain.

Mrs. Earthworm asked, “Why?”

He said, “There must be something up there otherwise all those Earthworms wouldn’t be climbing it.”

Mr. Earthworm set off and began climbing the mountain. At first, it was easy, but it became more difficult as the mountain became steeper. Every so often, he would have to duck to avoid becoming dislodged by some hapless Earthworm hurtling down to his death. This occurred more frequently the higher he climbed.

As he approached the top, he leaned out as far as he safely could to see what was at the top of the mountain. Then, he turned around and climbed back down.

Mrs. Earthworm asked, “So, what was at the top of the mountain?”

He said one word, “Nothing!”

And they crawled away and lived happily ever after.

End of the story.

Afterward: I was in management for eleven years. I cannot remember if I read this story before or after I pulled myself off the ‘fast track,’ took a slight demotion and escaped from a toxic head office to a much more satisfying front-line position.

The only thing management has going for it is status. All the status in the world plus a dollar will buy you a cup of coffee. I also noticed that the higher up the mountain you climb, the closer you get to the door.

And, I lived happily ever after.

Gerold
November 19, 2016

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