The length of human life

The God was deciding on the length of life for different creatures. First came the horse and the God said to it: ‘’You will live for thirty years!’’.

 ‘’That is too much, responded the horse’’. ‘’I always have to work hard, so I won’t be able to move at such an age.’’ So the horse kept on haggling until he reduced the age to eighteen years. 

The second came the dog, and the God said: ‘’You will live for thirty years!’’. ‘’That is too much’’, replied the dog. ‘’During nights I have a lot of work to do’’, so I won’t be able to make my ends meet at such an age.’’. So the dog kept on bargaining until he reduced the age to twelve years.

The third came the monkey, and once again the God said: ‘’You will live for thirty years!’’ ‘’That is too much’’ replied the monkey. I have to make everyone laugh, and the monkey managed to negotiate 10 years of living. 

The fourth came the human and the God told him – ‘’You will have thirty years’’. 

 ‘’That is not enough’’, told the human. At that age I have barely gotten some common sense, you have to give me some extra years!’’

So the God gave the human the eighteen years of the horse, but the human wasn’t satisfied and replied: ‘’That is still not enough, because my children will not be big by then’’. 

Then the God also gave the twelve years of the dog, but the human still insisted that it is too little. So the God gave the human also the monkey years, and the human was finally satisfied. Therefore during his own years the human is doing well, during the horse years he has to work harder and has no teeth at the dog’s years, whereas in the monkey’s years he has to make everyone laugh.