The Little Ant

Once upon a time, in a far, hot, and humid jungle, lived a colony of ants. They were a big colony and had lots of food. They were hard workers. All for one, and one for all.

But then, one day, some big, ugly, and disgusting cockroaches invaded their colony. The ants tried to fight them off, but the cockroaches were bigger and stronger.

The ants couldn’t do much. The cockroaches had taken their colony, their food, and them. The ants became their slaves. They did all the hard work, and if one of them tried to do something, the cockroaches would attack.

For years and years, decades and decades, the ants were slaves in their own home. It was so long, it turned into a habit. A bad habit. And nobody would do anything about it.

Until one day, a little ant made her voice heard. She told everybody that things could be better, but only if they work together. It was the only way.

Many were not sure, others wanted to but didn’t know how, and the rest just ignored her. They were so used to it already, they thought it was useless to try.

But the little ant kept on going. If every ant had a mission in life, that was hers. She was meant to make the other ants aware that by working together, there was a better future for all.

Over time, one by one, the ants joined her. They grew bigger and bigger. It took many months, and many, many years. But finally, one day, all the ants were able to work together and make their voices roar. 

They planned on how to take down the cockroaches for once and for all. They had to be smarter than them; and working together was key.

Secretly, for many nights, the ants dug a hole not so close to their colony. And since they were so many, they all took turns to dig a little bit every time so the cockroaches would never notice. It took them a long time to dig the hole as deep as they needed to. But now they were ready to execute their plan.

So, one evening, after the cockroaches woke up from their naps, they saw there was no food. Every day they ants would collect food for them, but today there was nothing. The cockroaches got so mad because they were starving, so they started to yell asking where their food was. 

When they stepped outside the colony, they saw all the ants standing together side by side not so far from them. They stood like a wall. The cockroaches got surprised, but then the leader cockroach yelled furiously. He wanted their food. And now!

But the ants did not move an inch. It was like if they were anchored to the ground. The cockroaches started to get mad and violent. So they attacked. 

Some of the ants got scared, but with the little ant in front of them as their leader, they held their position. They watched the cockroaches run towards them with rage in their eyes. When suddenly, the cockroaches fell in a big, deep hole. The same hole the ants had dug. 

The cockroaches yelled from inside the hole; they were mad and wanted to eat the ants. But they couldn’t this time. The ants watched them from up top by the edge of the hole. They were happy. Finally, they were free.

Then the little ant turned to the others and said, “Let’s not forget, we were like them before”. All the other ants didn’t understand, but then she continued, “All of the cockroaches are trying to climb up, but none of them can; at least not alone. What they have not realized yet is that if they would all work together, they would all get out of the hole faster. But since they are stepping on each other, they never will.”