The Small Viscacha and the Fair Circle in the Square

The village is built on the tall slopes of the cold hills, where green terraced fields (step-like gardens on the hillside) rise up to meet the blue sky. Titu is a viscacha. A viscacha is a small animal that looks like a furry rabbit. Titu is a master mason who works with rock blocks. He works with his hands to shape the heavy rock slabs for the village.

Today, the animals gather for communal labor (a special day when everyone helps the village). They want to build a new seating circle in the middle of the market square. This is the flat area where animals sell sweet corn and purple potatoes.

Titu has a big duty. He promised the village council that every animal, from the big llama to the tiny field mouse, will have a seat of the exact same size. “Every family helps our village,” Titu said. “So every family must have a fair place to sit. I promise to build it fairly.”

Titu begins his work. He carries gray blocks down the winding paths from the rocky cliffs. He places each block with care. But soon, some proud animals walk into the market square.

First comes Chusi, a llama with very soft wool. She wears a bright red yarn collar. Chusi is full of pride. She looks down at Titu.

“Titu,” Chusi says in a loud voice. “I am the largest and most beautiful animal here. Look at my lovely wool! I need a seat that is three times wider than the others. Build my seat first, and let it be grand.”

Titu shakes his round head. “I promised the council that all seats will be equal,” he says gently. “Fairness means we all share the same space.”

Then Kusi, a quick-tailed fox, jogs down from the terraced fields. Kusi is greedy and shortsighted. He carries a basket of sweet berries.

“Titu!” Kusi calls out. “I will give you all these sweet berries if you build my seat on the sunny side, and shape it twice as wide as the llama’s seat. No one will mind!”

“No, Kusi,” Titu answers. “I cannot take your berries to break my promise.”

Soon, a crowd of animals gathers in the market square. They watch Titu work. The sun climbs above the tall ridges. Some animals begin to whisper. They feel impatient.

“Maybe Chusi should get a bigger seat,” says a vanity-filled goose. “She is so grand to look at!”

“Yes!” says a proud wild cat. “And Kusi is very clever. He should have the sunny spot. Why must we wait for tiny mice to get the same space?”

The crowd starts to shout. “Give the grand animals the best seats! Hurry up, Titu!”

The public pressure grows loud. The noise fills the market square.

Titu feels the pressure. His tiny paws shake. It would be very easy to please the loud crowd. He could just build one big seat for the llama, one sunny seat for the fox, and leave the small corners for the others. But he looks at his plan. He remembers his promise of fair play. He thinks of the tiny field mice who worked hard to bring clay for the bricks.

Titu takes a deep breath. He stands on a rock slab.

“Friends!” Titu calls out. “We gathered today for communal labor. We all share this land. If we give the best spots only to the loudest, our village will lose its trust. A promise to one is a promise to all. Every animal deserves a fair seat.”

The animals look at each other. The greedy fox looks down. The proud llama stops boasting. They remember how the tiny mice helped carry clay up the steep trails. They see the truth in Titu’s words.

Titu finishes his work. He places the last flat rock slab. The circle of seats is beautiful and perfectly equal. Every animal sits together, sharing their food in peace.

Moral: Fairness means keeping our promises to everyone, even when others ask us to favor the strong.