Seven—and One—Fables That May Keep You Awake
If You Read Them on a Sleepless Night — Chapter Two

Guu came to a ruined town.

Voices rose from below.

“It’s exhausting to carry a house on your back.”

“I’ll never get used to this weight.”

“I just want to put it down,
take a hot shower,
eat something good,
and fall into bed.”

Guu spoke to a dog
who was carrying a kennel.

“That looks difficult.”

“It is,” said the dog.
“I don’t even need this thing.

But if I throw it away,
my owner will scold me.

So I carry it—because I must.

But truly…
I would rather sleep on the ground.

If I had a patch of dry hay
the size of my body,
that would be enough.

Once, I had no proper food,
no fine collar—
but I was free.

I ran through mountains and fields.
Those days were joyful.”

Guu leaned close
and softly sang:

“Guu…”

The dog dropped the kennel
and lay down on the earth.

Soon, it was sleeping peacefully.

A resident watching the dog murmured:

“How fortunate the dog is—
to sleep without worry on the ground.”

Others said:

“Strange…
but watching that dog,
we feel poorer than it.”