Frenemies, an Underfable

         Frenemies, an Underfable

             Once upon a time a colony of rats held a meeting to elect their king.  Old Beady-Eyes, the Judge, said, “Let the candidates speak!”

            First Yellowtooth, of the Gnaw Party, said, “I have the highest esteem for my Scurry Party opponent; a better rodent cannot be found! Why then, did he stoop to stealing apple cores and orange peels from cute little rat pups? Has he no decency?”
            Then Baretail, of the Scurry Party, said, “I have only the finest feelings for my Gnaw Party opponent; no rat is braver than he! Why then, when the cat attacked, did he not stand his ground? Instead he turned tail and ran! Such craven cowardice! For shame, sir!”
            Then Greycoat, of the Reform Party, said, “Yellowtooth and Baretail falsely accuse each other of the crimes they themselves have committed.” The rats sqeaked and chittered, for they knew this was the truth. Greycoat continued, “They do this to distract you from their failures in garbage and feline policy. Both Gnaw and Scurry Parties represent the corruption of the system, which I propose to reform.”
            The rats lined up to vote; 49 for Yellowtooth, 49 for Baretail, and 2 for Greycoat; and Greycoat was declared the victor, for he had already bribed Judge Beady-Eyes.

            Moral: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.