On the first day, God created the dog and said: "Sit in the park and bark at anyone
who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give
you back the other ten?"
So God agreed.
On the second day, God created the monkey and said: "Entertain people, do tricks,
and make them laugh, especially human children. For this, I'll give you a twenty-year
life span."
The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to
perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"
And God agreed.
On the third day, God created the cow and said: "You must go into the field with the
farmer all day long and suffer in all weathers, have calves and give milk to support
the farmer's family. For this, I will give you a life span of sixty years."
The cow said: "That's a pretty tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How
about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"
And God agreed again
On the fourth day, God created man and said: "Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your
life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."
But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty
the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back;
that makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."
So that is why the first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the
next forty years we slave in all weathers to support our family. For the next ten years
we do monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit
on a park bench and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you.