The Delicious Stone Tteok

There once was a young hare that didn’t have a care in the world. One day, he was hopping along merrily in the tall grass, taking a bite here and there, and nibbling on the sweet leaves. Tired out, he soon fell asleep in the middle of a soft and fluffy meadow. When the hare sleepily opened his eyes again, he saw a giant tiger standing right in front of him! The beast was staring at the hare with an evil grin on its face, showing its sharp teeth. The hare did his best not to start shaking like a leaf and to keep a cool head. He just about managed to put on his most respectful smile.

“D-dear tiger, it’s nice t-to see you,” he stuttered and bowed. A shiver was running down his spine.

“Oh, don’t bother with a bow,” growled the tiger mockingly. “I’m going to eat you anyway. I haven’t eaten a thing all day, and the sun’s already going down. I’m starving, you see.”

The hare was so scared that his heart was jumping out of his chest. But he didn’t want to get eaten. So what could he do to get himself out of this pickle? Quickly, he came up with a plan. “You skipped lunch, my dear tiger?” cried the hare worriedly. “Oh, you must be famished!”

“Stop wasting your breath,” grumbled the tiger. “You’re as good as dead!” Then it opened its mouth, ready to swallow the hare whole.

“Wait, wait!” cried the cowering hare at the very last second. “You might choke on me if you eat me too fast. You need to eat slowly and with proper manners, like the humans do. I think you should go for a starter first. You’re lucky you bumped into me, because…