English Original
A long time ago, Opossum's tail was long and bushy. He loved it dearly, spending all day cleaning and brushing it. Whenever visitors came, he would make them listen to his latest song or poem about his tail. At animal dances, he always demanded a special seat so everyone could admire it.
Rabbit grew tired of Opossum's vanity and decided to play a trick. Before the next dance, Rabbit personally invited Opossum, promising him a special seat and arranging for Cricket the barber to groom his tail as a "special treat."
The next day, Cricket arrived with comb, scissors, and a shiny red ribbon. He praised Opossum's tail and offered to wrap it in the ribbon to keep it clean on the way to the dance. As Cricket gently combed, Opossum fell asleep.
At the dance, Opossum proudly took his special seat. When the music started, he announced to all, "When I remove this ribbon, you will admire my beautiful tail as I dance. No other tail is as beautiful as mine!" He loosened the ribbon, wriggled his tail free, and began to prance around the dance floor.
Rabbit covered his mouth to smother his laughter. Cricket began to laugh in his high-pitched voice, and soon all the animals joined in. Confused, Opossum looked at the others laughing and pointing at his tail. He looked down, horrified. His once beautiful, bushy tail was now as bald and scaly as a lizard's tail! Cricket had cut off every hair.
Opossum was so shocked and embarrassed he couldn't speak. All he could do was roll over on his back—which is what opossums still do today when surprised or embarrassed.
中文翻译
很久以前，负鼠的尾巴又长又蓬松。他非常喜爱自己的尾巴，整天都在清洁和梳理它。每当有访客到来，他都会让他们听自己最新创作的关于尾巴的歌曲或诗歌。在动物们的舞会上，他总是要求一个特殊的座位，好让大家都来欣赏他的尾巴。
兔子厌倦了负鼠的虚荣，决定捉弄他一下。在下一次舞会前，兔子亲自去邀请负鼠，承诺给他一个特殊座位，并安排理发师蟋蟀为他的尾巴做一次“特别护理”。
第二天，蟋蟀带着梳子、剪刀和一条闪亮的红丝带来了。他称赞了负鼠的尾巴，并提出用丝带把尾巴包起来，以免去舞会的路上沾上灰尘。蟋蟀轻柔地梳理着，负鼠很快就睡着了。
在舞会上，负鼠骄傲地坐上了他的特殊座位。音乐响起时，他向所有动物宣布：“等我解开这条丝带，你们就能在我跳舞时欣赏我美丽的尾巴了。没有谁的尾巴能比我的更美！”他解开丝带，扭动着挣脱束缚，然后开始随着音乐在舞池里神气活现地跳跃。
兔子用手捂住嘴，强忍住笑声。蟋蟀开始用他尖细的嗓音笑起来，很快所有的动物都跟着笑了起来。负鼠困惑地看着其他动物，他们都在笑，并且指着他的尾巴。他低头一看，吓坏了。他那曾经美丽蓬松的尾巴，现在变得像蜥蜴的尾巴一样光秃秃、布满鳞片！蟋蟀用锋利的剪刀剪掉了所有的毛。
负鼠又惊又窘，说不出话来。他所能做的只是仰面朝天躺倒——这正是今天的负鼠在受到惊吓或感到尴尬时仍然会做的动作。