Problem solving story: The blocked stream and the lesson in problem-solving and teamwork

Once upon a time, a stream flowed through a vast and beautiful forest. It started as a small trickle in a narrow ravine, gained strength as it descended a steep slope, and then meandered gently through an idyllic valley before spreading into a marshy plain. The stream was the lifeblood of the forest, nourishing plants, quenching the thirst of animals, and providing a home for fish and other creatures. One day, after days of heavy rain, a large rock broke loose from the slope high above. With a mighty crash, it tumbled down and landed squarely in the middle of the stream. The water, unable to flow past the obstacle, began to pool behind it, creating a small pond. But as time passed, the water in the valley disappeared, leaving behind a dry riverbed. When morning came, the animals of the valley gathered around the barren bed of the stream, confused and alarmed. The magpie flapped her wings in distress and declared, “The stream is gone, the stream is gone!” The wild boar, always ready to share his opinions, grunted thoughtfully. “It seems the fish must have drunk all the water,” he suggested. The other animals nodded. It sounded reasonable enough, after all, the water had to have gone somewhere. The rat, known for his quick thinking, came up with an idea. “The stream must be filled with rainwater immediately! If we summon the rain, the water will return.”

Eager to help, the animals gathered pebbles from the dried-up riverbed and tossed them into the air, hoping to awaken the clouds. By a stroke of luck, dark clouds soon gathered, and rain began to fall. The animals cheered as raindrops pattered onto the parched earth. But to their disappointment, the water soaked straight into the dry ground and vanished before it could restore the stream. The wild boar stomped his hoof in frustration. “The problem is that the riverbed is too shallow! If we dig deeper, the stream will come back.” Determined, the animals worked tirelessly, digging and dredging the riverbed with their paws, hooves, and snouts. They carved a deeper channel, believing that the water would return. Yet, even after hours of effort, the riverbed remained dry. At last, the wild boar made another proclamation. “We must bring water from the lake! If we keep the streambed moist, perhaps the water will find its way back.” So, day after day, the animals carried water in leaves, shells, and whatever they could find. They walked long distances to fetch water from the distant lake, carefully pouring it into the empty streambed. Though their efforts kept the ground damp, the stream itself did not return. As the days passed, exhaustion set in, and doubt began to creep into their minds. The stream had always flowed naturally why had it disappeared so suddenly? It was then that an old turtle, who had been observing from a distance, slowly made his way to the gathered animals.

“My friends,” he said in his slow, wise voice, “you have worked so hard, but have you stopped to wonder why the stream has vanished? Water does not simply disappear without a reason.” The animals paused, realizing that in their panic, they had not considered this. The turtle continued, “Perhaps something is blocking the stream upstream. Instead of trying to force the water to return, let us go and find the true source of the problem.” And so, the animals climbed the slope, following the dried riverbed until they reached the large rock that had fallen into the stream. There it stood, unmoving, holding back the water behind it. “This is the cause of our troubles!” the magpie squawked. The animals now understood. Instead of blaming the fish, digging the riverbed, or carrying water, they needed to remove the rock. Together, using all their strength, they pushed and pulled. The beaver gnawed at the edges, the wild boar rammed it with his head, and even the tiny ants carried away bits of dirt from underneath. Finally, with one last mighty push, the rock shifted and rolled aside. With a joyful gurgle, the water rushed forward, filling the riverbed once more. The stream was back! The valley came alive again as the fish swam happily, the birds sang, and the animals drank deeply. The old turtle smiled. “Remember, my friends, before trying to fix a problem, always look for the real cause. Sometimes, the solution is not about working harder but about thinking wiser.” The animals nodded in agreement, grateful for the lesson. From that day on, whenever a problem arose in the forest, they reminded each other to stop, observe, and understand before acting. And so, the forest thrived, with the stream flowing peacefully for generations to come.