![\"lizard\"](\"http:\/\/sites.gstboces.org\/schoonover\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/42\/2016\/02\/lizard-300x225.png\")
\nCoyote was always happiest when he was spying on someone or prying<\/strong> into his business. One day, when he saw a group of lizards<\/strong> playing a game that was strange to him, he trotted over to learn all about it.<\/p>\n The lizards were gathered<\/strong> on the top of a big, flat rock with one sloping<\/strong> side. They were taking turns sliding down that steep slope on small flat rocks. Each time, after his slide, the slider picked up his rock at the bottom of the slope and carried it up the hill on his back.<\/p>\n Coyote trotted<\/strong> over to the rock and sat down nearby. The lizards pretended<\/strong> not to see him. They went on with their play, as if he were not there at all.<\/p>\n Coyote didn’t like that. He wanted to be noticed<\/strong> at least. He moved a little closer and began talking to the lizards.<\/p>\n ”You seem to be having a lot of fun,” Coyote said. ”What do you call your game?”<\/p>\n ”We just call it sliding,” one lizard\u00a0said.<\/p>\n ”Sliding, eh?” Coyote\u00a0was trying hard to be friendly. ”It looks so interesting I’d like to join you.”<\/p>\n All the lizards\u00a0 turned and looked at him coldly. ”You are not a lizard, ” one of them said. ”Go play your own games. You don’t know ours.”<\/p>\n ”But I can learn,”Coyote insisted<\/strong>. ”Really, it looks very simple. I’d just stand on the rock and slide down. Let me try it. \u00a0Just once.”<\/p>\n ”This game is very dangerous<\/strong>. You’d get killed,” an old lizard told him. ”The first time you would be all right, but the second time, when you ride the big rock, you’d\u00a0 be smashed\u00a0 flat.”<\/p>\n Coyote didn’t believe a word of that.\u00a0 None of the lizards had been smashed so why should he?\u00a0 He kept\u00a0 begging\u00a0 them\u00a0 to let him try it, \u00a0just\u00a0 once.<\/p>\n ”Well, just once, Cousin,” said the oldest lizard\u00a0after hearing Coyote begging. ”You can ride the small flat rock, but don’t ask to ride the big one.”<\/p>\n Of course Coyote intended<\/strong> to ride the big one also, but he didn’t say anything about that at the time. He decided\u00a0 to try\u00a0 the little one, and show them how well he could do it. Then he would persuade<\/strong> them to allow him to try the big one.<\/p>\n The lizards looked sour as they placed the small flat rock in position<\/strong> for him. ”I don’t know why you want to play our games,” one of them said.\u00a0 ”I happen to know you have lots of games to play.\u00a0 I’ve seen you chasing cottontails<\/strong> and kangaroo rats and all sorts of creatures<\/strong>. \u00a0I should think running races\u00a0 would be more to your liking. You are a faster runner.<\/p>\n Coyote didn’t answer.\u00a0 He stepped out on to the flat rock. \u00a0It tilted down onto\u00a0the runway and\u00a0“zip” away he went like a streak of lightning<\/strong>. \u00a0Before he reached the bottom of the slide, Coyote jumped off.\u00a0 He picked up the rock and trudged<\/strong> back up the hill with it.<\/p>\n ”You see,” he panted, ”I can do it.\u00a0\u00a0Let me use the big rock.\u00a0 Just once.\u201d<\/p>\n The lizards looked at him sternly<\/strong>.\u00a0 The oldest one said, ”We warned you. We didn’t want you to try the big rock, but your life is your own. If you want to risk it in this way, its your own fault if you get smashed flat.”<\/p>\n The old lizard told the young lizards to get the big rock for Coyote, they\u00a0 moved away silently<\/strong> and came back with it. They placed the big rock on the edge of the runway. Then they stood back.<\/p>\n Coyote was not at all afraid. \u00a0He ran out onto the rock, tipped it a little, and once more he was sliding very rapidly<\/strong> down the runway.\u00a0 The big rock caught<\/strong> on a smaller one half way down the slide. The rock flipped into the air, taking Coyote with it.\u00a0 Coyote was frightened half out of his skin.\u00a0 His ears were flopping<\/strong> and his paws were clawing the air. He wasn’t at all proud of himself, as he had been on the first ride.<\/p>\n He hit the ground and rolled over. \u00a0He saw the big rock coming down on top of him. ”I should have listened<\/strong>,” he thought. ”I’m going to be smashed flat, \u00a0just as they said.\u201d Then the big rock fell and smashed Coyote.<\/p>\n The lizards stood looking down at him. ”Poor, foolish, Coyote,” the oldest lizard said. \u00a0”He’s no friend of mine, but still it makes me sad to see him smashed so flat.”<\/p>\n ”And right in the middle of our runway,” said\u00a0 one of the young lizards.<\/p>\n ”It would be right to leave him there. But he’s going to be very heavy for us to move,”\u00a0 said another. ”It would be simpler<\/strong> to bring him back to life,” said a third lizard, ”Then he could leave without us having to move him.”<\/p>\n ”You have a very good idea, said the oldest lizard.” Come on boys.” Single file they slid down to Coyote and made a tight circle around him so they could work their magic in private<\/strong>.\u00a0 In their own secret manner they brought him back to life.<\/p>\n ”Now go on your way, Coyote,” the oldest lizard told him. ‘ ‘And after this don’t try to play lizard games.\u00a0 We don’t want this to happen to you again.”<\/p>\n Coyote was glad to be alive.\u00a0 He got up and dashed for home as fast as he could run.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"