Topple of Tashkent by Guy Finley

Guy Finley offers numerous books and audios
for positive thinking and self development.
Far away, nestled high in the beautiful snow-capped mountains of the Alps, there was once a small village known as Tashkent. Tashkent was a charming old town, criss-crossed with cobblestone streets lined with steep-roofed shops and cottages. Rising high above the peaks of the roofs reached the glimmering steeple of the small stone church at the top of the town square.

The villagers of Tashkent were kind, honest, hardworking people who would rather live in their small quiet village in the mountains than anyplace else on earth. Every hour, the bell in the church tower rang out above them, pure and clear, reminding them of the passing hours and the jobs they must complete, as well as welcoming any visitors who ventured nearby.

In the woods and meadows surrounding Tashkent, there lived a band of busy, hardy gray tree squirrels. All day long they would dash up and down trees, and race through the fragrant meadows searching for berries, nuts, and seeds. But there was one squirrel who lived among them who was not as quick and nimble as the rest. His name was Topple, and while the other squirrels had four strong legs for running and climbing, Topple had only three... he might have been born that way, or perhaps he had fallen out of a tree when he was a baby, or maybe a hawk had swept down and attacked him when he was playing once and not paying attention... no one could quite remember anymore.

The tree squirrels of Tashkent were cruel, and they loved to make fun of poor Topple because he was different. They were forever chattering at him noisily. They stole his food when they could, and laughed at him because with only three legs, he was slower and clumsier than the rest. Sometimes he would even lose his balance, and fall right off a tree.

"Ha, Ha!" the other squirrels shrieked. "Stupid Topple, why don't you go bury yourself in a hole?" None of them really cared about his troubles. The nastier squirrels would even tease him by running at him and pushing him over, and this is how Topple got his name. Even the smallest squirrels could make some kind of a game out of toppling Topple. But Topple would always pick himself back up again, shake himself off, and rejoin the activities.

Topple was smaller than the other squirrels too, because he didn't have as much to eat. Each day when they all went out to look for food, Topple was the last to find it. Often he would only get what the other squirrels did not want. When predators such as cats, mountain lions, or foxes came near, Topple was always the last squirrel to escape the danger. Once Topple had even been bitten by a dog who'd taken off a piece of his ear before he had struggled and leapt away!

One year as the golden days of autumn drew to a close, all the tree squirrels were at their busiest, preparing for the snows to come. When winter fell, it was one of the harshest seasons they had ever experienced. The mounting snows made it difficult for even the strongest squirrels to move about and forage for food, but for little Topple it became nearly impossible to find the food he needed.

Then something even worse happened to Topple. It became evident that he had a sickness dreaded by all squirrels called mange. Now, instead of having a thick, bushy tail, Topple's was scrawny and thin with splotches of tender pink skin showing through the fur. This made the other squirrels whistle and laugh harder than ever. All they did, all day long, was make fun of poor Topple, endlessly teasing and tormenting him.

In spite of the hardships, Topple survived the winter, and despite having no friends in the woods, Topple still loved his life. He loved the sun on his bony little back, he loved the tall trees and the soft brown earth where he hid his nuts. He loved the smell of the grass, and the rain that gave him water to drink. And he never stopped trying to do what he must each day: gather food, make a nest, and protect himself from harm as best he could.

One warm spring day, an old white-haired man came riding a bicycle through the woods where the squirrels played. The squirrels didn't know it, but this man was the mayor of Tashkent. He sat down on a tree stump with a small bag of bread crumbs, and the squirrels scurried toward him. All the squirrels were a little afraid of humans, but they never liked to miss an opportunity to eat. They scampered around the mayor, snatching the crumbs as he scattered them about. Topple joined in the fray, but moving more slowly than the others, he couldn't get as many crumbs. Yet he was a brave squirrel and he ventured closer than any of them to the old man.

Suddenly, the major snatched Topple and quickly put him in a cage on the back of his bicycle. Through the wires of the cage, Topple looked out behind him with his big black eyes, surprised and staring. As the old man pedaled away, the squirrels left behind looked on in amazement. Then one began to laugh, then another, and another:

"Look! Topple's gotten himself trapped!"

"Oh, poor Topple, looks like he's going to end up in a stew-pot!"

"That old man will have some tasty Topple stew tonight!"


Of course, the squirrels didn't really care about Topple being taken away, but they did miss having someone they could pick on. So right away they began to fight with each other instead, and they spent another summer with no further thought given to what may have become of little Topple.

The days that followed became shorter and colder. Winter covered the land once again, more fiercely than any the squirrels had ever remembered. The wind howled, and the snow blew. Food was scarce. The squirrels had not stored up enough to get them by until spring. Finally, they realized they'd have to go into the village to find something to eat. They crept cautiously down the unfamiliar streets, looking about for any scraps of food. They ran down snowy lanes, passing the glow of lights from cottages where the villagers were warm, cozy, and well-fed. The squirrels became more and more desperate.

As they passed in front of one cottage, they saw something that made them come to a sudden stop. They came closer to the light and peeked inside the window. They couldn't believe their eyes, for there was Topple! He was sitting by the fireplace, curled up in the old white-haired man's lap. The mayor who had captured Topple last spring was feeding peanuts to the little squirrel out of his hand. Topple was plump now, and his tail was full. He and the old may who loved him looked very happy. The squirrels turned with their heads hung low, and continued on their way into the darkness. Distantly above them the sound of bells rang out in the cold, night air.

The mayor and townspeople admired Topple because they found strength in his perseverance. Topple was willing to get up and start over, every time he got knocked down.~~~


Guy Finley is the acclaimed author of more than 30 books and audio programs on the subject of self-realization, several of which have become international best sellers. His popular works, published in 16 languages, are widely endorsed by doctors, professionals, and religious leaders of all denominations. Among many others, his popular titles include: Discover the Secrets of Being Unstoppable!, The Secret of Letting Go, Design Your Destiny, The Lost Secrets of Prayer, Apprentice of the Heart, Let Go and Live in the Now, and The Essential Laws of Fearless Living.

As founder and director of Life of Learning Foundation, a nonprofit center for self-study located in Southern Oregon, Guy Finley gives talks four times each week.

Visit www.guyfinley.org for a wealth of free helpful information, free audio and video downloads, and to request your free Self-Improvement Starter Kit.