A boy was walking down the road one day. Up ahead, he saw a snake, stretched out across his side of the road. He started to walk across the road to avoid the snake, when the snake spoke to him. "Boy... help me."
The boy was astonished! He had never heard a snake talk before.
"Boy, please help. I've gotten cold and cannot move. Please pick me up and warm me so that I can cross the road," the snake pleaded.
"But you are a snake," the boy replied. "As soon as I should pick you up, you are sure to bite me."
"No, I won't. I will remember your kindness."
The boy thought and thought. The boy walked to the snake, picked it up, and cuddled it to his chest to warm it. As soon as the snake was warm enough, it turned and bit the boy.
"Snake! Why did you bite me? You said you wouldn't!"
"But boy," hissed the snake, "you knew what I was from the beginning."