The Zax

THE ZAX

One day, making tracksIn the prairie of Prax, Came a North-Going ZaxAnd a South-Going Zax.

And it happened that both of them came to a placeWhere they bumped. There they stood. Foot to foot. Face to face. " Look here, now! " the North-Going Zax said. " I say! You are blocking my path. You are right in my way. I'm a North-Going Zax and I always go north. Get out of my way, now, and let me go forth! "

" Who's in whose way?" snapped the South-Going Zax. " I always go south, making south-going tracks. So you're in MY way! And I ask you to moveAnd let me go south in my south-going groove. " Then the North-Going Zax puffed his chest up with pride. " I never, " he said, " take a step to one side. And I'll prove to you that I won't change my waysIf I have to keep standing here fifty-nine days! "

" And I'll prove to YOU, " yelled the South-Going Zax, " That I can stand here in the prairie of PraxFor fifty-nine years! For I live by a rule That I learned as a boy back in South-Going School. Never budge! That's my rule. Never budge in the least! Not an inch to the west! Not an inch to the east! I'll stay here, not budging! I can and I willIf it makes you and me and the whole world stand still! "

Well. . Of course the world didn't stand still. The world grew. In a couple of years, the new highway came throughAnd they built it right over those two stubborn ZaxAnd left them there, standing un-budged in their tracks.