One bright morning, in a part of the jungle where the sunbeams danced, Leo the Leopard was admiring himself. He stretched out on a big, flat rock, turning this way and that.

"My, oh my," Leo purred to a passing parrot. "Just look at my coat! See these amazing spots? Aren't they the most beautiful, most wonderful patterns you've ever seen?"

The parrot squawked something that sounded like "Very spotty!" and flew off.

Just then, Flicker the Fox trotted by. Flicker wasn't covered in fancy spots. He had a plain, reddish-brown coat, but his eyes were bright and clever.

Leo puffed out his chest. "Hello, Flicker! Come and admire my magnificent coat. Isn't it the best in the whole jungle? So many beautiful spots!"

Flicker stopped and looked at Leo. He smiled a little fox smile. "Your coat is very handsome, Leo," he said. "Those spots are certainly eye-catching."

Leo beamed. "They are, aren't they?"

"But," Flicker continued, tapping his own forehead with a paw, "I think what I have is even more beautiful."

Leo looked puzzled. "More beautiful than my spots? What could be more beautiful than these perfect patterns? What do you have, Flicker?"

Flicker's eyes twinkled. "I have a mind full of cleverness, Leo. My beauty is on the inside. It helps me find food, escape danger, and think my way out of tricky situations. Your spots are lovely to look at, but my clever mind is beautiful *and* very useful."

Leo blinked. He looked at his spots, then at Flicker. He had never thought of it that way. His spots were pretty, but Flicker's cleverness did sound quite special.

Flicker gave a friendly nod and trotted on, leaving Leo the Leopard to think about different kinds of beauty.

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