Once upon a time, in a bustling city, there was a heated debate about a proposed bike lane that would require removing a large, beautiful tree. Two women came before the wise King Wedgemon, claiming they were deeply concerned about the fate of the tree.
The first woman, genuinely worried about the environment, pleaded with King Wedgemon, saying, “Your Majesty, this tree provides shade and beauty to our neighborhood. Please, we must find another solution! Anything but the tree!”
The second woman, who was in charge of distributing yard signs for the campaign to save the trees, disguised her true intentions. She wailed, “Oh, King Wedgemon, the thought of losing this majestic tree breaks my heart! We must not allow the bike lane to be built if it means cutting down the tree!”
King Wedgemon, known for his wisdom, looked at the women thoughtfully and said, “I see this is a difficult situation. If we cannot cut down the tree, we shall remove some parking spaces instead to make room for the bike lane.”
At this, the second woman’s true colors were revealed. She exclaimed, “No, Your Majesty! We cannot remove any parking spaces! It would be impossible to find a place to park my car!”
King Wedgemon smiled knowingly and turned to the first woman. “Your concern for the tree is genuine,” he said. “But as for you,” he addressed the second woman, “your love for car parking has exposed your true motive. You do not care for the tree, but rather despise bikes and the people who use them.”
With his wisdom, King Wedgemon decreed that the bike lane would be built, preserving the tree and removing only a few parking spaces. The first woman rejoiced, and the city’s residents marveled at the king’s insight and fairness.
And so, the city thrived with its new bike lane, the majestic tree standing tall, and the wisdom of King Wedgemon echoing through the streets.