Spirit Animal
[Badger and Ferret are walking in silence. Badger suddenly breaks it:]
Badger
Name an animal that you like.
Ferret
What? Why?
Badger
Just do it. It’s a psychology game.
Ferret
Okay. Umm… a penguin.
Badger
Why a penguin?
Ferret
I don’t know. You just said, pick an animal.
Badger
No. You’ve got to have a reason with it, too.
Ferret
Okay. A penguin because it perseveres through long, harsh winters.
Badger
Okay. Pick two more. You need three.
Ferret
Okay. A bear because it’s strong and commanding.
[Badger laughs.]
Ferret
Why are you laughing?
Badger
Nevermind. You’ll see when we’re done. Pick one more.
Ferret
Okay. The last one is a ferret because it’s relatively clever and it can investigate and get into places where most other animals can’t go.
Badger
Heh. Okay.
Ferret
So what does it mean?
Badger
The first animal is supposed to be how you see yourself. The second animal is how others see you. And the third animal is what you actually are.
Ferret
So I see myself as a persevering ball of arctic butter. People think I’m a courageous bear. But I’m actually a clever rodent.
Badger
Precisely.