The Man on the Moon

One day while venturing much too high, a little man got stuck on the moon.  Peering toward the ground below, he spotted a tall man who might help him.  "Please, kind sir!" he called.  "I see you are quite tall, and you see I am quite small, and have no way down from here.  I am very cold; will you reach up and pluck me from this rock?"  

"I am sorry," replied the tall man, "but I have never reached so far."  And he continued on his way.

An hour passed, and the man on the moon spotted another rescuer, yet taller than the first.  "Please, kind sir!" he called.  "I see you are very tall, and you see I am very small, and have no way down from here.  It is lonely on this rock; will you reach up and pluck me from it?"

"I am sorry," replied the very tall man, "but I cannot reach you where you are."  And he continued on his way.

Two hours passed, and the man on the moon spotted yet another down below, smaller even than himself.  "Please, friend!" he called.  "I see you are not very tall, but neither am I; and I have gotten myself stuck here, with no way down.  I am very hungry.  Taller men could not pluck me down, but I ask only that you might give me food."

"I am much too small to reach," replied the little man below, "but I can build a ladder.  I will bring you food, and then we will return together."

So the little rescuer set to work on a ladder to the moon.  But before he could finish, he was issued a zoning citation.  And the man on the moon died.