Another cerebral sampling from Chris Cole.

Once upon a time there were four musk oxen who became the best of friends. They did everything together. When it came time for them to get new harnesses, they all went to the tack shop together to be fitted.

Alas, one of the musk oxen — Clumsy Clyde — wasn’t too sure of foot and tripped inside the tack shop, stumbling over the work bench and then falling forward, fatally impaling himself upon a long, sharp, device for punching holes in the leather straps.

Grief-stricken, the three surviving friends huddled together, tears streaming down their furry faces. The shop owner was deeply touched by this display of friendship and loyalty and said, “I can see it now — from now on the motto for the three musk in tears shall be one for awl and awl for one!”