He Was So Vain: Corky, the Cocky Cockroach

“He was so vain, but he no longer is, as he has finally met his match.”

“Just how vain was he?”

Let us recount the tale of the fall of the narcissistic, arrogant and egotistical cockroach named Corky, the cocky cockroach. Perhaps those words are still too hollow to portray his vanity accurately. Corky’s pomp and circumstance as king of cockroach castle, quickly went to his head. The others cockroaches watched in horror, as Corky placed himself high on the community pedestal and virtually snubbed everyone who he perceived as being of lesser worth. 

If Corky could have boasted of anything, it would have been his ability to brag about his own achievements and abilities, which virtually amounted to nothing. They had no merit, substance or worth in the eyes of others.

A one-cockroach parade, where Corky could toot his own horn or beat his own drum, would never have been sufficient to satisfy his vainglory. He needed and wanted more. The self-important, cocky cockroach was excessively proud of his appearance, but in a crowd of cockroaches, he was not any different in appearance. He was simply a cockroach and a cockroach looks like a cockroach.

Everyone knew Corky’s futile attempts at reigning king of cockroach castle, would ultimately lead to his downfall simply because they were unprofitable for others. Being haughty, did not get him anywhere, other than out the door.

“Corky was the first out the door?”

“That indeed he was, and one footstep brought about his demise.’

Such was the ultimate resolution of that cockroach castle problem, but then there arose another problem.

Corky’s predecessor, another self-appointed, new, but equally precocious king of cockroach  castle began to do and say exactly the same thing. He was a carbon copy of Corky, the cocky cockroach, in every way and thus, ultimately destined to meet the same fate.

“There can really only be one king,” the other, more humble cockroaches all agreed. “That cockroach king is the least among us all. We will exalt him and only him.”

  

That is exactly what they did.