Deep in Maplewood Forest lived Sammy the Squirrel, the youngest (and smallest) squirrel in his family.
Every morning, he watched his older brothers dash through the trees to the nut grove, returning with their cheeks puffed like balloons.
“I want to go too!” Sammy squeaked one morning. Mama Squirrel smiled. “You’re growing fast, Sammy. Maybe it’s time for your first solo trip!”
Sammy’s tail puffed with pride. “I’ll bring home the biggest acorn ever!”
Mama packed him a tiny snack pouch of sunflower seeds. “Be careful,” she said. “And remember: no shortcuts, no tree-hopping contests, and no chasing butterflies!” Sammy saluted. “Got it! I’ll be back before lunch!”
The Bouncy Branch Challenge
Sammy bounded off through the forest, his tail bouncing like a spring.
At first, everything went perfectly, until he reached the Wobbly Willow Tree, famous for its tricky branches.
“Easy-peasy!” he said, hopping onto the first branch.
It wobbled.
He wobbled.
Then—boing!—he bounced into the next branch upside down.
A giggling chipmunk popped its head out. “New dance move?” Sammy groaned, hanging by his tail. “It’s called the Wobble-Woah!”
After a few clumsy hops and one heroic tail swing, he landed safely on the ground. “Okay,” he panted. “Next time, I’ll invent the No-Bounce Shortcut.”
The Owl Who Forgot Everything
As Sammy crossed a patch of ferns, he spotted Oliver the Owl perched on a stump, looking confused.
“Morning, Oliver!” Sammy chirped. “Do you know the way to the nut grove?”
Oliver blinked. “The nut what?”
“The nut grove!”
“Ohhh,” said Oliver, scratching his head. “Is that near… the thingy with the tree… or the other tree?”
Sammy tilted his head. “That’s… not helpful.” Oliver chuckled. “Wait! I remember! Just follow the smell of acorns—but beware of the sneaky breeze!”
“The breeze?” Sammy frowned. Before he could ask, a gust of wind whooshed by—blowing his sunflower seed pouch right out of his paw!
“My snacks!”
Oliver hooted. “Told you about that breeze!” Sammy chased his pouch all the way down the hill, straight toward the grove!
The Great Nut Discovery
When Sammy stopped rolling, he looked up—and gasped.
He had made it!
The Nut Grove stretched out before him, glowing golden under the morning sun.
Acorns, chestnuts, hazelnuts—it was like the world’s biggest snack buffet! He stuffed his cheeks until they looked like two marshmallows.
“Mom’s going to be so proud!” he mumbled through a mouthful of nuts.
Then he spotted a shiny acorn perched high on a branch. “The biggest one!” he declared.
He climbed carefully, grabbed it—and whoosh! slipped right into a pile of leaves.
A squirrel-sized cloud of laughter erupted. “Well,” he said, dusting himself off, “at least the landing was soft!”
The End !
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