Activities Coloring Pages Word Puzzles Word Treasures Return to the Story
Read by Anita Rodgers
It was early morning in Fire Fall Woods. What a great day to look for acorns. Most of the young gray squirrels liked to hunt for acorns, but not Sammy. He thought, “No one will play with me. They are too busy looking for acorns.”
Ryan had found two acorns and put them in a small pile. Sammy said, “Ryan, come play with me. You can look for acorns later.”
Ryan said, “Sammy, you should be looking for acorns. Soon it will be winter and you will be hungry.” Then Ryan ran to look for more acorns.
Sammy thought, “Ryan is no fun. I will find someone else to play with me.”
Not far away, Sammy saw Earl sitting by the Summer Star River with his eyes closed.
Sammy heard Earl say, “Fire Fall Woods, if you please, bring a perfect acorn just for me.”
Then Sammy had a great idea. He thought, “I will take acorns from Ryan and put them by Earl. What a good trick. Earl will think his wish for acorns has come true.”
Ryan was busy looking for acorns and did not see Sammy come back and take one of his acorns.
Sammy was very quiet. Earl did not see or hear him. Sammy put the acorn by Earl and ran to hide behind a tree.
When Earl opened his eyes, he turned and saw the acorn. He was so happy that he danced and said, “I don’t have to look for acorns. All I have to do is wish for them!”
Sammy thought, “This is so funny! I will go and get another acorn from Ryan.”
Sammy did not know that he was being watched by Yellow Bird.
She sat high in her nest and wondered, ”What is he up to?” Yellow Bird flew down for a better look. Then she saw what Sammy was doing.
She thought, ”Those poor squirrels don’t know that Sammy is playing a trick on them.”
Yellow Bird flew to where Ryan was looking for acorns. Ryan had found another acorn, but he looked sad. She asked, “Ryan, what is wrong?”
He said, “Yellow Bird, something has happened to my acorns. I had two acorns and now there is only one left.”
She said, “Ryan, I think I can help you. Add this acorn to your pile so there will be two acorns. Then hide and watch. I think you may soon have the answer to your missing acorn.”
Ryan put the one acorn he had found with the one that was left. Now there were two. Ryan hid, waited, and watched. He saw Sammy come and take one of his acorns. Ryan picked up the one acorn that was left and followed Sammy to the river.
Earl had his eyes closed as he said, “Fire Fall Woods, if you please, bring a perfect acorn just for me.”
Ryan watched Sammy place the second acorn on the pile and hide behind a tree.
Sammy thought, “This is so funny. Earl and Ryan don’t know I am moving the acorns.”
Ryan ran up and asked, “Earl, what are you doing?”
Earl said, “Ryan, look at my two acorns. I just closed my eyes and wished for them.
They are magic acorns.”
Ryan said, “Earl, they are not magic acorns. Sammy took these acorns from me.” Ryan
called, “Sammy, the game is over. You might as well come out and tell Earl the truth.”
Sammy came out from behind the tree and said, “Oh, Earl! You should see your face. Wasn’t this a great trick? I moved the acorns that Ryan had found to your pile.” Sammy laughed and laughed.
Earl and Ryan were not laughing.
Earl hung his head and said, “I wished away the whole day. Now I have no acorns. Ryan, I would never take your acorns.”
Ryan said, “Earl, you are my friend. Sammy played a mean trick on us. Help me carry these acorns back to my nest. Tomorrow I will help you look for acorns.”
Earl and Ryan picked up the three acorns and headed for home. Sammy found he was sitting by himself. He ran after them calling, “Hey! Wait a minute! What about me?”
Activities Coloring Pages Word Puzzles Word Treasures Return to the Story
Those poor squirrels don’t know that Sammy is playing a trick on them.