A Cozy Hollow
High in a tall tree, inside a warm little hollow, lived two squirrel brothers named Nibbles and Skippy.
Nibbles had a big bushy tail and a careful little heart. Skippy had an even bigger tail and a hop in every paw. They both loved nuts, but they loved them in very different ways.
Nibble, nibble.
Autumn Nuts and Autumn Games
When autumn came, golden leaves drifted through the woods. Nibbles looked at the falling leaves and thought about winter. He picked up one nut, then another, then another.
“One nut, two nuts, three nuts,” he counted, carrying them home to the hollow.
Hop, hop, hop.
Skippy watched for a moment, then spun into the leaves. He danced with Bunny, stomped with Hedgehog, and tiptoed with Mouse. The forest laughed around him.
Hoppity-hop. Stompy-stomp. Pitter-pat.
“Come and dance!” called Skippy.
“Nuts first,” said Nibbles. “Four nuts, five nuts.”
Skippy giggled and romped away. He slid through leaf piles, tickled Owl until he hooted, and hid Bunny’s carrot behind a stump. All the while, Nibbles kept gathering.
By sunset, Nibbles’s pantry smelled of acorns and hazelnuts. Skippy’s paws were dusty from dancing, and his pantry was still empty.
When Winter Came
Then winter arrived. Snow fell softly until the whole forest turned white.
Soft, soft, soft.
Skippy woke in his little bed with a rumbling tummy. He opened his pantry and stared. There was not one nut inside. Outside, every forgotten acorn was buried deep under the snow.
His ears drooped. He remembered all the autumn days when he had played while Nibbles worked.
“If only I had helped a little,” Skippy whispered.
A Shy Knock
From the next little room came a cozy sound.
Nibble, nibble, nibble.
It was Nibbles. Skippy padded to his brother’s door and gave a shy knock.
Knock, knock.
Nibbles opened the door. His room was warm and snug, and nuts were piled almost to the ceiling.
“Nibbles,” Skippy said, looking down at his paws, “you were right. I played all autumn and did not think about winter. I am sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Sharing Warmth
Nibbles smiled and handed Skippy the biggest nut in the room.
“We are brothers,” he said. “I will not let you go hungry. Come in and share with me.”
Skippy’s tummy stopped rumbling. The two brothers sat close together and crunched their nuts while snow tapped softly against the tree.
Crunch, crunch, crunch.
“Next autumn, I will gather with you,” said Skippy. “One nut for you, one nut for me. First we will fill the pantry together.”
“And then,” said Nibbles, “we will dance together.”
Goodnight Until Spring
Outside, the snow kept falling. Inside, the hollow was warm. Skippy yawned. Nibbles yawned too.
Aaaah. Aaaah.
They snuggled under one blanket, one bushy tail over an even bushier tail. The two squirrel brothers slept safely through the winter, dreaming of spring leaves, full pantries, and dances in the sun.
Goodnight, Nibbles. Goodnight, Skippy.
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