Folktale

One more post for today!  Wow, twice in one day.  The unit I taught combined reading folktales, learning about conflict and theme, and writing.  The students were to write a folktale, and many of them did a very good job--probably better than the one I wrote.  However, for your reading pleasure, here is my folktale:

Squirrel’s Rushed Day

                Not so long ago, in a grove of oak trees along the ridge of a hill, Squirrel dwelt with his family.  Since Squirrel had stayed up late the night before, he snoozed all morning and gave himself little time to get ready for the day.  It was harvest time, and Head Squirrel needed help gathering nuts.  The more he gathered, the greater the likelihood he’d get a bonus! 

Mama Squirrel had baked all morning to prepare him and his brothers and sisters a scrumptious meal.  They all sat together, laughing, and enjoying the tasty nut bread.  “Sit down and eat with us,” Mama Squirrel said.

But Squirrel just grabbed an apple wedge and said, “Sorry.  Gotta go.”

Mama Squirrel watched him go, shaking her head.  She uttered, “He’s soon going to be hungry.”

Squirrel dashed down the steep hill.  When he reached the black road, he rushed across it and almost got hit by the silver monster that roared past. 

As Squirrel scurried across the open green, his best friend the Mole called out.  “Squirrel!  I found a fabulous treasure!  I dug a hole and there it is, but I am not strong enough to pull it out.  Can you help me?”

Squirrel paused just for a second and then ran backwards.  He called out.  “I am way too busy right now.  Maybe later.” 

                Without waiting to hear Mole’s response, Squirrel leapt down a gradual slope and reached the forest of acorns.  Head Squirrel waited with his collection bags.  “Bring back two hundred, and I’ll send you home with a bag full.”

                “That won’t even be hard.”  Squirrel climbed, leapt, and gathered nut after nut after nut.  He was doing very well.  He could just imagine what he trade the nuts for.  First he’d meet up with Mouse at the Rabbit’s Cool Down, just like they’d planned, and he would get them both a Raspberry Juicy.  He’d be the one getting the drinks this time instead of bumming off one from Mouse! 

                The faster he went, the faster he would be done, and the faster he would get there and surprise Mouse.

                But as the day went on, he got hungrier and weaker.  Still, he tried to go as fast as he could, and he’d almost gathered his two hundred nuts and was dreaming of that Juicy when, all of the sudden, he made a bad leap, lost his footing, and dropped his bag.  It fell far down to the ground below him.  The nuts scattered and rolled all over.

                [Coming out from under fallen trees and thorn bushes, chipmunks attacked! With evil giggles, they seized the nuts, the product of all his hard work.  “No! You can’t take those!” Squirrel screamed. 

                As nut after nut was stolen, Squirrel watched the calamity from above.  It had taken him a moment to regain his balance.  Now that he had his footing again, Squirrel scampered down the tree trunk, shouting, “Stop!  Those are mine!  Stop nasty villains! Thieves!”

                “Smelly butthead!” a chipmunk yelled back.  Then he laughed, “Hahahaha” and ran off with the rest of his companions. 

                Squirrel chased after them, but he soon lost sight of all of the rascals.  Plus, he was so hungry.  He didn’t have any more strength left in him to track down the nasty critters.]

                How he despised chipmunks!  They were the most obnoxious creatures in the whole world.

                Too tired and too hungry to prolong his labors, Squirrel found Head Squirrel and gave him back the sack.  “I’m sorry,” he said.  “Chipmunks stole all my nuts.”

                Head Squirrel shook his head.  “Then I can’t reward you.  Come back tomorrow.”

                Worn out, Squirrel ventured to find Mouse at Rabbit’s Cool Down.  She waited, looking pretty with a flower in her ear. 

                “It’s getting so late, I almost thought you weren’t coming.” 

                Squirrel shrugged his shoulders and said, “Chipmunks stole all my nuts today.”

                “Oh.  I’m sorry!” she said.  “Let me get us some drinks.  Maybe that will make you feel better.”

                The Raspberry Juicy was delicious and refreshing, but as Mouse chattered about her day, all Squirrel could think about was how comfortable and cozy his nest sounded.  This day had tuckered him out.  And nothing good had come out of it.  He just wanted to sleep.  Finally, Mouse got frustrated and said, “You aren’t even listening to me.  I’ll find someone else to hang out with.”  She scampered off.

                Frustrated and exhausted, Squirrel headed home.  On his way there, Squirrel passed by the home of Mole’s family.  Squirrel’s family was there as well.  They were having a party, and no one had invited him.  Mole’s treasure turned out to be a large golden coin that he had exchanged with Goose for some food.  Squirrel’s younger brother had helped him get it out, which was why the Squirrel family was there.

                Depressed that Mole had left him out, Squirrel returned home, prepared for bed, and rolled up in his nest high in the tree.  What a miserable day he’d had.  He would have to do something to make tomorrow better. 

                He would start by getting up early and eating breakfast with his family—that is if Mama Squirrel made him any.  Then he would not only get a good meal, he’d have spent some time with his family.  If Mole needed help, he would have more compassion and help him.  When he gathered nuts, he would slow down and not be in a rush.  He would then have the extra nuts to share with his family and friends!  Finally, he wouldn’t be so grumpy if he met up with Mouse again.  He would make it up to her tomorrow so that she didn’t run off to hang out with someone else.    

Feeling repentant and hopeful for a better day tomorrow, Squirrel finally fell asleep.

Moral of the Story: Enjoy every moment so you don’t leave behind a pile of regrets.