In the heart of Greenleaf Forest, where tall trees touched the clouds and colorful flowers bloomed all year, lived a tiny squirrel named Nikki.
Nikki wasn’t like the other animals. While her friends played all day, Nikki was always busy gathering nuts.
She had a small basket made of dry grass , which she carried everywhere. From morning till afternoon, she would hop from tree to tree, searching for nuts—acorns, walnuts, almonds, anything she could find.
One sunny day, while Nikki was climbing a tree with a big almond in her mouth, she heard a croaky voice from below.
“Nikki! Stop working and come play!”
It was Tito the Toad, sitting on a cool rock near the pond. A group of young animals were splashing water and laughing.
Nikki smiled. “I’ll come later, Tito! I have to finish my nut rounds!”
Tito rolled his eyes. “You say that every day! Why are you always working? Winter is months away.”
But Nikki continued climbing, carefully placing the nut into a hole she had made in a tree trunk. “It’s better to be ready before the cold comes.”
Days passed, and Nikki’s collection grew. She had 12 secret hiding spots. Some in tree trunks, one behind a rock, and even a little cave only she knew about.
The other animals were having the time of their lives. They played “Chase the Butterfly”, had watermelon picnics, and even held singing contests.
Tito made fun of Nikki. “Look at you—gathering food like the world is ending!”
Nikki laughed. “And look at you—playing like winter won’t come!”
They both giggled and went back to what they loved.
One morning, the forest felt different. The breeze was colder. The sun rose late, and clouds covered the sky.
Suddenly—plop!—a snowflake landed on Nikki’s nose.
“Oh no, it’s starting!” she whispered.
By afternoon, the entire forest turned white. The pond froze. Trees stood naked without leaves.
Tito sat on a rock, his body shivering. “Why is everything so cold? Where’s the food?”
He looked around. No fruits. No insects. Not even a single nut.
Just then, Nikki appeared, wearing a little wool scarf. “Hello, Tito! Hungry?”
Tito nodded quickly.
Nikki smiled and said, “Come with me.”
She led him to one of her hiding spots behind a bush. She dug a little, and there it was—a pile of fresh nuts!
She handed him a few. “I’ve got plenty more.”
Tito was surprised. “You… you really did prepare for all of us?”
Nikki replied kindly, “I didn’t plan to, but I can’t see my friends hungry. Let’s go share with the others too.”
That day, Nikki became the forest’s winter hero. She visited all her hiding places and shared her collection with every animal—old and young.
One week later, the animals held a Winter Fest. Tito stood on a rock and cleared his throat.
“I want to thank Nikki the Squirrel. While we laughed and played, she worked and planned. And because of her, no one is hungry today!”
Everyone clapped and cheered. Nikki blushed and said, “I just did what I thought was right.”
From that day on, Nikki wasn’t just the “nut-gathering squirrel.” She became the wisest little planner of Greenleaf Forest.
🧠 Moral of the Story:
Prepare when you can, so you don’t panic when you can’t.