The 3 Little Squirrels
A story with a questionable moral
By Casey Parish
One quiet night, deep in the woods, Momma Squirrel was preparing to leave her tree for a while to gather food. Winter was right around the corner and she had yet to adequately stock her pantry.
Ordinarily she would never go out at night… but she had three young mouths to feed and food for gathering was becoming very scarce.
She looked down at her three children and calmly explained, “I am going out tonight to gather what food I can for the winter. I should be back before sunrise. Now, I want you ALL to have your rooms clean before I get back or I will whip the lot of you with Ye ol Twig.” She pointed to a stick that leaned against the corner of the room. It was called “Ye ol Twig” but it was really MUCH too large to be called such.
The three young squirrels collectively gulped.
“Yes ma’am.” Said the first.
“I will momma.” Said the second
“It is as good as done.” Said the third.
Momma squirrel smiled at them and gave them each a quick kiss on their heads. She then hopped quickly out the door.
The three little squirrels looked at each other… and then looked at the stick… then back at each other… and ZOOM! Each darted off to their rooms.
The first little squirrel got right to work cleaning his room. He picked all his toys off of the floor and put them in the toy box. He then collected all his dirty clothes and placed them into the hamper. After that, he straightened all his books on his shelves.
He was very proud of how clean his room looked. He could not wait until his mom got home to see what a good job he had done. So he excitedly brushed his teeth and went to bed.
The second little squirrel didn’t get to work immediately. He decided that he would play with some of his toys first. After he had played a while, he realized that it was getting late and he needed to get to bed. So he went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth… suddenly his beady eyes grew large.
“I forgot to clean my room!” he cried.
Frantically he picked up his toys and threw them towards the toy box.. most of them missed. He gathered up his clothes and quickly shoved them underneath the bed. Lastly he wooshed his large fluffy tail over his bookshelves for a quick dust job.
He stood and looked at his room.
“Surely Momma Squirrel wouldn’t beat me for this… I mean it looks kind of good…. Sortof….” He thought, as he hopped into bed.
The third little squirrel walked into his room and grabbed a book off the book shelf.. being very careful not to step on the many various toys that lie all over the floor.
“The 27 Habits of Highly Effective Rabbits.” He said aloud as he sat on his bed for a bit of reading.
He was relieved that his mother wasn’t home so she wouldn’t catch him reading the “long-ear” literature. His mind full of new knowledge on how to conduct himself in rabbit society.. he forgot all about having to clean his room. He reached to turn off his lamp.. and soon was fast a sleep.
Several hours passed and Momma Squirrel had not returned. All of her three little squirrels were far to deep asleep to be truly concerned.
Outside the tree, a gray fox holds its nose high into the air.
“I smell 2… no 3… young squirrels.” He said aloud. “..and I don’t smell any sign of anyone who could possibly protect them!”
The fox was very excited about the prospect of such a sweet meal. He ran up to the tree and picked the front lock with his long sharp claw. This LONG sharp claw was a birth defect that the fox had found to be quite advantageous.
He went into the living room…. Drool pouring from his mouth he went through the door of the first little squirrels room.
The fox had absolutely no problem making his way to the bed in the dark. He quickly grabbed the first little squirrel out of his bed and gobbled him up!
“Mmm mm mmm!” the fox said. “That was DEEEEEELicious.. but I am still hungry!
The fox quietly left and found the door to the second little squirrel’s room. He crept in and immediately bumped his toe on a race car.
“OOOF!” he cried. He tried to muffle his subsequent swearing but it was enough to cause the second little squirrel to stir just a little.
The fox paused….. then made his way slowly to the bed… picked up the squirrel and GULP!
“Another one bites the dust.” He whispers to himself. “My that was almost as good as the first, but I am STILL HUNGRY!”
Quickly the fox leaves the room and finds the room of the third little squirrel.
“Just one more squirrel and I should be good and full.” He said quietly.
The fox didn’t take two steps before he stubbed his other toe on a toy tank.
“OOOCH!” he cried.
The third little squirrel stirred
The fox’s very next step was onto an unfinished game of Jacks.
“WooooW MommA!!” the fox could not help but shout.
The third little squirrel was startled awake.
“Who is there?! Momma is that you!?” he cried.
“I’m not your moth GAH!!!!” The wolf stepped on a stuffed animal that caused him to slip and fall.
“Well then, I hope I am not being unreasonable by asking who you are.” Said the third little squirrel confidently… taking from his 27 habits book.
The fox got back on his feet.
“I’m a fox and I am here to eat @#$%@!!!” The fox tripped over a book and stumbled back against the wall opposite where the third little squirrel sat on his bed.
“Oh my!” Said the third little squirrel searching for eyes to make contact with (one of the 27 habits…) “If that is what you wish to do I am afraid I can’t help you… I’m fresh out!”
The fox fully recovered his footing… turned.. and looked right at the squirrel with his beady eyes.
“I AM A GRAY FOX AND I AM GOING TO EAT YOU!” he shouted as he charged the bed with all his might.
“AAAAAA!!!!” Cried the squirrel.
WOOMP!! “OOOOCK CK…gurgle ck…”
“Wha?” the third little squirrel was puzzled.
He reached and turned on the light. The fox lie on the floor with the tower of a small toy castle sticking out of the back of his neck.
At about this time Momma Squirrel returned home. She was absolutely heartbroken because she was not able to collect enough food for everyone.
“I can probably keep one of my little squirrels alive,,, two if I starve myself.” She said as she collapsed onto a chair in the living room.
Just then the third little squirrel ran in the living room.. leaving tracks of something red behind him.
“Momma Squirrel!” he cried.
“Third little squirrel!” She cried back… she was prepared to give him the bad news but instead she was distracted by the red tracks. “What on earth are you tracking all over this house?”
“OH! Momma… there was this fox and and… he ate First… and and then he ate second.. and and… he fell on my castle towe… and then and then he bleeded on my floor… oh momma!” he said quickly.
Momma Squirrel had a look of horror on her face as the third little squirrel cried onto her lap. But then, her look of horror quickly turned into an expression of joy!
“OH Third!” she shouted. “Guess what! I managed to gather enough food for me and you this winter!” She reached and picked up the third little squirrel and gave him a big hug. “And we will not let all that fox meat go to waste either!”
And they lived happily for nearly six more years. Two whole years longer than the average lifespan of an average squirrel.
The End