The Forgetful Squirrel

A couple of cooperative critters forge an unlikely friendship

Once upon a time, there was a grey squirrel named Chipper who lived in a big oak tree at the zoo. Sometimes, visiting children fed him peanuts. If Chipper was hungry, he gobbled the peanuts right up. But if his tummy was already full, he scurried around, hiding them. He hid them under rocks. He hid them in holes in trees. He hid them in piles of leaves. He had peanuts hidden everywhere!

Chipper liked peanuts, but he loved acorns best of all. In the autumn, acorns rained down from the oak trees. That meant that winter was coming. Soon snow would cover everything.

So now Chipper got busy hiding his acorns. He hid them under bushes. He covered them with sand beside the duck pond. He buried them in the grass, here, there and everywhere. It was hard work but Chipper was happy because he knew he’d have lots to eat during the cold winter.

One morning,

Chipper peeked out of his cozy burrow to find that the whole world was sparkling white. Winter had come!

Chipper was excited—and hungry. Those peanuts and acorns would taste so good right now!

Chipper started searching. He looked here and he looked there. He looked high and he looked low. But he couldn’t find a single peanut or acorn. His tummy rumbled. What was he going to do? He sighed a great sigh.

Oliver the elephant was

Chipper’s neighbour. He had been watching Chipper.

“What’s wrong?” Oliver asked.

“I’m hungry, but I’ve forgotten where I hid my peanuts and acorns,” said Chipper. “How will I find them?”

A fat tear ran down his cheek and dripped o€ the end of his nose.

“What you need,” said Oliver, nodding his big head and looking very wise, “is an elephant. An elephant never forgets.” “Never?” said Chipper.

“Never,” answered Oliver. He reached over with his soft trunk and tickled Chipper under the chin. Chipper just had to giggle in spite of his rumbly tummy.

“It just so happens,” Oliver continued, “that I saw you hide your peanuts and acorns, and I remember where every single one is hidden. Do you want me to help you find them?”

“Wow!” said Chipper. “That would be great! I can hide them and you can find them. You can eat the peanuts. I can eat the acorns. We can cooperate!”

And that’s how Chipper and Oliver became best friends—very well-fed best friends!