Sammy Shares

Sammy the squirrel had the bushiest tail in Oakwood Forest. He also had the biggest collection of acorns—and that was something he was very proud of.

All summer long, Sammy worked hard gathering acorns. While the other forest animals played in the sunshine, Sammy was busy filling his tree hollow with acorn after acorn.

"Why do you collect so many?" asked Oliver the rabbit. "There are plenty of acorns for everyone."

"These are MY acorns," Sammy would reply, hugging an armful to his chest. "I found them, so they belong to me!"

By the end of autumn, Sammy's home was stuffed full of acorns. He had so many that some spilled out the entrance and rolled down the trunk of his tree. Sammy didn't mind. He liked seeing his collection grow larger and larger.

"Winter is coming," warned Grandmother Owl, the wisest animal in the forest. "It will be cold, and food will become scarce. Everyone must prepare."

Sammy smiled to himself. He didn't worry about winter at all. He had more acorns than he could possibly eat!

When the first snow fell, a blanket of white covered Oakwood Forest. It was beautiful but cold. Sammy snuggled in his hollow, munching on acorns and feeling very pleased with himself.

One snowy afternoon, Sammy heard a soft knock at his door. It was Mia the field mouse and her three tiny children.

"I'm sorry to bother you, Sammy," Mia said, her voice trembling from the cold. "The snow covered our burrow, and we lost all our seeds. Could you spare a few acorns to help us through the night? The children are so hungry."

Sammy looked at his enormous pile of acorns, then at the shivering mouse family. He thought about how he had more than he needed, while they had nothing.

"Well..." Sammy hesitated. Sharing wasn't something he was used to doing. But something in his heart softened when he saw the hopeful eyes of the little mice. "I suppose I could spare a few."

He gave Mia and her children a small bag of acorns. Their gratitude and smiles made Sammy feel a warmth inside that was better than any cozy burrow.

The next day, Oliver the rabbit came by. The snow had buried his carrot patch, and he too was hungry. Remembering the good feeling from helping Mia, Sammy shared some acorns with Oliver.

As the winter grew harsher, more forest animals came to Sammy for help. Each time, he opened his door and shared from his plentiful supply. To his surprise, Sammy realized he enjoyed sharing far more than hoarding his treasures alone.

One particularly cold evening, a terrible ice storm hit the forest. Trees cracked under the weight of the ice, and the wind howled fiercely. Sammy's tree shook so violently that a large branch crashed through his roof, letting in the freezing air and scattering many of his remaining acorns.

Shivering and frightened, Sammy didn't know what to do. His home was damaged, and it was too dangerous to stay.

Then he heard voices calling his name. Outside, he found Mia, Oliver, and all the other animals he had helped.

"Come with us," they said. "We've made a warm shelter in the old badger den. There's room for everyone."

In the cozy underground den, all the forest animals gathered together. They had pooled their remaining food—seeds, berries, nuts, and of course, some of Sammy's shared acorns. Everyone had enough to eat because everyone had contributed what they could.

"Thank you for taking me in," Sammy said, feeling truly grateful.

Grandmother Owl smiled wisely. "You shared with us when we needed help. Now we share with you. That's how a community survives—by taking care of each other."

Sammy looked around at all his new friends and understood a valuable lesson: sharing wasn't about losing what you had; it was about gaining something much more precious—friendship, community, and the joy of helping others.

When spring finally arrived and the animals returned to their homes, Sammy still collected acorns—but now he always made sure to leave plenty for others. And his tree hollow was no longer just a place to store acorns; it became a gathering spot where friends were always welcome to share stories, laughter, and yes, even acorns.