Theme: Friendship, Selfishness

The Mouse and the Blackberries

The Mouse lived in his little house in the country. He liked it a lot because it was warm and cozy and just the right size for a tiny mouse.

But what he liked most about it was the big blackberry bush that grew in his garden. Every year he had a big harvest of beautiful and juicy blackberries.

One summer, Mouse's blackberries were even bigger and juicier than usual. He soon began to collect them then he was already sweaty and tired when the Sparrow appeared.

- What beautiful blackberries, Mouse! Can I eat some? - sang the Sparrow.

- They're all mine - replied the Mouse - Go away!

- You don't have to talk like that - said the little bird, flying away.

The Mouse's paws were already hurting from picking the berries when he noticed the Squirrel leaning against the gate.

- Mouse, can you give me some of those blackberries? They must be so tender! - said the Squirrel.

- If I give you blackberries, there will be less for me - answered the Mouse.

The Squirrel left upset and empty-handed.

When the Mouse stopped to rest from his task, the Bunny appeared hopping around.

- Your blackberries look so sweet, Mouse! - she said.

- They really are! And I will eat them all! - replied the Mouse.

- If you eat that much, you'll get sick - she warned Rabbit before leaving.

The sun was very strong, and the Mouse was exhausted. He leaned under a tree and soon began to feel asleep. The Mouse didn't notice, but someone was spying on him. It was the Fox!

When he saw that the Mouse was sleeping, the Fox carefully passed through the gate, entered the garden, and walked slowly to the blackberry basket. He took the basket and went out silently with the berries. Suddenly, crack! The Fox stepped on a dry branch.

The Mouse woke up startled by the noise.

- These blackberries are mine! - squeaked the Mouse.

- They're mine now - laughed the Fox - They will serve very well for my lunch.

The Mouse was very sad, but he wasn't surprised that no one had warned him that the Fox was out there.

- Why would my friends help me? I was selfish and didn't want to share my berries - he acknowledged.

Then something strange happened. Plaf! A big ball landed right in front of Fox!

And soon several more acorns fell around him. Plaf! Plaf! Plaf!

The Mouse looked up and saw Squirrel, Sparrow and Rabbit at the top of the tree throwing those acorn-shaped seeds at Fox.

Frightened by all those seeds falling, Fox dropped the basket of blackberries and ran away.

- We couldn't let Fox steal your blackberries - Squirrel said.

The Mouse was very grateful for the attitude of his friends... And very ashamed too.

- I'm sorry I didn't share the blackberries with you. Now, I'm going to get everything ready so we can have a party and eat together!

The Mouse prepared blackberry juice, blackberry jelly, blackberry pie and many other sweets for his friends, who all thought it was delicious.

- I had a good lesson today - thought the Mouse - Everything is better when we share!

(Text adapted from “The Blackberry Mouse” by Matthew Grimsdale.)

Translation:
Larissa Martine - larissa_am@hotmail.com

marcelapradacontato@gmail.com