This is the second story for pre-school children - Master Owl & the Mean Squirrel.
Master Owl helps all sorts of animals to overcome the big issues in life.
In this story Master Owl and Miss Bunny meet Mr Squirrel. He never shares his store of food with anyone, until he has a Magical Mindful Moment and then his eyes are opened to a different way of living...
Master Owl & The Mean Squirrel
In the woods there’s a greedy beast.
He works like mad to store his feast.
Mr Squirrel is silly and mean
And the biggest hoarder you’ve ever seen!
Winter came, the wood turned white.
Squirrel was guarding day and night.
He didn’t care if others thought him rude.
He was never running out of food!
So let’s now look to a distant tree
And see who lives there happily.
While cold winds whistle and howl
He sits in peace, he’s Master Owl.
He’s the wisest one in all the wood
With feathers so thick, he needs no hood.
The snow falls on his head and beak.
His eyes stay shut, he doesn’t peek.
He loves his mindful moments, but
He’s so relaxed, he’s out of luck
He falls back down off his branch
And starts a little avalanche.
Miss Bunny was inside drinking tea
As warm and cosy as could be
When she heard a thump outside
So opened her window nice and wide.
‘What are you doing?’ she said
‘I thought you were up safe in bed’.
‘No’ said the owl, ‘But I am fine
and now it’s snow angel time!’
Bunny and Owl lay in the snow
And moved their arms to have a go
It turns out that massive wings
Are really very helpful things!
His snow angel was the best
and he and Bunny both felt blessed.
Having fun, as best friends should
As their laughter filled the wood.
Many cold months went past
So food was never going to last.
Animals knocked on Squirrels door,
“please share your food, we need some more’.
But all they heard was ‘GO AWAY!’
That was all he had to say.
Squirrel was always in a mood
So animals went in search of food.
At last the snow began to melt.
The warm spring sun was so well felt.
Flowers popped up into bloom
And everyone forgot their gloom.
So Master Owl and Miss Bunny
Were tucking into bread and honey
When suddenly from up on high
Mr Squirrel came dropping by.
He landed with a massive crunch
And dropped the nuts he planned for lunch
He said ‘oh bother, what a pain
I’m going to have to pick them up again!’
‘Hello Squirrel’, the wise one said
‘Would you like to stop, instead
and join us for a cup of tea.
It’s time we took things mindfully.’
‘Mindfully?’ he asked and shook his head.
His face had turned a shade of red.
‘I’m too busy to stop and sit,
but I’m curious, what on earth is it?’
‘Mindful moments are full of grace.
They put a smile back on your face.
We all need to stop and take some time
To breath and notice if we’re fine.
So come and join us in our tree
And we shall sit there silently.’
A deep breath in . . . a slow breath out.
Squirrel relaxed, without a doubt.
As the animals settled down
they heard the noises all around.
They felt the bark under their feet
And smelt a nearby field of wheat.
Then as he breathed, his sadness rose
And tears trickled down his nose.
He sobbed, he cried and realised
Why he had been so despised.
‘I’ve been such a selfish beast,
ignoring those who’ve had the least.
Oh Master Owl, what a gift you’ve got.
I really have been such a clot!’
They sat in peace and breathed some more.
Squirrel had never stopped before.
‘So Master Owl’ he said, ‘help me.
How can I live more happily?’
‘Just be brave and trust in life,
and see how you will end this strife.
Please give away most your nuts.
It’s going to take a lot of guts’.
Squirrel looked quite shocked and said,
‘So not store food, give out instead?’
‘Yes’ smiled Master Owl, ‘that right,
Go out and give with all your might.
The more you give, the more comes back
And you’ll never be without a snack’.
So Squirrel said he’d try his best
And went back to his tree-top nest.
He was shocked to see all his food.
He’d really been a selfish dude.
But it was time to get this done.
He threw the nuts out, one by one.
And soon there was a huge great pile.
He hoped it would all be worthwhile.
He made a sign from one old shelf.
It read : ‘Free nuts – please help yourself!’
The animals thought it was a trick.
Could all these nuts be free to pick?
But once they took the time the chat
They saw he’d changed, just like that.
In fact, he seemed to be so kind,
In such a giving frame of mind.
So one by one, the nuts were took,
And animals had lots to cook.
Then next winter, the snow fell hard.
Squirrel had no food to guard.
But the word went out across the wood.
The animals knew what would be good.
And soon they brought him many nuts
Saying ‘thank you for helping us’.
Squirrel was so shocked but pleased
For all the love that he received.
Back at Master Owl’s home tree
They heard about the news with glee.
Miss Bunny said now she understood
How giving can do so much good.
They sat, they breathed and closed their eyes.
You know, we can all be that wise.
Just give and give, without a care
And watch for wonders, everywhere.
Copyright 2020 – Rob Holmes