Once upon a time, in a cozy oak tree in the forest, there lived a little squirrel named Nutkin. He had the sweetest tooth in all the woodland! One morning, while his mama was out gathering nuts, Nutkin had a brilliant idea. “I’m going to make the most amazing candy house ever!” he squeaked excitedly.
With twinkling eyes and nimble paws, Nutkin began decorating his tree hollow. He stuck colorful lollipops on the walls, scattered gummy bears across the floor, and hung striped candy canes from the ceiling. His fluffy tail swished with joy as he worked, humming a happy tune.
When Mama Squirrel returned home, she could hardly believe her eyes! “Oh my nutty acorns!” she gasped, adjusting her tiny reading glasses. “Nutkin, what have you done to our home?”
Nutkin wasn’t finished yet! He scampered up and down the tree, bringing more and more sweets. Woody Woodpecker watched from a nearby branch, tapping his beak in amazement. “Careful there, Nutkin!” he called out, as candies kept slipping from the little squirrel’s paws.
“Just one more trip!” Nutkin would say each time, his purple bowtie bouncing as he climbed. But carrying so many candies wasn’t easy! They would slip and slide, bounce and roll, making quite a show for all the forest creatures to see.
Soon, Nutkin’s tree hollow became so full of sweets that something unexpected happened. The afternoon sun streamed through the windows, and all the candies began to melt! Sticky taffy stretched across the floor like spider webs, and chocolate dripped down the walls.
Poor Nutkin found himself stuck right in the middle of the mess! His forest friends gathered at the doorway, trying not to giggle as they watched him wiggle and squirm. “Help!” he squeaked, his little paws stuck in the sticky situation. “I think I might have gone a bit overboard with the candy!”
After a long afternoon of cleaning, Nutkin’s tree hollow was finally back to normal. Mama Squirrel helped him organize a small candy jar on a shelf – just enough for special treats. As the sunset painted the sky in warm colors, Nutkin sat contentedly with his mama, sharing one piece of candy.
“You know what, Mama?” Nutkin said, his purple bowtie slightly crooked but clean. “Sometimes one piece of candy is just perfect.” Mama Squirrel smiled and patted his head. “That’s right, my sweet little squirrel. Sometimes less is more.”
And from that day on, Nutkin kept his tree hollow clean and cozy, with just a tiny touch of sweetness – exactly the way a proper squirrel home should be.