The Little Squirrels(Marla) Long ago a mother squirrel had four little squirrels. Taking care of four little squirrels can be very difficult, and when they were just twelve weeks old, the mother squirrel sent them off to the circus. I know that sounds very unmotherly, but squirrels are different from us, and it’s not unusual for little squirrels to leave their mothers quite early. After they left, she cut up their old clothes. Before you say that she is a terrible meany, let me tell you why she did that.

She got the very fabulous idea to make quilts. So, she took those baby clothes and cut perfect squares. She needed each quilt to have three squares across and four squares down. Can you tell me how many squares each quilt needed?

Did you say that the answer is twelve? If you did, you are correct! If not, draw a rectangle with three squares across and four squares down. Then count them.

Okay, so now we know that each quilt needed twelve squares. She was making four quilts. Now, I know that you know how many squares that is, but the person next to you might not. Go ahead and draw four little quilts. I’ll wait.

Great job! How many quilt squares do you have all together?

Did you say that you have forty-eight? If you did, you are correct! If not, try counting again.

It must have taken a very long time to cut forty-eight squares! And then she had to sew the quilts! That must have taken a very long time, too. Then she put in a little something extra that we will talk about later.

One day the mother received a letter.

Dear Mama,

The circus will be in town on Saturday! We can’t wait to see you and to show you what we can do!

Love,

Your Little Squirrels


She was so happy! She wanted to hug her little squirrels, watch them at the circus, and give them their quilts.

The special day arrived. The mother squirrel set the quilts on the bench beside her and then waved at her little squirrels, who were very high up on a small platform, because they were acrobats. Why join the circus to be anything else? Everyone who joins the circus wants to be an acrobat, but some have to settle for something less fun. Even the lion tamer. He didn’t want to be a lion tamer! He wanted to be an acrobat, but he was afraid of heights, so he had to be content with the lion.

Anyway, back to the story. The circus began, and it was very exciting. There was laughter and music and oohs and aahs, and it was precisely as a circus should be. But then trouble began. The little squirrels, perched high on the small platform, started to argue. And that argument (that took place very high above the ground!) caused them to…. Just a minute. If you are frightened, stop listening now and we can all just have a glass of milk and go to bed.

Is everyone okay to continue? Are you sure? All right. As I was saying, the little squirrels were arguing and that argument caused them to…No, no I cannot say it.

What? You must know? All right. If you insist. The little squirrels…What did you say? That I need to hurry up and just say it and stop starting over each time?

Okay. The little squirrels fell. There. I said it in just three words. And that’s the end.



What’s wrong? You don’t think that is a suitable ending for a children’s story?

All right. Well, remember when I told you that the mother squirrel had put something else in the quilts? That something was magic. And magic quilts are always, ALWAYS ready to save the day. So, when those little squirrels started to fall, those quilts flew right off of the bench on which they’d been waiting and caught those little squirrels. Then, like magic carpets, they flew the little squirrels back up to the platform, and the little squirrels stopped arguing, and it turned out to be the very best circus show that anyone had ever seen.

And THAT really is the end.

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