The Ant and the Grasshopper

In a sunny meadow, there lived a diligent ant named Annie and a carefree grasshopper named Gary. During the warm summer months, Annie worked tirelessly, gathering food and storing it in her underground home. She was focused on preparing for the colder months ahead. 

 Gary, on the other hand, spent his days singing, dancing, and enjoying the beautiful weather. He would often play music and leap about, not worrying about the future. 

When Annie passed by with her heavy load, Gary would laugh and say, “Why work so hard, Annie? There’s plenty of time to relax and enjoy the summer!” Annie would reply, “I’m preparing for winter. You should think about the future and gather food too.” Gary would simply shrug and continue with his merriment. “Winter is far away. Let’s live in the moment!” 

 As summer turned to fall, the weather grew cooler. Annie continued her work, making sure her food supplies were well-stocked and her home was secure. She was diligent and focused, knowing that winter would soon be upon them. 

 One crisp, frosty morning, the first snowflakes began to fall. Gary found himself without shelter or food. He wandered around the meadow, shivering and hungry, searching for something to eat. His music and dancing had come to an abrupt halt. Desperate, Gary came across Annie’s burrow. 

He knocked on the door, hoping for help. “Annie, it’s me, Gary. I’m cold and hungry. Can you please help me?” 

 Annie opened the door and saw Gary’s plight. She had enough food to share and a warm home. She welcomed him in and offered him food. As Gary ate and warmed up by the fire, he realized how wise Annie’s hard work had been. “Thank you, Annie,” Gary said. “I should have listened to your advice and prepared for the winter. I was so focused on enjoying the present that I forgot about the future.”