The Tale of Rosie the Red Hen

Once upon a time, on a sun-dappled farm nestled in a quiet valley, there lived a little red hen named Rosie. Rosie was a hardworking hen, always bustling about with a sense of purpose. She scratched the ground for worms, tidied her cozy nest under the big oak tree, and occasionally laid eggs that she proudly presented to the farmer.

Rosie shared the farm with three friends: 

Bella the Cat, a graceful but lazy feline who spent her days napping in the sun;

 Duke the Dog, a cheerful but unmotivated pup who snoozed in the shade; 

and Henry the Horse, a tall and rather smug fellow who preferred lounging in the barn watching TV. While Rosie toiled from sunrise to sunset, her friends hardly lifted a paw or hoof.

One bright morning, Rosie discovered a vibrant raspberry bush bursting with ripe, juicy berries. Her little heart fluttered with excitement. “Oh my feathers! Raspberries!” she clucked. “These would make a delicious raspberry cake!”

Determined to share her idea, Rosie hurried to her friends. “Bella, Duke, Henry!” she called. “I found raspberries! Let’s make a cake together!”

The idea of cake caught everyone’s attention. Duke’s ears perked up. Bella licked her whiskers. Henry flicked his tail. “Cake? Sounds delightful!” they said in unison.

Rosie beamed. “Wonderful! Who wants to help me pick the raspberries?”

Bella yawned. “Not me. I’m far too tired.”

Duke stretched and shook his head. “Not me. I’m terribly busy.”

Henry glanced at the screen in front of him. “Not me. My favorite show is on.”

Rosie frowned but didn’t argue. “Fine. I’ll do it myself,” she declared.

With a basket in her wing, Rosie spent the morning picking raspberries. She worked tirelessly, her feathers damp with dew, until the basket was full. Returning to the kitchen, she laid out the ingredients for the cake: flour, sugar, milk, and butter.

“Who wants to help me gather these ingredients?” Rosie asked.

“Not me,” Duke said, pawing at a stick lazily.

“Not me,” Bella purred from her sunny spot on the fence.

“Not me,” Henry muttered, glued to his TV.

Rosie huffed. “Then I’ll do it myself!”

Rosie trudged to the pantry for flour and sugar, then to the fridge for milk and butter. She hauled everything back to the kitchen, her little legs wobbling under the weight. After catching her breath, she called out again, “Who wants to help me mix the batter?”

Bella rolled onto her back. “Not me. I need my beauty rest.”

Duke wagged his tail lazily. “Not me. I’ve got a nap scheduled.”

Henry chuckled, barely looking up. “Not me. This episode’s a classic.”

Rosie sighed and got to work. She whisked the batter until it was smooth and creamy, folded in the plump raspberries, and poured the mixture into a shiny cake tin. Carefully, she slid it into the oven. 

The kitchen filled with a mouthwatering aroma as the cake baked.

The tantalizing smell wafted across the farm. Duke’s nose twitched. Bella sat up, sniffing the air. Even Henry paused his show, his nostrils flaring.

They all rushed to the kitchen just as Rosie pulled the golden-brown cake from the oven. She placed it on the table and dusted it with sugar until it sparkled like morning frost.

“So,” Rosie said, turning to her friends with a sly smile. “Who wants to help me eat this cake?”

“Me!” barked Duke, wagging his tail furiously.

“Me!” purred Bella, licking her lips.

“Me!” neighed Henry, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Rosie shook her head. “I don’t think so,” she said firmly. “None of you helped me pick the raspberries, gather the ingredients, or mix the batter. So, you won’t be helping me eat this cake.”

Before her friends could protest, Rosie grabbed the plate and trotted out of the kitchen. She found a shady spot under the oak tree, where she savored every last crumb of her delicious raspberry cake.

Duke, Bella, and Henry watched from afar, their mouths watering and their tails and whiskers drooping. For once, they felt a pang of regret for their laziness.

As Rosie licked the final crumbs from her beak, she smiled to herself. Hard work, she thought, always pays off—especially when it’s paired with a slice of cake.