Pip, Squeak, and Bumble were three little kittens who loved to play. They tumbled and chased leaves and batted at dust bunnies all day long. But today was different. Today was chilly! A cool wind whistled through the garden, and the kittens shivered.
“Brrr!” squeaked Squeak. “My paws are freezing!” Pip and Bumble nodded in agreement. Their little paws felt like tiny ice cubes. They tried to warm them by rubbing them together, but it didn’t help much.
Just then, Old Man Tiber, the kindest man in town, came into the garden. He was carrying a big basket. “What’s wrong, little ones?” he asked with a gentle smile. The kittens explained about their cold paws.
Old Man Tiber chuckled. “I think I have just the thing!” He opened his basket and pulled out three brightly colored mittens – one red, one blue, and one yellow. “These were knitted by my granddaughter, Lily. Perhaps they’ll keep your paws warm.”
The kittens’ eyes lit up! But there was a problem. Each kitten wanted a *specific* mitten. Pip wanted the red one, Squeak wanted the blue one, and Bumble absolutely had to have the yellow one. They started to argue, their little meows getting louder and louder.
Old Man Tiber sat down on a garden bench. “Now, now,” he said calmly. “What good are three warm mittens if they cause three unhappy kittens? Perhaps you could try sharing?”
Pip frowned. “But I *really* like red!” Squeak and Bumble echoed his feelings about their chosen colors. Old Man Tiber suggested a game. “Let’s take turns wearing each mitten for ten minutes. That way, everyone gets to experience the warmth of each color.”
At first, the kittens were hesitant. But they decided to try it. Pip wore the red mitten first, and he purred with delight. It was so cozy! After ten minutes, he passed it to Squeak. Squeak then passed it to Bumble.
They continued taking turns with each mitten. They discovered that all the mittens were wonderfully warm, and it was actually fun to share! They even started to help each other put the mittens on and take them off.
Soon, the kittens were no longer arguing. They were giggling and playing, their paws snug and warm inside the colorful mittens. They realized that sharing made them all much happier than being selfish.
As the sun began to set, Old Man Tiber smiled. “See?” he said. “Sharing and kindness always make everything better.” He tucked the kittens into a cozy basket lined with soft blankets.
Pip, Squeak, and Bumble snuggled close, their paws still warm from the mittens. They purred contentedly, knowing that even on a chilly night, a little kindness and sharing could make everything feel just right. They drifted off to sleep, dreaming of warm mittens and happy adventures.