Horace the hedgehog was very proud of his berry collection. He’d spent the whole sunny afternoon carefully gathering the plumpest, juiciest blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries he could find. He piled them high in a little hollow beneath the roots of the Old Willow Tree, planning a feast just for himself. “These are *my* berries,” he mumbled happily, arranging them in neat rows.
Rosie the rabbit hopped by, her nose twitching. “Oh, Horace! Those berries look delicious! I haven’t found many today.” Horace quickly covered his berry pile with a large leaf. “They are,” he said, “but I’m saving them for a special occasion… my own tummy!” Rosie’s ears drooped a little, and she hopped away.
Next came Barnaby Bear, looking a bit glum. “Hello, Horace,” he rumbled. “I was hoping to find some berries for my little sister, Beatrice. She’s feeling a bit poorly.” Horace hugged his leaf tighter. “Sorry, Barnaby,” he said. “These are all mine. I need them for… for energy!” Barnaby sighed and wandered off.
As Horace began to eat his berries, he noticed something strange. They didn’t taste as good as he thought they would. He ate a blueberry, then a raspberry, but each bite felt…lonely. He looked around. Rosie and Barnaby were nowhere to be seen. The forest felt very quiet.
Suddenly, Horace felt a little prickle of sadness. He remembered how happy he felt when he helped Old Man Turtle find his lost spectacles last week. It felt much better than finding a particularly shiny pebble! He thought about Rosie’s droopy ears and Barnaby’s sad rumble.
Horace took a deep breath and uncovered his berry pile. He quickly gathered a handful of the brightest berries and hurried to find Rosie. “Rosie!” he called. “Wait! I… I want to share my berries with you.” Rosie’s face lit up. “Really, Horace?”
“Yes!” Horace said, feeling a warm glow inside. He gave Rosie a generous pile. Then, he found Barnaby. “Barnaby, here are some berries for Beatrice. I hope she feels better soon!” Barnaby’s eyes twinkled. “Thank you, Horace! Beatrice will be so happy.”
Horace returned to the Old Willow Tree, and this time, when he ate his berries, they tasted AMAZING! He ate with Rosie and Barnaby, laughing and chatting. He realized that sharing his berries hadn’t made him have less; it had made him have *more* – more friends, more happiness, and a much sweeter feast. He learned that the best things in life are even better when shared.
From that day on, Horace always remembered the joy of sharing. He continued to gather berries, but he always made sure to leave some for his friends. And every time he shared, his heart felt as full and plump as the juiciest strawberry.