Once upon a time, nestled beside a deep, whispering forest, was a cozy little cottage. In this cottage lived a sweet little girl named Goldilocks. Goldilocks had hair the color of sunlight and a heart full of curiosity. One sunny morning, while skipping near the edge of the woods, her curiosity led her further and further among the tall trees, until she didn’t quite know which way was home.
As she wandered, feeling a little bit lost but mostly adventurous, she saw a lovely little house peeking through the trees. Smoke curled gently from the chimney, and it looked so inviting. "Oh, how interesting!" thought Goldilocks. She tiptoed up to the door and gave a soft knock. There was no answer. She knocked again, a little louder. Still no answer. Her curious heart got the better of her, and she gently pushed the door open. It wasn't locked!
Inside, the house was very tidy and warm. On the table sat three bowls of porridge, steaming gently. Goldilocks hadn't had breakfast, and her tummy rumbled. She looked at the largest bowl. "This one looks hearty," she thought, and took a spoonful. "Ow! This porridge is too hot!" She tried the medium-sized bowl. "Hmm, this one looks just right," she murmured, and took a spoonful. "Brrr! This porridge is too cold!" Finally, she looked at the smallest bowl. It looked perfect. She took a spoonful. "Ah, this porridge is just right," she sighed happily, and she ate it all up.
After her tummy was full, Goldilocks looked around. She saw three chairs near the fireplace. One big chair, one medium chair, and one small chair. She decided to sit down and rest. She tried the big chair first. "This chair is too hard!" she said. Then she tried the medium chair. "This chair is too soft!" she decided. Finally, she tried the small chair. "Ah, this chair is just right!" she exclaimed, settling in comfortably. But, oh dear, she rocked back and forth a little too much, and the small chair creaked and then broke right underneath her! Goldilocks tumbled gently onto the rug, feeling a little sheepish.
Goldilocks felt tired after her little adventure. She saw three beds in the next room. One big bed, one medium bed, and one small bed. She tried the big bed. "This bed is too hard!" she yawned. She tried the medium bed. "This bed is too soft!" she stretched. Then she tried the small bed. "Ah, this bed is just right," she whispered, snuggling under the covers. It was so cozy and warm, Goldilocks quickly fell fast asleep.
While Goldilocks was sleeping, the owners of the house came home. They were a family of bears: Papa Bear, Mama Bear, and Baby Bear. They had been out for a walk while their porridge cooled. They noticed the front door was slightly open. "Someone has been opening my door!" rumbled Papa Bear in his deep voice.
They went inside and saw the porridge bowls on the table. "Someone has been tasting my porridge!" said Papa Bear. "And someone has been tasting my porridge!" said Mama Bear in her gentle voice. "And someone has been eating *my* porridge, and they ate it all up!" cried Baby Bear in his small voice.
Next, they looked at the chairs. "Someone has been sitting in my chair!" said Papa Bear. "And someone has been sitting in my chair!" said Mama Bear. "And someone has been sitting in *my* chair," cried Baby Bear, seeing the broken pieces, "and they broke it all to bits!"
Finally, they went into the bedroom. "Someone has been sleeping in my bed!" said Papa Bear. "And someone has been sleeping in my bed!" said Mama Bear. "And someone has been sleeping in *my* bed," cried Baby Bear, looking at his own little bed, "and here she is!"
Goldilocks woke up with a start. She saw the three friendly faces of the bears looking down at her. She was so surprised to see them that she hopped right out of the bed, dashed through the house, and ran out the open door. She ran all the way back through the forest, following the path she *should* have stayed on, until she found her way safely home to her own cozy cottage. Goldilocks was very happy to be home and remembered that it's always best to stay on your own path and never, ever go into someone else's house or use their things without being invited. And she never wandered quite so far into the forest again.