Looks Can Be Deceiving - By Chris Markcity

Once upon a time there was a young squirrel named Eddie. Eddie lived on the far edge of the forest with his 7 brothers and sisters. One day Eddie’s mother asked Eddie and all his brothers and sisters to gather acorns for dinner.

“It will be dark soon,” his mother said, “so gather quickly and hurry right home.” Eddie and his 7 brothers and sisters ran down the side of their tree, and off they went to find acorns just as their mother had asked.

As they were busy gathering acorns, a wise old owl sat high in a tree watching the young squirrels. “Good afternoon children,” said the old owl. “Gathering nuts for dinner, I presume?”

“Yes Mr. Owl,” said one of the young squirrels. “But we can’t talk. We have to gather quickly and get home before it gets dark.”

Although there were plenty of acorns lying on the ground, Eddie was not satisfied. “These acorns are not big enough,” Eddie scowled. “I want to find the biggest and best acorns to bring home.”

Despite protests from his brothers and sisters, Eddie ran deeper into the forest in search of bigger, better acorns. Soon Eddie came to a big oak tree. “I knew there were better acorns in this part of the forest,” Eddie exclaimed to no one in particular. “These acorns are twice as big as the ones my brothers and sisters are gathering. I know Mom will be very happy and proud of me to see acorns this big on the dinner table, and I’m sure they will taste twice as good.”

Eddie quickly started to push the bigger nuts into a pile, but as he paused to look at the nuts he had gathered, he started to frown.

“Why are you frowning young squirrel,” inquired to wise old owl. “Are you not satisfied with the larger nuts you have found?”

“Well, Mr. Owl,” explained Eddie. “These nuts are bigger than the nuts my brothers and sisters have gathered. I am sure they are probably twice as tasty as well, but how do I know they are the best nuts in the forest?”

“Hmmm,” said the owl, thinking this over. “It is difficult to tell. While these nuts are certainly bigger, who is to say that “bigger” will taste better? Sometimes what we seek is right in our own backyard. Maybe the nuts your brothers and sisters have gathered will taste just as good.”

“Well of course these will taste better,” argued Eddie, slightly annoyed with the meddlesome owl. “Anyone can see that these acorns are better than those other puny nuts, but are these nuts the “best” nuts?” Without waiting for a reply, Eddie kicked the nuts he had so carefully assembled into a pile and ran deeper into the forest searching for the best tasting acorns for his mother.

“Come back young squirrel,” the owl called after Eddie. “It will be dark soon, and you are getting further and further from home.”

Eddie paid no attention to the old owl, and he kept running through the forest, across hills, across streams, determined to find the best acorns in the forest. Soon Eddie was so deep into the forest that he became lost. Eddie had never been this far from his home before. Still, Eddie just knew that bigger, better acorns must be just over the next hill, so Eddie continued on, and on, and on. Finally, just as Eddie was getting so tired he could barely take another step, Eddie spied the largest oak tree he had ever seen. The giant tree was easily three times the size of his tree at home, and three times as thick around too. There, at the base of the large tree, sat a single gigantic brown acorn.

“I knew it,” exclaimed Eddie with a shout of satisfaction. He gazed admiringly at the massive nut. This acorn was so large, Eddie could barely get his arms around the sides of the nut to pick it up. “At last,” he stated triumphantly. I have found the best nut in the forest.” But as Eddie tried to lift the acorn onto his back to carry it home, he lost his grasp on the enormous nut and it fell to the ground, splitting open into numerous slimy brown pieces.

“Uggh,” snorted the owl, who was perched high in the tree watching Eddie. “What is that horrible smell?”

“My beautiful acorn,” cried Eddie with a shock of horror. “It is spoiled!” Eddie could not believe that his acorn, so big and beautiful on the outside, was so rotten and putrid on the inside.

“I warned you,” said the wise old owl. “Bigger does not mean better. Sometimes the smaller acorns close to home are the best acorns.”

Eddie was very tired. He was also very sad and very lost. Now it was dark, he did not know where his brothers and sisters were, and he had no acorns to bring home to his mother. Eddie sat down at the foot of the giant tree and started to cry.

“Don’t cry,” young squirrel, soothed the owl. “I will help you find your way back home. But next time remember that looks can be deceiving. A pretty exterior sometime hides something ugly and rotten within.”