George Walker, senior scribe at Aesop, shares a playful tale about a scurry of squirrels facing suspicion and unease as the arrival of a new resident brings curiosity and divide. Tensions rise, rumors circulate, and a grey squirrel loses his stores and memory. However, the power of kindness prevails as the scurry comes together to share their stashes and create a feast.
The squirrels in the story find joy and connection in playfully deceiving each other, highlighting the power of camaraderie.
Despite initial suspicion and distrust, the scurry chooses kindness and unity over animosity, fostering a new tradition of sharing food stores with the injured grey squirrel.
Deep dives
Winter Approaching and Annual Tradition
As winter approached, the scurry of squirrels anticipated the need to gather and store food. They engaged in the annual tradition of pretending to be clueless about the impending winter in order to gain a head start in stocking their larders. The squirrels found delight and camaraderie in playfully deceiving each other about their actions.
The Arrival of a Grey Squirrel
A sense of suspicion spread among the squirrels due to the destruction caused by humans and the arrival of new structures at the edge of the woods. The scurry encountered a gray squirrel, initially disapproved by the chief squirrel. However, more sightings revealed that the newcomer acted differently, feasting in human gardens and not following the natural ways of the scurry.
Doubt and Distrust, Followed by Unforeseen Change
News of the grey squirrel's selfishness and suspicious behavior circulated, leading to doubt and distrust within the scurry. However, when the grey squirrel gets injured in an accident, the scurry chooses kindness over animosity and decides to share their food stores with him, ultimately fostering a new tradition and bringing unity.
As a senior scribe at Aesop, George Walker has a deep interest in the power of words and the transformative impact of sharing stories. When he isn’t writing for Aesop’s stores, website or amber bottles, he can be found working on the draft of a first novel, following tutelage at Faber’s ‘Writing a Novel’ course and years spent filling notebooks. In this playful, mischievous tale, an unexpected visitor causes a commotion among a scurry of squirrels.
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