Bruce The Squirrel -- By Michele

Once upon a time, there was a squirrel named Bruce.  Bruce lived a happy life in the park near the wonderful place of awesome that is our high school.  He lived in a big oak tree that had lots of acorns for him to eat.  Sometimes when the students of the school ate outside, they would leave bits of food that he would eat.  What a lucky squirrel Bruce was!

His favourtie thing to do, was play with his neighbour Charlotte.  Charlotte was a very pretty chipmunk who lived in the roots of Bruce's favourite oak tree.  One day, while Bruce and Charlotte where frolicking in the park, Bruce saw something shiny in the grass.  He raced over and picked it up.  It was a beautiful ring.  But of course, Bruce is a squirrel and, thinking it was food tried to bite it. "Ouch!"  He said. "What is it?"  Asked Charlotte who just ran up.  "I don't know but it certainly isn't food!"  Said Bruce, rubbing his chipped tooth.

"It's very pretty..."  Charlotte said reaching out for it.  She picked it up and examined it.  "Maybe it is some sort of crown!"  She said as she placed it on her head.  The ring however was rather large, and Charlotte's head was rather small.  So the ring slipped right down around her neck.  "Ooooo!"  Said Bruce.  "It's a necklace!"  Charlotte twirled and danced around.  "Aren't I beautiful!" 

The ring was gold with a large white diamond in the center.  Just then, a young woman came running into the park.  Charlotte and Bruce froze, then ran to the oak tree and hid in the roots.  "Oh no!"  The woman cried.  "Where is my ring!  I can't have lost it!"  She searched through the grass frantically.  "I wonder what she is looking for?"  Charlotte whispered to Bruce.  "She looks very upset."  "Yes, she does."  Bruce whispered back. 

They both continued watching the poor woman until she finally gave up and sat on the grass crying.  "That poor woman..."  Charlotte whispered.  "Maybe...  Maybe she is looking for your necklace?!"  Said Bruce.  "We found it right over where she was looking!"  Charlotte frowned.  "Oh, but I really love this necklace!"  She whined.  "Yes, but if it belongs to that woman you should return it,"  Bruce said to her.  "You're right, I suppose."  Charlotte sighed.  She took off her necklace, and cautiously scurried out to where the young woman was sitting.  She then placed it on the woman's knee, and ran back to the tree.  The young woman looked up, and saw the ring.

"Oh my ring!!" She shouted.  "Oh thank you, thank you!  Whoever you are!"  She jumped up, put the ring on her finger and skipped off.  "There, isn't the feeling of making someone else happy better than having a shiny necklace?"  Bruce said to Charlotte.  "Yes, I feel better, having made that woman happy!" 

And Bruce and Charlotte returned to playing and frolicking in the park.