Once upon a time, in a strawberry patch, there lived a little baby Worm. He was very small and didn't even remember how he got there. But he loved sweets so much that he made himself a little house inside a small strawberry. And life was so sweet there that every day he sang this little song:
I'm a very clever worm, you see! In a strawberry I made a home for me. Now I live so sweetly, everything's going neatly.
The birds heard him and chirped back:
What strange habits you display! A strawberry house? That's not the way! Better live beneath tree bark, your home will be strong and stark.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
All the birdies envy me! They want a strawberry house, you see!
The birds didn't argue with the silly little Worm and flew off to tend to their business.
Summer went on, the strawberry grew, and the Worm's house became bigger. He was very happy and sang his song:
I'm a very clever worm, you see! In a strawberry I made a home for me. My sweet house is growing, more room keeps on showing!
The mice heard him and squeaked back:
What strange habits you display! A strawberry house? That's not the way! Better live beneath the ground, a warm home will there be found.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
Mean little mice so small! They want a strawberry house after all!
The mice didn't argue with the stubborn Worm and scurried off to tend to their business.
Summer was ending, and the strawberry lay in the patch, large and ripe. And inside it lay a big, plump Worm, having eaten his fill of his sweet house. He had become so fat that he could barely turn around, but he continued singing his song:
I'm a very clever worm, you see! In a strawberry I made a home for me. I have an enormous place, the sweetest living space!
The beetles heard him and buzzed back:
What strange habits you display! A strawberry house? That's not the way! Better live beneath a stone, a splendid house you'll own.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
Those little bugs are whining there! They want a strawberry house, I swear!
The beetles didn't argue with the nasty Worm and crawled off to tend to their business.
Autumn arrived. The rains began, and the strawberry got completely soggy and fell apart. The Worm was left without a house. And because he had eaten only sweets all summer, he had become so fat that he could no longer make himself a sturdy house under tree bark, or a warm home underground, or a secure one under a pebble.
The Worm realized that he would never, ever make himself a home in a strawberry again. And he also realized that he should have listened to his elders. Because they knew what would happen next. And they spoke not out of spite, but because they wanted to help. But he didn't know and didn't listen. He felt sad and cold, the Worm sighed and said:
Autumn has arrived. I wish I'd lived in a coconut instead.
