On 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 sweet things so much that he made himself a house in a little strawberry. And life was so sweet there that every day he sang this little song:
I'm a very clever little worm! In the strawberry I've made my home. Now I'm living sweetly, everything's going neatly.
The birds heard him and chirped back:
What strange habits you've got! Made a house from a strawberry spot! Better live beneath the bark, your house will be strong and dark.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
All the birdies are jealous of me! They want a strawberry house, you see!
The birds didn't bother arguing with the silly little Worm and flew off about their business.
Summer went on, the strawberry grew, and the Worm's house got bigger. He was very happy and sang his song:
I'm a very clever little worm! In the strawberry I've made my home. My sweet house is growing, more room it keeps showing!
The mice heard him and squeaked back:
What strange habits you've got! Made a house from a strawberry spot! Better live beneath the ground, your house will be warm and sound.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
Mean little mice so small! They want a strawberry house and all!
The mice didn't bother arguing with the stubborn Worm and scurried off about their business.
Summer was ending, the strawberry lay on the patch large and ripe. And inside it lay a big plump Worm, having eaten his fill of his sweet house. He'd become so fat that he could barely turn around, but he kept singing his song:
I'm a very clever little worm! In the strawberry I've made my home. I've got an enormous house, I live sweetest as a mouse.
The beetles heard him and buzzed back:
What strange habits you've got! Made a house from a strawberry spot! Better live beneath a stone, you'll have a lovely home.
But the Little Worm mocked them:
Those little bugs are whinging away! They want a strawberry house, I'd say!
The beetles didn't bother arguing with the nasty Worm and crawled off about 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'd eaten nothing but sweet things all summer, he'd become so fat that he could no longer make himself a strong house beneath tree bark, or a warm home underground, or a reliable one beneath a pebble.
The Worm realised that he would never, ever make himself a home in a strawberry again. And he also realised that he should have listened to his elders. Because they knew what would happen next. And they weren't speaking 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's arrived. I wish I'd lived in a gumnut instead.
