Pig's Cookie Secret
Pig, a happy and round fellow who loved thinking about muddy puddles and yummy snacks, was always a dreamer. Sheep, who was fluffy and liked to think about important things, spent his days wondering what it was like to get a haircut. And Cow, who was very smart, mostly chewed her grass and gave good advice with a soft, rumbling "Moooo."
One very hot afternoon, Farmer McGregor, who loved his cookies even more than his big pumpkins, left a plate of warm peanut butter cookies on his porch. Pig, who was always looking for a tasty treat, waddled by. The smell hit him like a happy wave – it was the smell of yummy, crumbly, peanut-buttery cookies!
"Just one," Pig oinked to himself, his little trotters already tiptoeing up the steps. "No one will ever know."
He gobbled down not one, but three cookies! He left a little trail of crumbs that sparkled in the afternoon sun. Just as he was licking his snout, Sheep walked by, looking for a puddle to see his reflection in.
"Baa! Pig!" Sheep cried, seeing the crumbs and Pig's happy, but secret, face. "Were those Farmer McGregor's cookies? You know he counts them!"
Pig's ears drooped. "Uh, no, Sheep. These are… my breakfast crumbs. Very healthy!" He tried to look honest, but a tiny peanut crumb stuck to his nose gave him away.
The Cookie Confession
Suddenly, Cow slowly walked over, drawn by the chatter and the yummy smell of cookies. "Moo? What's all the fuss about?" Her eyes, usually so kind, looked a little closer at the plate with fewer cookies and Pig's sneaky look.
Sheep, who couldn't keep a secret, blurted out, "Pig ate Farmer McGregor's cookies! Three of them!"
Pig's face turned a deep pink. "It was just a little taste! They were calling to me! And anyway, maybe Farmer McGregor just... made fewer today?"
Cow let out a long, slow "Moooo." "Pig," she said, her voice calm but strong, "Being honest is like a good blade of grass. It might seem a little hard to chew at first, but it makes your tummy feel good inside. A lie, on the other hand, is like eating prickly plants. It stings, and it will cause trouble in the end."
Pig wiggled. He thought about how sad Farmer McGregor would be, and how much he loved those cookies. He imagined the farmer's serious look. And he knew Cow was right. It felt worse keeping the secret than telling the truth.
"Okay, okay!" Pig finally oinked, hanging his head. "I ate them. All three. They were super yummy, but I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."
The Sweet Ending
Just then, Farmer McGregor walked out, stretching after a nap. He looked at the plate. His forehead wrinkled for a moment, then he smiled when he saw Pig looking truly sorry.
"Well now, looks like someone's been enjoying my baking," the farmer said with a little twinkle in his eye. He knelt down. "You know, Pig, if you'd just asked, I probably would have given you one. I always bake extra for my favorite animals." He reached into a basket he was carrying and pulled out... a whole new batch of cookies! "These just came out of the oven. Still warm. Next time, just ask, okay?"
Pig's eyes grew wide. He looked at Sheep, who nodded wisely, and at Cow, who gave a gentle, happy "Moooo." He hadn't just avoided trouble; he'd learned an important lesson and still got a warm cookie!
From that day on, Pig was still a little bit silly, but he always made sure to ask first. Because as Cow often reminded him, "Honesty always tastes sweeter than a stolen cookie." And down in Four Corners, everyone agreed!
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