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The Forgetful Squirrel

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The Forgetful Squirrel. A cartoon image of a wide-eyed, slightly confused orange squirrel, Cyril, sitting on the forest floor, scratching his head. Around him are three small, smiling green glow-worms emitting a soft light. Near a tree trunk, a small burrow is filled with nuts, and a pile of freshly dug earth sits beside Cyril. The scene is set in an autumnal forest with warm light filtering through the trees.
Cyril the Forgetful Squirrel, aided by his glowing friends, navigates the challenges of memory in the forest.

The Forgetful Squirrel. In the heart of the forest lives Cyril, a cheerful but terribly forgetful squirrel who can never remember where he hides his acorns. When winter approaches, his forgetfulness becomes a real problem—until a group of wise Glow-Worms offers to help by lighting up his hiding spots. However, when Cyril forgets to return their kindness, the Glow-Worms show that true friendship isn’t about perfection—it’s about understanding, forgiveness, and love.

“The Forgetful Squirrel” is an original play based on a traditional-style fable, inspired by classic moral tales that use animals to teach important human values. This gentle and humorous story reminds children of the beauty of compassion and the importance of accepting others just as they are.

CHARACTERS:

NARRATOR

CYRIL – (A hyperactive, but very forgetful squirrel)

GLOW-WORMS – (A small, wise chorus of luminous insects)

SCRIPT:

(Setting: The forest floor, a place where acorns and nuts are scattered and hidden.)

ACT I: A Luminous Solution

NARRATOR: Cyril the Squirrel was, to put it mildly, a scatterbrain. His heart was as big as his bushy tail, but his memory? It was smaller than the tiniest acorn. He’d spend hours finding the perfect, secret nooks for his winter stash, only to wake up the next morning with not a single recollection of where he’d buried them. He was doomed to a hungry winter—until one day, a whisper, faint and luminous, drifted into his ear.

GLOW-WORMS: (A soft, collective shimmer is heard.) Could we lend a light? We Glow-Worms might be surprisingly useful. We could stay and shine a steady beacon right beside your precious hiding places.

CYRIL: (Leaping up, scattering a few leaves.) Oh, a thousand thanks! That’s not just a good idea, that’s a splendid, brilliant, acorn-saving stroke of genius!

NARRATOR: And so it was done. The Glow-Worms, a tiny constellation on the forest floor, lit their lamps and became Cyril’s secret markers. From that day on, the squirrel never lost a single, precious nut. His belly was full, and his heart swelled with gratitude.

CYRIL: (Puffing out his chest.) Those tiny worms have been incredible friends. I must find a way to repay their wonderful kindness. A magnificent deed deserves a good deed in return!

ACT II: The Forgotten Promise

NARRATOR: The next time Cyril spotted his glowing saviors, his mind was made up. He scampered right over, his bushy tail twitching with eagerness.

CYRIL: My mother, wise old soul that she is, always taught me that one good turn deserves another. So, isn’t there anything, even the smallest thing, I can do for my shining friends?

GLOW-WORMS: (Their light flickers gently, as if thinking.) That’s very kind of you, Cyril. You have such a magnificent, bushy tail. Could you sweep the ground for us? It’s rather hard for us to slide along the forest floor when it’s so uneven and bumpy.

CYRIL: (Swinging his tail proudly.) Of course, I could! Consider it done by sunrise!

NARRATOR: But alas! When Cyril woke up the very next morning, he remembered that the Glow-Worms wanted a favor—but the details? They had evaporated from his forgetful little brain like morning dew. He thought and thought, scratching his chin with a little paw.

CYRIL: (Tapping his foot.) I know! I’m certain they asked me to scratch up the earth for them! Yes, that’s it! A nice, freshly dug patch!

NARRATOR: The misguided squirrel set to work with zeal. He dug and scrabbled with his front paws until he had made the ground twice as lumpy, churned up, and impossibly uneven as it had been before. When the Glow-Worms came to travel, they stopped, horrified.

GLOW-WORMS: (Their lights dimming in dismay.) Oh, dear! Oh, dear! That’s not at all what we wanted! You truly are forgetful, Cyril!

CYRIL: (Hanging his head low.) Oh, I am terribly, terribly sorry. I try my best, but my memory is just… all fluff and no storage!

GLOW-WORMS: (They illuminate again, casting a gentle, understanding glow.) Don’t worry, friend. We understand. From now on, we will mark your hiding places. Because your needs are greater than ours, and that’s what true friendship is—even when we know you’ll forget the promises you make to us.

CYRIL: (Beaming, his tail finally settling down.) Thank you! You are truly, truly the best friends a forgetful squirrel could ever ask for!

In the end, Cyril learns that friendship is more than remembering promises—it’s about caring for one another even when mistakes happen. The Glow-Worms’ kindness shines brighter than their light, showing that true friends forgive, understand, and continue to help without expecting anything in return.

“The Forgetful Squirrel” reminds us that everyone has flaws, but love and acceptance can turn even forgetfulness into something beautiful.

The End

Author: Traditional Fable

Adapted by: K I D S I N C O

Moral of the Story: True friendship means accepting a person’s flaws and being willing to give without expecting a perfect return.

Moral Values:  

  • Kindness and Generosity: The Glow-Worms initially offer help purely out of generosity and a desire to be kind to Cyril, asking for nothing in return.
  • Gratitude: Cyril demonstrates gratitude by recognizing the help he received and immediately wanting to repay his friends.
  • Forgiveness and Acceptance: This is the strongest value. The Glow-Worms easily forgive Cyril for his mistake and accept his fundamental nature (his forgetfulness), choosing to maintain the friendship despite his inability to keep his promise.
  • Empathy and Understanding: The Glow-Worms show empathy by recognizing that Cyril’s failure wasn’t intentional or malicious; it was a result of a flaw he couldn’t control.

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