Sam the Hen didn’t bother much for food unless it was sugary. He was always told by the other hens to get his act together and eat some proper food.
“But sugar is proper food, I mean you get some proper food and put loads of sugar on it and its still proper food? Isn't it?
“No Sam” said all the Hens. “It doesn’t work like that”
Sam didn’t hang about long enough to listen to the other hens and would wander off in search of food. Food with sugar”
All the other Hens liked Sam very much and they worried about him when he wandered off in search of a sugary snack.
“I hope he’s okay”
“I’m sure he is”
“If one of us keeps our eye on him then he shouldn’t get lost or get into trouble.
So they agreed to take turns in keeping an eye out for Sam, although it wasn’t the easiest thing to do. For as soon as he sniffed a treat, he would be off like a shot.
Sam wandered down the path, across the bridge and down the embankment. One of the pigs had told him there were sugary snacks there but maybe they were just trying to get rid of him.
Barny –the biggest hen-
“Psst”!!
“Psst”!!
“Psst”!!
Sam turned to look under the bridge where the “Psst” sound was coming from.
Fox was sat on a rock smiling the most pleasant smile he could muster at Sam.
“Hello friend, I hear you are looking for sugary snacks, am I right?”
“Oh yes do you have any” Asked Sam
“Well not here”
“Where then?”
“Over there”
Fox pointed towards the deep dark wood.
“Down the deep dark wood is a sugar tree”
“A tree made of sugar? Asked Sam excitedly
“Indeed”
“Can we go now please? Asked Sam
“Yes but we need to go a roundabout way. We need to lose you big friend across the river. If he comes as well then the sugar tree turns to rotten wood and I don’t think you would want to eat rotten wood”
“Is it a magic tree?” Asked Sam
“Yes” said Fox quickly.
“You need to run in a zigzag fashion all the way down that way and I’ll eat -
“But remember, if you don’t lose your big friend then no sugar tree for you”
“Ok” said Sam
“Shall I set of now then?”
“No time like the present” Said fox
Sam got up and sprinted back and forth in a zigzag fashion.
“Oh dear” said Barney as he got himself up and started running as fast as he could
–which wasn’t very fast-
In and out the trees went Sam, back and forth back and forth. “I’m getting closer to the sugar tree, I’m getting closer to the sugar tree” Sam kept repeating to himself.
“I can’t keep up with Sam, I can’t keep up with Sam” Barney kept thinking to himself.
Eventually Barney had to stop and as he leant against the tree puffing and panting, a wise owl flew down and landed beside him.
“Having problems” Asked the wise owl
“Yes” said Barney still puffing and panting.
It’s our dear friend Sam. He’s run off and I can’t keep up with him and I’m scared he’ll get lost or gets into trouble.
“Oh you mean the Hen that was running in a zigzag fashion followed by a hungry looking fox?
Barney screeched at the top of his voice but it didn’t come out very loud because he was still puffing and panting.
“What are you doing?” asked the wise owl.
“I need to warn the others that Sam is in trouble”
“They won’t here you from here” Said wise owl
“Oh what shall I do”? Said Barney
“I’ll see if I can help him”
“Oh thank you, thank you so much” Said Barney as wise owl flue off into the distance.
© H Marrocco 2010 “Frank France” Children’s Story Time
The End
Sugar Tree Sam
By Helen Marrocco
© H Marrocco 2010 “Frank France” Children’s Story Time
© H Marrocco 2010 “Frank France” Children’s Story Time
© H Marrocco 2010 “Frank France” Children’s Story Time
© H Marrocco 2010 “Frank France” Children’s Story Time
Meanwhile Sam had stopped and was scratching his head wondering where Fox was and more importantly where the sugar tree was.
“Glad you made it” said fox
“Where are you?” asked Sam
“Down here” said fox who was half hiding behind a very old tree with a large whole dug in its side.
“Where is the sugar tree?”
“This is the sugar tree” said Fox pointing at the old tree with the hole in it.
“That isn’t a sugar tree”
“It is” said fox, “you need to climb in and start eating it from the inside. It doesn’t look like a sugar tree because if it did then someone else would have eaten it by now.
“Oh I see” said Sam
Sam walked towards the tree.
“You have to climb inside the hole” Said Fox
“What, in here?” asked Sam pointing to the hole in a tree.
“Yes that’s exactly right. You need to climb in and as soon as you climb in, I –I mean you can start eating”
Sam wondered over and popped into the hole and fell down into a deep dark room which was foxes den.
“Help!” Shouted Sam
“No one can hear you now” said Fox laughing.
“Help!” “Help!” “Help!”
Sam ran round in circles in a panic as Fox came in and blocked the entrance so Sam couldn’t get out.
“Come here my little din dins” said fox chasing Sam.
Sam ran into the fireplace and scrambled up Foxes chimney. Up and up he went fast and faster with fox right behind him.
They both reached the very top of the tree and Sam ran along a branch that got thinner and thinner as he tried to get away from fox.
“I’m right behind you and there’s no escape” laughed Fox
Suddenly the branch broke and they both started to fall from very high.
“Help I can’t fly” screamed Fox
“Help I can’t fly” screamed Sam.
Just then wise owl swooped down and caught Sam with his claws.
“Phew” Said Sam as he was carried off by owl.
“I don’t think you’ll be having any more trouble from Fox anymore” Said Owl as he landed on the farm next to all the hens with a very happy looking Sam.
The End.