Charlie the Chipmunk Learns About Choices
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Every day brings new choices, big
and small, that shape who we become. Good choices make our hearts proud and
fill our lives with peace. Bad choices may seem easy at first, but they often
lead to hard lessons. When we pause and think before we act, wisdom becomes our
guide. Listening to the quiet voice inside helps us know what is right. Each
decision plants a seed that grows into tomorrow’s story.
When we learn from mistakes, even bad choices can teach us good lessons.
Making good choices is a gift we give ourselves and those we love.
In the heart of Pinecone Park lived
a curious little chipmunk named Charlie. Charlie was bright, energetic,
and always full of ideas, some wonderful and some... well, not so wonderful.
Charlie loved exploring, climbing
trees, and racing along the branches with his best friends, Penny the Parrot
and Sammy the Squirrel. But most of all, Charlie loved choices.
Every day felt like a new adventure
full of them:
Should I climb the tallest tree or nap in the grass?
Should I help Mom gather acorns or go play?
Should I listen to Dad… or sneak another cookie first?
One sunny morning, Charlie woke up
early and stretched. “Today,” he said, “I’m going to have the best day
ever!”
As he scurried to the kitchen, his
mom called, “Charlie, remember to eat your breakfast before heading outside.”
But when he saw his shiny red
scooter leaning by the door, the temptation was too strong. “Just a quick
ride,” he said to himself. “I’ll eat later.”
He zoomed off down the path,
laughing as the wind rushed past his ears. It was fun, until his tummy growled
louder than a bear. By the time he returned home, the breakfast was cold, and
his mom was frowning.
“Oh, Charlie,” she sighed. “That was
your choice, and now your consequence is a cold breakfast and an empty
tummy.”
Charlie looked down. “I guess I made
a bad choice.”
His mom smiled softly. “We all do
sometimes. The important thing is to learn from it.”
Charlie nodded. He thought about
that as he nibbled his now-soggy oatmeal.
Later that day, he went to the
meadow where his friends were playing. Penny and Sammy were rolling pinecones
down the hill to see whose would roll the farthest.
“Charlie!” called Sammy. “Come join
us!”
Charlie grinned and ran over, but as
he did, he noticed a shiny golden acorn lying in the grass. It sparkled so
beautifully in the sun that Charlie gasped. “Wow! I bet no one else has a
golden acorn like this!”
He picked it up and turned it over
in his tiny paws. But then he saw something carved into the side: Property
of Mrs. Deer.
Charlie froze. “Oh no… it belongs to
someone else.”
He looked toward the woods, then at
his friends laughing nearby. His mind began to race.
I could just keep it… no one would know.
But what if Mrs. Deer is looking for it?
What should I do?
He remembered his mom’s words that
morning: the important thing is to learn from your choices.
Charlie took a deep breath and said
aloud, “I’m going to make a good choice.”
He ran all the way to Mrs. Deer’s
house and knocked on the door.
When Mrs. Deer answered, Charlie
held up the golden acorn. “I found this near the meadow, and I saw your name on
it.”
Mrs. Deer’s eyes sparkled. “Oh,
Charlie! I’ve been looking everywhere for this! It was a gift from my
grandmother. You have such a good heart to return it.”
Charlie’s chest swelled with pride.
“It just felt like the right thing to do.”
Mrs. Deer smiled warmly. “You made a
good choice, Charlie. And that’s what makes you rich in kindness.”
When Charlie returned to the meadow,
he told his friends what happened. Sammy nodded. “That’s awesome, Charlie! I
might’ve been tempted to keep it, too. But you did the right thing.”
Penny the Parrot flapped her wings
and chirped, “Good choices make good friends!”
From that day on, Charlie tried
harder to think before making choices.
When he was tired and didn’t want to
clean his room, he’d pause and ask, “What’s the right thing to do?”
When his little sister, Chloe, wanted help carrying her basket of nuts,
he’d remind himself, “Helping her is a good choice.”
And when his dad asked, “Charlie,
are you ready for storytime or still playing?” Charlie learned to say, “Just
finishing up, then I’ll be right there!”
He wasn’t perfect—no chipmunk is.
Sometimes he still made mistakes, like forgetting to brush his teeth or leaving
his toys out overnight. But Charlie learned something powerful: every time he
made a good choice, his life felt brighter, lighter, and happier.
That night, as he curled into his
cozy leaf bed, his mom whispered, “Charlie, I’m proud of you. You’re learning
that choices shape your world.”
Charlie smiled sleepily. “I like
making good choices, Mom. They make me feel good inside.”
She kissed his forehead and
whispered, “That’s because good choices grow from a good heart.”
Outside, the stars twinkled softly
through the trees, as if the whole forest was nodding in agreement.
Poem:
The Power of Choice
Each morning brings a choice or two,
The path ahead is up to you.
One may sparkle, one may shine,
But which one’s yours, and which is mine?
Think before you take a stride,
Let kindness be your gentle guide.
Good choices bloom like flowers bright,
And fill the world with love and light.
Questions
for Reflection:
1.
What did Charlie learn about making
choices throughout the story?
2.
What happens when we make choices
without thinking first?
3.
Can you remember a time you made a
good choice and felt proud of yourself?
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