By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral
of the Story:
Being on time shows kindness,
respect, and care. When you’re late, others feel forgotten and unfairly kept
waiting. Punctuality isn’t just about the clock; it’s about character. Those
who value time value people. Arriving early means you’re prepared and
dependable. When you respect others’ schedules, you earn their trust. Time wasted can never be given back, so use it wisely. Being on time says, “You
matter to me.”
In the golden heart of the African
savannah stood the peaceful little community of Timely Town, where every animal
knew the rhythm of the day by the sun, the breeze, and the chime of the town
clock. Life ran smoothly there, except for one thing.
Tilly the Tiger was always late.
Tilly was smart, kind, and funny.
She could make anyone laugh with her silly stories or warm hugs. But when it
came to being on time, whether it was breakfast, school, or playtime, she
always seemed to arrive just as everyone else was finishing.
“Where’s Tilly now?” grumbled Benny
the Beaver as he tapped his tail on the ground.
“She said she’d meet us by the river at nine,” said Ellie the Elephant.
Leo the Lion checked the sun. “It’s almost ten! She probably overslept again.”
Sure enough, a cheerful voice called
out, “I’m here, I’m here!” and Tilly came bounding over the hill, her fur still
messy from sleep.
“I just lost track of time,” she said with a sheepish grin.
Ellie frowned. “Tilly, we’ve been
waiting an hour! Now we don’t have time to build our fort.”
Tilly looked down, her tail drooping. “I didn’t mean to make you wait.”
She promised to do better, but the
very next day, it happened again.
The big Timely Town Parade was
coming, and Tilly was supposed to lead the march. She’d been given the honor
because of her bright stripes and joyful spirit. Ellie had painted banners, Leo
had tuned his drum, and Benny had built a float shaped like a giant clock to
remind everyone that time matters.
“Don’t be late, Tilly,” said Ellie.
“We need you ready by noon sharp.”
“I’ll be there early,” Tilly promised.
But the morning slipped away. Tilly
brushed her stripes twice, changed her scarf three times, and took forever
choosing which bow to wear. Then she stopped for a snack, looked at her
reflection, and thought, I still have plenty of time.
By the time she finally left her
den, the parade had already started. The band was marching, the floats were
rolling, and children were cheering. Tilly ran as fast as her paws could carry
her, panting, “Wait! I’m coming!”
But when she reached the square, the
parade had passed. The streets were empty except for a few fluttering pieces of
confetti. Tilly sat down on the curb, her heart heavy.
That evening, she visited Ellie and
whispered, “I ruined the parade, didn’t I?”
Ellie nodded gently. “You didn’t mean to, Tilly. But when you’re late, it tells
people their time isn’t important. We love you, but it hurts to wait.”
Tilly’s eyes filled with tears. “I
never thought about it that way. I thought being a few minutes late wasn’t a big
deal.”
“It becomes a big deal when it happens all the time,” said Leo kindly. “When
you show up on time, you show that you care.”
Tilly went home that night and
couldn’t sleep. She looked at the moon and whispered, “Tomorrow will be
different.”
The next morning, before the first
rays of dawn touched the trees, Tilly was up. She brushed her stripes once,
packed her bag early, and headed to the meeting spot long before anyone else.
When her friends arrived, they froze in surprise.
“Tilly?” gasped Benny. “You’re
early!”
Tilly grinned proudly. “I wanted to show you that you matter to me.”
From that day forward, Tilly changed
her ways. She made her bed before breakfast, prepared her things the night
before, and learned to leave early so she’d always arrive on time, or even
ahead of it.
Soon, everyone noticed.
When she arrived first at soccer practice, her coach beamed.
When she showed up early to help with the school play, the teacher smiled.
And when she arrived at Ellie’s birthday party before the cake was even lit,
Ellie gave her a big hug.
“You’ve become the most punctual
tiger in all of Timely Town!” Ellie said proudly.
Tilly smiled and replied, “I finally
learned that being on time isn’t about clocks, it’s about caring.”
And from that day forward, she lived
by her new motto:
“Don’t make others wait, be early, be ready, and be kind.”
The whole savannah ran smoothly, and
Tilly’s friends loved her more than ever, not just for her laughter and
stripes, but for her dependability.
Because when Tilly the Tiger said
she’d be somewhere… she meant it.
Poem:
Tick-tock, the moments flow,
Time is precious, don’t go slow.
If you love your friends, take care,
Be the first one waiting there.
Late means careless, flustered, rude,
Early shines with gratitude.
Show respect in what you do,
Being on time shows you care.
Discussion
Questions:
1.
How did Tilly’s lateness affect her
friends and the things they wanted to do together?
2.
What did Tilly learn about showing respect
through her actions and her time?
3.
Can you think of ways to make sure
you’re ready early, just like Tilly learned to be?
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