The Squirrel's Missing Tail

The Squirrel's Missing Tail - Author : Ebru Mina TOMURCUK

Pip the squirrel lived in a cozy oak tree at the edge of a sunny meadow. Every morning she woke up early to gather acorns and nuts for breakfast. Her magnificent bushy tail was her pride and joy, fluffy and bright as a sunset. She brushed it every day until it shone like russet-orange fire. All the forest animals admired Pip's beautiful tail. 1

One morning Pip stretched and yawned and reached for her tail to give it a good brush. But when she looked behind her, she gasped and her big round amber eyes went wide. Her magnificent tail was gone! Only a tiny tuft remained, like a little brown cotton ball. Pip felt small and shivery without it. 2

Pip wrapped her red knitted scarf with yellow stripes around her neck and grabbed her tiny brown satchel bag. She hurried down the oak tree, feeling wobbly and strange without her fluffy tail for balance. 'Who am I without my tail?' she whispered sadly. 'I look just like a plain little mouse.' She sat down on a mushroom and sighed. 3

Just then, a tiny door in the mushroom popped open. Out stepped Master Thimble, a magical tailor knee-high to a squirrel. He wore a teal tailcoat with gold buttons and a silver thimble for a hat. A measuring tape hung around his neck and his green eyes twinkled. 'Good morning, Pip,' he said kindly. 'I've been expecting you.' 4

'How do you know my name?' Pip asked, surprised. Master Thimble smiled and adjusted his tiny brass spectacles. 'A tailor knows things,' he said. 'Your magnificent tail's reflection has run away. It happens when a squirrel forgets how wonderful she truly is.' Pip blinked her amber eyes. 'My reflection ran away? Where did it go?' 5

Master Thimble pulled a long measuring tape from around his neck and let it unroll across the meadow. 'Follow the shimmer,' he said, pointing. 'Reflections love shiny places, puddles, windows, and spoons.' Pip looked down at a dewdrop on a leaf. For a moment, she saw a flash of silver-blue fur sparkling in the sunlight. 'I see it!' she squeaked. 6

Pip and Master Thimble hurried to the pond where the water was still and clear. Pip leaned over the edge, hoping to see her fluffy tail. Instead, she saw only her own small face looking back at her. 'Where is my tail's reflection?' she asked. Just then, a silvery giggle bubbled up from the water, and a shimmer darted away. 7

The shimmer raced across the lily pads and disappeared into a spider's web. Pip climbed carefully, her little paws shaking without her tail for balance. In the dewdrops on the web, she saw the reflection again, a pale silver-blue squirrel with one sparkling bushy tail. 'Please come back!' Pip called. But the reflection was shy and hid behind a leaf. 8

Master Thimble helped Pip search a shiny window on the farmer's barn. There, in the glass, the reflection peeked out and waved its sparkling tail. 'Why did you run away?' Pip asked gently. The reflection whispered, 'You were so sad about your tail that I felt lost. I wanted you to see you are wonderful even without me.' 9

Pip thought about this as they walked through the forest. She helped a tiny beetle flip over a leaf, and she shared an acorn with a hungry baby bird. 'You are kind,' said Master Thimble, smiling. 'Kindness makes you shine brighter than any tail.' The reflection watched from a puddle, its amber eyes glowing softly. Pip began to feel a little braver. 10

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew Pip's red scarf right off her neck and into a tall thorny bush. 'Oh no!' she cried. The scarf was tangled high up where the branches were sharp. Pip took a deep breath. 'I can do this,' she said. She climbed carefully, using her strong little paws, and freed her scarf all by herself. 11

The reflection shimmered and glowed brighter in a nearby puddle. 'You were brave!' it whispered. Pip smiled and said, 'I was scared, but I did it anyway.' Master Thimble clapped his long nimble fingers. 'That's the secret,' he said. 'Bravery and kindness are the true sparkle in your heart. Your reflection can feel it.' 12

The reflection stepped out of the puddle, shimmering and glowing silver-blue. It had Pip's big amber eyes and one magnificent sparkling tail. 'I'm not just a tail,' Pip said softly. 'I'm Pip, and I'm kind and brave.' The reflection nodded, then swirled around Pip like a gentle breeze. With a soft poof, it disappeared. 13

Pip felt a familiar tickle behind her. She turned around and gasped with joy. There was her magnificent bushy tail, back where it belonged, fluffy as ever! It felt warm and right. She hugged Master Thimble, who was only as tall as her knee. 'Thank you,' she said. 'But I think I understand now. My tail is lovely, but it isn't what makes me me.' 14

Master Thimble packed up his measuring tape and smiled his twinkly smile. 'You found your reflection, and you found something more,' he said. 'Remember, Pip, a shiny tail is nice, but a kind heart and a brave spirit are the best treasures of all.' He tipped his thimble hat and disappeared back through the tiny mushroom door.