THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER

16 Malaika Aisha – UPT SDN 6 Gresik

Once upon a time, there lived ants and a grasshopper

in a grassy meadow.

All day long the ant would work hard collecting grains
of wheat from the farmers field far away.
They would hurry to the field every morning as soon
as it was light enough to see by, and toil back with
heavy grains of wheat balanced on their heads.
They would put the grains of wheat carefully away in
their larder, and then hurry back to the field for
more.

On the other hand, the grasshopper was lazy, and

would rest all day in the shade singing songs to
himself and eating tasty treats. He would enjoy his
life to the fullest, and hardly cared about what
comes next. He always used to pity the poor ants,
who worked hard all day.

Days went by, and the grasshopper hopped around

lazily in the grass warm, happy and well-fed. And
chirping and singing to himself because life was good
while the ants were carrying grains and taking them
to their nest with the great toil.

One day when the ants were carrying the grains one
of the ants fell down, due to the heavy weight of the
grain. He was tired and hurt. Instead of helping the
ant, the grasshopper looked at him, and laughed.

The ant asked : ‘’Mr. Grasshopper, will you please help

me with lifting this grain till my nest?, I will be really
thankful to you’’.

But the grasshopper ignored him and continued

playing his music. With many efforts, the ant alone
lifted the grain.
“Huaaaaghh…. why do you work so hard, dear ant?”
Said the grasshopper.
“Come, rest a while and listen to my song. Summer is
here and the days are long and bright, why waste the
sunshine with labor and toil?”
The ant would ignore him and head bent would jt
hurry to the field a little faster. This would make the
grasshopper laugh even louder.

“Huhohahahahahaah! What a silly little ant you are!”.

He would call after her.
“Come, come and dance with me, forget about work!
Enjoy the summer live a little!”
“I am helping to lay up food for the winter”.
Said the ant
“And recommend you do the same”.
“Ughaaaahmm… meh.. why bother about winter?”
Said the grasshopper

But the ant knew what he was doing, and went on his
way, and continued his toil. As the grasshopper
hopped away across the meadow, singing and dancing
merrily. This continued for the rest of the days to
come, instead of working and preparing for winter,
the grasshopper preferred to dance, sing and play at
his leisure. He did not realize that the wonderful
summer days will not last forever, and soon, cold and
rainy days will be near.
Summer faded into autumn, and autumn turned into
winter. The sun was hardly seen, and the days were
short and grey, the nights long and dark. It became
freezing cold, and snow began to fall. The
grasshopper shivers through the cold breeze. He
tried to cover himself with dry leaves around him.
But the strong wind even blew those away. He felt
hungry, and could not find anything to eat. He was
sure that if he would not eat, he will soon die.

“Eoohhheheheh-f-f-f...w-w-w-what should i do?

Whereee should i gow-w-w-w-w?”
Wailed the grasshopper.

He hadn’t thought that this winter might be worse

than usual. And because he hadn’t stored food for
himself, or helped anyone else to do it, he would not
live to see another summer.

He had nowhere to shelter from the snow, and found

himself dying of hunger.
While he saw the ants enjoying the food they had
stored and collected in the summer
“Ah..I sh-sh-sh-shal g-g-go t-t-t-to th-the aants a-a-
and a-a-a-ask he-her f-f-f-for f-f-f-foood a-a-and
sh-sh-she-el-t-t-t-ter…”.
Declared the grasshopper perking up. So he
staggered to the ants’ hill and knocked at their door

“tuk-tuktuk-tuk-tuk--tuktuk!........hh-hel-looouu
AAANts-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-!”
He cried cheerfully
“Heeee-err-reee i-i-i a-am-m-mm t-t-t-to s-s-s-sing
f-f-f-for y-y-yo-u as i -w-w-warm-m-m-m mys-s-s-
sel-l-lf b-b-b-by y-o-ouur f-f-fi-r-eee, while y-y-yo-u
g-g-get m-m-e s-s-s-some f-f-ffoooood from that l-l-
lad-de--r o-o-f-f-f y-y-yo-uu-rs-s-s-s-s-s~”. Said the
grasshopper
“No, no, no Mr. grasshopper. We do not wish to listen
to any song of yours”.
(He begged them to let them in and asked for
something to eat else he would die)

”WHAT!?!” Cried the ants in surprise

“Haven’t you stored anything away for the winter???
What in the world were you doing all last summer?”
“i-i-i d-d-did-dn’t-t-t h-h-hav-v-ve t-t-time t-t-to s-
s-sto-rree a-a-any f-f-foood”
(Complained the grasshopper)
“i was just s-s-s-so-oOOo busy p-p-pla-yi-ng-ngg th-
the m-m-musss-s-sic-c-c-c that uhh before i kn--
knneww it th-th-the s-s-summ-m-mer-r was-s-s g-g-
gone-e”.

The ants shook their heads in disgust, turned their

back on grasshopper, and went on with their work.
The ant who once asked the grasshopper to help him,
looked at him and said ‘’All summer long, i worked
hard while you made fun of me and sang and danced.
You should thought of winter then! find somewhere
else to sing grasshopper! There is no warmth or food
for you here’’.

And the ant shut the door in the grasshopper’s face.

The grasshopper could do nothing but cry.

And that was the story of the grasshopper and the

ant!

~THE END~