Emmy S, 10 years old

One day there was a squirrel who had never seen snow, her name was Sese.
When winter came that year, Sese was scared.

“Why is there white dirt falling from the sky?” she started to panic.

“Calm down, it’s just snow,” said a fox nearby.

“What snow?” asked Sese, puzzled.

“Snow,” replied the fox, “is the flaky stuff up there.” Sese, still puzzled, nodded because she wanted to not hear more nonsense.

“By the way, my name is Fefe,” said the fox.

“Well, nice to meet you, Fefe. My name is Sese,” Sese said with pleasure.

“It’s getting cold. Do you have a way to stay warm?” Sese asked.

“Yes,” replied Fefe. “I have my warm tail. Do you have somewhere to go or at least something to keep you warm?”

“I have my den, but that’s not very warm,” responded Sese.

“Well, in that case, let’s go ask the great oak tree for something to keep you warm, is that okay with you?”

“I would be happy to go with you to the great oak tree and ask for something warm.”

So they went to the great oak tree.

“Oh great oak tree, please give my friend Sese something warm for the cold,” said Fefe.

“What would you like for the cold, a tail, thick fur, or something else?” asked Sese.

“May I please have a thick bushy tail?” asked Sese.

“Absolutely,” replied the great oak tree, “here you go,” and made a fuzzy tail appear on Sese.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” said Sese.

“You’re welcome,” said the great oak tree.

And from then on all squirrels had bushy tails, and that’s how squirrels got their bushy tails for the winter.