Good morning, my dear friends! I am Willow, the wise owl of this mystic forest. Many of you already know me, but for those who don’t, I’ve been living here for many years, watching over our vibrant community of animals.
Today, I want to share a story that I hope will stay in your hearts forever. It begins with a lovely dawn, the sun marvelously peeping through the emerald leaves, the dew gently glistening on every blade of grass. The forest was alive with the sounds of chirping birds, rustling squirrels, and the flowing brook nearby.
Yet, amid this morning symphony, a sense of worry began to brew among the young ones. There was a puzzling challenge that had been passed down from generations: “Who can share the secret of the forest? One secret that if told, must assuredly remain untold?” Some say it’s a treasure; others believe it’s a deep, dark secret. But no one had the answer.
The younger creatures, like Squeaky the field mouse, Fluffy the rabbit, and Buzzy the bee, thought of asking the elders but felt too shy. They pondered day and night, their young minds racing with possibilities, but all in vain. They needed help, and fast. But who to turn to? As they deliberated, a soft voice chimed in, “Well, we could always ask Birch, the old tortoise, but she hardly ever has visitors, which can be dull, sometimes,” suggested Squeaky, twitching his nose.
“Yes, and then there’s old Willow the owl. She knows more than she ever tells, or so they say,” said Fluffy, bravely twitching his long ears.
They all pondered this. An idea began to take root. Why not ask the cleverest creature in the whole forest? So, after much discussion, they decided to visit me, old Willow. Imagine the surprised look on my face when they came knocking at my door! “Dear Willow! Please help us! Nobody seems to know the answer to this riddle. The elders cannot help. You are our only hope!” cried Squeaky, quivering with emotion.
Seeing these earnest little faces, I quickly agreed. “Don’t you worry, my dear friends! We shall soon meet and discuss this riddle together. Meet me tomorrow morning under the great oak tree, and bring all your friends!”
The next day, creatures of all shades and sizes gathered to discover the secret of the forest. All the birds found branches to rest on. The runners, the furry ones, and even a few crawling ones settled to hear the meeting about to commence.
“Dear friends,” I began, “we are gathered here today in the hope of discovering the secret of our forest so that the young ones may pass it on for generations to come. Does anyone wish to make a suggestion?”
Various wild ideas flitted about just like the squirrels that suddenly stopped in their animated play. One after another, old and young, the creatures put forward their views on what this secret could be. But every idea was gently set aside.
“Ah! It seems this problem is as hard to solve as the secret is to tell,” I said. “Is there perhaps someone who has not yet spoken?” I paused, hoping for a reply.
There was a moment of silence, and then louder than all the others, little Buzzy cried, “I know! I know!” “Child, tell us what you believe,” I encouraged him.
“I think I know why the answer cannot be said,” Buzzy continued. “It is because to tell us would be to spoil our fun!”
Soft laughter rippled through the assembly, and oh! what a wise little bee he was. The next moment they were all buzzing with merriment.
When this mighty laughter had died down, I gave the signal to approach the place where the secret lay. “I will show you that which is neither mines nor thine, and yet the one who has it feels he has lost it when another knows it. Who will give it a name?”
For an instant there was a dead silence, and then came Squeaky’s voice again, slightly dulled. “I think that is doubt.”
“Quite right, little one,” I said softly.
And that is the secret of the forest! The little animals looked at each other and smiled, for now, they too could keep the secret untold.