The Boy and the Red Squirrel

On a bright Saturday morning, a boy in a mustard yellow raincoat and red wellington boots joins his nature club for a walk in the woodland reserve. He carries a notebook and pencil, hoping to see something special. Walking quietly, he spots a red squirrel with tufted ears and a fluffy tail. He watches it nibble a hazelnut, bury food in the soft earth, and curl up for a nap, sketching what he sees and learning that woodland animals need peace and quiet.

At the next club meeting, the boy shares his observations. The club leader explains that red squirrels depend on hazel, pine, and oak trees for food and shelter, and that many of these trees were cut down long ago. When the boy asks if the club can plant trees, she says yes. The following weekend, the children plant hazel saplings in a sunny clearing, and the boy labels his tree with its name and the date. A familiar flash of red in a nearby branch suggests the squirrel is watching them work. This gentle tale by Aysel Banu YAVUZAL can be read on Masal İzle.