The Little Red Hen Had Three Friends

For the first time in a long long time, Grandma Lu had found herself in a situation of being in charge of a huge building and the people inside without anyone to help her. Grandma B was gone and the folks that were in Marleewood seemed to be needing her help, but not willing to help her. She decided that she would let everything go and tell them that there was going to be a story today in the Sitting Room. She had an idea.

Just as she was about to start CoraLynn came in. She looked around, saw the scattered toys and said, "I'm a big help at home to my mom, Grandma Lu. I even cook and clean for her after school sometimes without being asked."
Grandma Lu gave her a hug and said, "You know what? Just because you are such a good helper, how about you come with me into the Sitting Room. I was just going to tell a story. We will have some fresh cookies and something to drink. How about that? Then after the story you can help me clean up the playroom. How does that sound?"
CoraLynn nodded her head and smiled. Then she went to the sitting room with the rest of the folks.

Soon everyone had gathered in the Sitting Room to listen to Grandma Lu's story.
Grandma Lu was all settled in her old easy chair. Then she began telling her story.
"One day there was a chicken that was called the Little Red Hen because her feathers were a brownish red color.

 "The little red hen lived on a farm.  She was always very busy and had lots of friends, just like you do. One of her friends was a silly puppy. His name was Oakley.  Oakley was a sleepy dog, but he also liked to play because he was very young."

"She also was friends with a cat named Sybil. Sybil was also young but loved to take naps when she wasn't being naughty, " Grandma Lu chuckled.

"The little red hen had another young friend that had moved to the farm in the spring; Jake the turkey. He liked to hang out with the older turkeys, but was nice to her most of the time."

One day the little red hen found some seeds. They were cotton seeds. "Well, well, well. These are very nice seeds. Who will help me plant these seeds?'

"Not I," said the lazy dog. "I need to take a nap. Those seeds can wait."

"Not I," said the cat. "The sun is nice and warm on my fur. I'm going to take a nap too. Maybe some other day."

"Not I, said Jake the turkey." I have been invited to dinner in a few weeks. I have to hang out with my other friends to find out what I need to do. Sorry."

The little red hen said, "Okay, then I will do it."

One of the children said, "But I thought you said that the dog and the cat and the turkey were friends of the little red hen's. Why didn't they help her?"

"That's a very good question. Let's see what happens in the rest of the story."