🫏 Melvin the Donkey and the Lying
Mouse
Melvin the
Donkey lived in a beautiful orchard filled with apple trees, berry bushes, and
winding paths. He was known throughout the orchard for one thing: Everyone
trusted Melvin. If Melvin said it would rain, people carried umbrellas. If
Melvin said a gate was open, farmers checked the gate. If Melvin promised to
help, everyone knew he would be there. Nearby lived Marty Mouse. Marty was
clever, quick, and always looking for an easy way to get what he wanted. Unfortunately,
Marty had a habit of telling little lies. At first, the lies seemed harmless.
"I picked the biggest apple in the orchard," Marty would boast.
"I ran faster than the rabbits." "I helped Farmer Ben fix the
fence." None of it was true. The animals laughed and shrugged. "It's
only Marty being Marty," they said. But the lies continued. Another day
Marty told the ducks, "A storm is coming! Floods are on the way!" The
ducks paddled frantically to higher ground. The sky remained blue all day. One
bright autumn morning, Marty Mouse scampered through the orchard shouting,
"Free apples! Free apples for everyone! Farmer Fin says you can take all
you want!" The news spread like wildfire. The rabbits came hopping. The
squirrels came racing. The deer came bounding. Birds flew in from fields near
and far. Soon animals from everywhere filled the orchard. They climbed the
trees. They filled baskets. They stuffed sacks. Some piled apples into wagons. Others
sat on benches feasting until their bellies were round. "I think I'll have
enough for ten pies!" honked Mother Goose, surrounded by her many
goslings. "Take a few more!" cried Marty. The animals cheered and
gathered even more. By sunset the orchard looked very different. The baskets
were full. The animals were happy. But the trees stood nearly bare. Not a
single apple remained. And it seemed no one gave a care whether Farmer Fin
would get to enjoy the fruit of his own labor. The next morning Farmer Fin
walked into the orchard carrying an empty basket. He stopped and stared. Every
tree was empty. Every branch was bare. His shoulders drooped. "No pies
this year for my family," he said sadly. "No apples for winter."
"No cider." "No jars of applesauce." Melvin the Donkey
lowered his head. He knew how hard Farmer Fin had worked. All spring he had
pruned the trees. All summer he had watered them. All year he had cared for the
orchard. Then Melvin learned the truth. Marty Mouse had started the rumor.
There had never been any permission. There had never been any free apples. It
was all a lie. The animals felt ashamed. Mother Goose wiped away a tear.
"We never stopped to ask if it was true." The squirrels nodded. The
rabbits looked at the ground. Soon the animals began to doubt every word Marty
said. One afternoon Marty found a torn hole in the orchard fence. A hungry pack
of wild goats was pushing its way through. Frightened, Marty ran through the
orchard shouting, "Help! The fence is breaking! The goats are
coming!" Nobody moved. The rabbits ignored him. The ducks ignored him.
Even the squirrels kept gathering nuts. "That's probably another one of
Marty's stories," they said. Marty ran to Melvin. "It's true this
time!" he cried. Melvin looked into Marty's frightened eyes and rushed to
the fence. Sure enough, the goats were pouring into the orchard. Melvin sounded
the alarm. This time the animals listened. Together they repaired the fence and
saved the orchard. Later that evening Marty sat beneath an apple tree with his
head hanging low. "Melvin," he said softly, "why didn't anyone
believe me?" Melvin answered kindly, "Because trust grows slowly like
an orchard, but a lie can cut down a tree in a moment." Marty sighed.
"I never meant to hurt anyone." "I know," said Melvin.
"But every untrue word took a little piece of trust away." "Can
I get it back?" Melvin smiled. "Yes. Tell the truth. Keep telling the
truth. Be patient. Trust returns the same way orchards grow: one season at a
time." From that day forward Marty worked hard to be honest. Weeks passed.
Months passed. The animals noticed. Little by little, trust began to grow
again. And whenever young animals asked Melvin how trust is lost, he would
point to an apple tree and say: "Truth is the root, trust is the fruit.
When lies take root, trust cannot grow." Moral: 🌿 Trust is earned through truthfulness and lost through
dishonesty. 🌿 A lie may help for a moment, but
honesty builds friendships that last a lifetime. Marty mouse told the lie and
animals from everywhere came for free apples. They were in the trees and
filling baskets. They sat in the bench and feasted on apples, I think I'll get
enough for ten pies said the Geese mother of many goslings. The trees quickly
sat bare and it seemed no one gave a care if Farmer Fin Wouldn’t get to enjoy
his own increase. I guess, no pies this year for the farmers family, No apple
jelly, no apple sauce. Marty's lie doesn't just waste everyone's time, it hurts
someone who worked hard and depended on the harvest of apples.
©2026 Susan
Barker Nikitenko — All Rights Reserved MBRMNMPMPBKBANNABENGEORPASTR #3079b
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