The Ant and the Grasshopper

On a bright summer day, an ant named Anya marched across the meadow carrying a grain of corn.

Nearby, a grasshopper named Gio sat on a leaf playing music and singing.

“Anya!” Gio called. “Why do you work when the sun is shining? Come sing with me!”

Anya paused, balancing the grain. “I’m storing food for winter,” she said. “When the cold comes, the ground will be hard and the leaves will be gone.”

Gio laughed. “Winter is far away! You worry too much.”

Anya didn’t argue. She simply continued.

Day after day, Anya worked. She carried seeds, dried berries, and crumbs back to the ant hill. She wasn’t always happy about it—sometimes her legs ached and her back hurt—but she kept going.

Gio, meanwhile, danced and played music. He slept late. He ate whatever he found. He told jokes to passing butterflies.

“Work later!” he said. “Enjoy now!”

As summer faded, the wind changed.

Leaves turned orange.

Then one morning, frost covered the meadow like sugar.

Gio woke up shivering. He searched for food, but the flowers were closed and the insects had disappeared.

He hopped from place to place, his stomach rumbling.

At last, he saw the ant hill. Warm air drifted from it.

Gio knocked timidly. “Anya?” he called.

Anya appeared, holding a small lantern. “Gio?”

“I’m hungry,” Gio said softly. “Do you have any food?”

Anya looked at him kindly. “We have enough for our colony,” she said. “But winter is long. If we share everything, we may all suffer.”

Gio’s eyes filled with tears. “I didn’t think ahead,” he whispered.

Anya sighed. She remembered how Gio laughed at her. But she also remembered that learning can be hard without help.

“I will give you a little,” Anya said. “But you must promise something.”

“Anything!” Gio said.

“Promise that when spring returns, you will work with us to store food,” Anya replied. “And promise you will teach the young ants your songs—because joy is important too.”

Gio nodded quickly. “I promise.”

Anya handed him a small pouch of seeds.

Gio ate slowly, grateful for each bite.

All winter, Gio survived by being careful and remembering his promise.

When spring arrived, the meadow blossomed again. And this time, Gio didn’t spend every day singing.

He worked with the ants in the morning—carrying seeds and helping organize stores. In the afternoon, he played music for everyone, filling the meadow with laughter.

Gio learned that fun is wonderful, but responsibility keeps you safe.

And so the meadow remembered:

Enjoy the sunshine—but prepare for the storm.