Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time there was a little girl with hair as bright as buttercups, and her name was Goldilocks. She lived in a cottage at the edge of the wood, and she was very, very curious.

One morning she shut the garden gate behind her and went for a walk, just to see what she could see.

Deep in the wood, she found paw prints on the path. Big ones, middle-sized ones, and little ones, one after another.

Goldilocks followed them, past the tall trees and the round trees, down to a cave on the hillside, with a little wooden door and a curl of smoke above it.

It was the home of three bears: a great big Daddy Bear, a middle-sized Mummy Bear, and a little wee Baby Bear. They had made porridge for breakfast, and gone for a walk while it cooled.

Goldilocks knocked. Nobody answered. So she opened the door and went in, which you should never, ever do.

On the table were three bowls of porridge. The great big bowl was too hot. The middle-sized bowl was too cold. But the little wee bowl was just right, and Goldilocks ate it all up.

By the fire were three chairs. The great big chair was too hard. The middle-sized chair was too soft. But the little wee chair was just right, until crack! it broke into pieces.

At the back of the cave were three beds. The great big bed was too lumpy. The middle-sized bed was too squashy. But the little wee bed was just right, and Goldilocks curled up and fell fast asleep.

Then the three bears came home.

“Someone's been eating my porridge,” growled Daddy Bear. “Someone's been sitting in my chair,” said Mummy Bear. “Someone's been eating MY porridge,” squeaked Baby Bear, “and they've eaten it ALL UP!”

They tiptoed to the beds. “Someone's been sleeping in my bed,” said Baby Bear, “and here she is!”

Goldilocks woke up and saw three bears looking at her. She jumped out of the little wee bed, and out of the door, and ran through the wood without stopping once.

Baby Bear watched her go. “She looked sorry,” he said. “She did,” said Mummy Bear, “and I expect she'll be back.”

The next morning there was a knock at the cave door. On the step stood Goldilocks, holding a new little chair she had mended with her father's tools, and a pot of honey, and a note that said Sorry.

Baby Bear made a fresh pot of porridge, and this time there were four bowls: one great big, one middle-sized, one little wee, and one just right for a visitor. The End.