Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Once upon a time, in a cozy cottage deep in the woods, there lived three bears.

There was a great big Papa Bear, with a deep, rumbly voice. There was a middle-sized Mama Bear, with a soft, kind voice. And there was a wee little Baby Bear, with a tiny, squeaky voice.

Their cottage had a green door, flowery curtains, and a kitchen that always smelled of something warm.

One morning, Mama Bear made porridge for breakfast. She stirred it in a big black pot over the fire. Stir, stir, stir. Then she poured it into three bowls.

A great big bowl for Papa Bear. A middle-sized bowl for Mama Bear. And a wee little bowl for Baby Bear.

She put a spoonful of honey on top of each one.

But the porridge was much too hot to eat.

"Let us go for a walk in the woods," said Papa Bear in his deep, rumbly voice. "By the time we get back, our porridge will be just right."

So the three bears put on their hats and went out for a walk. They did not lock the door. Nobody ever locked their doors in those woods.

Now, on the other side of the woods, there lived a little girl. She had bright golden curls that bounced when she walked. So everyone called her Goldilocks.

Goldilocks was very curious. She liked to explore. And that morning, she wandered farther into the woods than she had ever gone before.

She followed a butterfly. She followed a babbling stream. She followed a winding little path.

And then she saw the cottage.

"What a sweet little house," said Goldilocks. "I wonder who lives here."

She knocked on the green door. Knock, knock, knock.

No one answered.

She knocked again. Knock, knock, knock.

No one answered.

Goldilocks knew she should not go into someone else's house without being invited. But she was so curious. And she had walked such a long way. She pushed the door, and it swung open.

Inside was a sunny kitchen. And there on the wooden table were three bowls of porridge, with honey on top.

Goldilocks's tummy rumbled. She had not eaten breakfast.

She tasted the porridge in the great big bowl.

"Oh! This porridge is too hot!" she said.

She tasted the porridge in the middle-sized bowl.

"Oh! This porridge is too cold!" she said.

Then she tasted the porridge in the wee little bowl.

"Mmm," said Goldilocks. "This porridge is just right."

And she ate it all up. Every last spoonful.

Next, Goldilocks saw three chairs by the fire.

She sat in the great big chair.

"Oh! This chair is too hard!" she said.

She sat in the middle-sized chair.

"Oh! This chair is too soft!" she said.

Then she sat in the wee little chair.

"Ahh," said Goldilocks. "This chair is just right."

She wiggled and wriggled to get comfy. But the wee little chair was only made for a wee little bear. Creak, creak, CRACK! One of its legs snapped, and Goldilocks landed on the floor with a bump.

"Oops," she said.

By now, Goldilocks was very tired. She climbed the stairs. There she found three beds.

She lay on the great big bed.

"Oh! This bed is too lumpy!" she said.

She lay on the middle-sized bed.

"Oh! This bed is too squishy!" she said.

Then she lay on the wee little bed.

"Ahh," said Goldilocks with a yawn. "This bed is just right."

She pulled up the patchwork quilt. And she fell fast asleep.

Soon, the three bears came home from their walk.

Papa Bear looked at his great big bowl.

"Someone has been eating my porridge," he said in his deep, rumbly voice.

Mama Bear looked at her middle-sized bowl.

"Someone has been eating my porridge," she said in her soft, kind voice.

Baby Bear looked at his wee little bowl.

"Someone has been eating my porridge," he squeaked, "and they ate it all up!"

The bears went to the fireplace.

"Someone has been sitting in my chair," rumbled Papa Bear.

"Someone has been sitting in my chair," said Mama Bear.

"Someone has been sitting in my chair," squeaked Baby Bear, "and they broke it!"

Baby Bear's lip began to wobble.

The three bears tiptoed up the stairs.

"Someone has been lying in my bed," rumbled Papa Bear.

"Someone has been lying in my bed," said Mama Bear.

"Someone has been lying in my bed," squeaked Baby Bear, "and she is still here!"

Goldilocks opened her eyes. Three bears were looking down at her. A great big one, a middle-sized one, and a wee little one.

She sat up so fast that her curls bounced. Her cheeks turned pink. She jumped out of bed and ran down the stairs, all the way to the door.

But at the door, she stopped.

She thought about the empty little bowl. She thought about the broken little chair. She thought about Baby Bear's wobbly lip.

Goldilocks took a deep breath. She turned around.

The three bears were standing at the bottom of the stairs.

"I am very sorry," said Goldilocks in a small voice. "I came into your house without asking. I ate your porridge, and I broke your chair, and I slept in your bed. That was not right. I am truly sorry."

The bears looked at each other.

Mama Bear smiled her soft, kind smile. "Thank you for telling us," she said.

"Can I help make it better?" asked Goldilocks.

Papa Bear rubbed his chin. "Well," he rumbled, "that chair needs fixing."

So Papa Bear fetched his tools. Goldilocks held the little chair leg steady while he tapped in a new peg. Tap, tap, tap. Soon the wee little chair was as good as new.

Then Mama Bear stirred a fresh pot of porridge. Goldilocks helped her pour it. A great big bowl, a middle-sized bowl, a wee little bowl. And one more bowl, just for Goldilocks.

They all sat at the table together. The porridge was not too hot. It was not too cold. It was just right.

Baby Bear smiled at Goldilocks. Goldilocks smiled back.

"Will you come and visit again?" squeaked Baby Bear.

"Yes, please," said Goldilocks. "And next time, I will knock and wait for you to open the door."

And from that day on, she did.