There was a girl named Ximena who lived on a mountain.

She lived with her family in a small house next to a large apple tree.

One day, Ximena’s mom told her:

– Pick the apples before it gets cold and the storm arrives, Ximena! This way we will have apples to eat when the weather is bad.

It was a sunny day. Ximena went out to look at the tree and said:

– It has many apples! I’m going to pick them up tomorrow. Today I want to play.

A bird flew to her and sat on the tree. The bird said:

– Soon it will be cold Ximena, collect only five apples today so you have some!

Ximena: – I’ll pick them up tomorrow. It’s sunny. Today I want to play!

Ximena played and then went home and she slept.

The next day, Ximena went outside and saw that it was sunny.

A mouse ran towards her and crawled into the apple tree. The mouse said:

– Soon it will be cold Ximena, pick only three apples today so you have some!

Ximena: – I’ll pick them up tomorrow. It’s sunny. Today I want to play!

Suddenly a tortoise walked slowly towards her and sat down next to the apple tree as well. The tortoise said:

– The mouse is right, Ximena! Soon it will be cold. Pick just one apple today so you have at least one.

Ximena: – No! It won’t be cold soon! – she screamed – It’s sunny every day! I’ll pick them up tomorrow. Today I want to play!

Ximena played and then went home and she slept.

The next day, Ximena went outside and saw that there was a storm.

She looked at the apple tree. It was very windy. The wind took all the apples!

Ximena ran to pick the apples, but they were gone.

She watched as the apples circled down the mountain.

Ximena was sad. She had no apples. Her mom had no apples. They had no apples to eat. She went back to the house.

When she entered the house, Ximena saw the bird, the mouse, and the tortoise with a large basket of apples. They picked the apples before the storm!

Here you have Ximena! – they said. – We are going to share the apples with you, but you must promise to pick them next summer.

Ximena: – Thank you very much! – she smiled.  – I promise I won’t put off work again!

Moral: Make hay while the sun shines.

Media Attribution

• Illustrations by Megan van Ameyde