Benny the Beaver and the Cookie Jar

Chapter 1: How to handle temptation.

In a bright little village called Maple Hollow, there lived a young beaver named Benny. Benny was hardworking and cheerful, and he loved building things with sticks and mud. But Benny also had a big sweet tooth, and that sometimes got him into trouble.

One Saturday morning, Mama Beaver put on her shawl. "Benny, I'm going to the market. I baked a batch of honey cookies for Grandpa's birthday party this afternoon. They're cooling on the kitchen table. Please don't touch them. We need every single one."

"I promise, Mama!" said Benny.

Mama left, and the house grew quiet. Benny sat down to build a tiny dam out of twigs. But something sweet and golden floated through the air.

Sniff, sniff.

The cookies.

Benny tried to ignore the smell. He stacked another twig. But the smell grew stronger, as if the cookies were calling his name.

"Just look at them," he whispered. "Looking isn't wrong."

He tiptoed into the kitchen. There they sat, round and shiny, with sugar sparkling on top. Benny's tummy rumbled.

Just one, said a little voice inside his head. Mama won't even notice. There are so many!