Before we start this funny story, let’s learn a little about owls. Unlike people, owls usually sleep during the day and wake up at night. They leave their nests when it’s dark and hoot as they hunt for bugs, frogs, and mice.

Now we know how owls live, let’s begin!

Also See the Story: The Fox and the Grapes

Once upon a time, there lived an old owl who was grumpy. He hated it when anything bothered him while he was sleeping in the morning. One sunny afternoon, while he was sleeping soundly in his hollow tree home, he was suddenly woken up by a sound. It was the happy chirping of a grasshopper. Even though the music was pretty, it annoyed the old owl.

He looked out of the hole in the tree and saw the grasshopper, whose tiny body was shaking as it sang loudly.

“Stop that!” the owl shouted, his voice rough. “Be polite and let an old owl rest!”

The grasshopper stopped singing for a moment, then said, “I can sing wherever I want, and no one can stop me!”

Then the grasshopper started chirping again, even louder than before.

The owl knew it was useless to argue with the bug. It was daytime, and his eyes, which were very good at night, didn’t see well in the sunlight. He thought of a clever trick.

“My dear cricket,” he said softly, “I think I’m fully awake now, and I really enjoyed your music. I will sit here and listen to you. I remember having some sweet juice stored in this nest. I think that after you taste this juice, your chirping will be better than any other grasshopper’s. Why don’t you come in and try it?”

The grasshopper was very happy and could hardly believe the owl. The idea of being the best-singing grasshopper was too good to miss. With a few big jumps, he reached the owl’s nest.

Inside the hollow tree, it was dark. But the owl could see the grasshopper perfectly now. With a quick, quiet move, he grabbed the surprised bug in his beak.

“I hope he learns not to believe every nice thing someone says,” the owl mumbled to himself before going back to sleep peacefully.