The Ant and the Shoe
A fairy tale by Sean Kenney

Once upon a time there was an ant and a shoe.
The ant was walking by one day and passed the shoe.

[ Ant ] Hi shoe!

[ Shoe ] Hi ant! Where are you going?

[ Ant ] Just for a walk. Would you like to come with me?

[ Shoe ] I can’t walk… I always just sit here. But I like it here.

[ Ant ] Oh, but there are so many great things to see everywhere! I’d like to show you.

[ Shoe ] It’s not so bad to just sit here. I kind of like it.

[ Ant ] Oh, trust me, Shoe! The world is full of great things. I’d like to be your friend. I am strong and I can carry you.

[ Shoe ] Do I have to do anything?

[ Ant ] No, just sit back and relax… I’ll show you all kinds of wonderful new places!

So the ant carried the shoe everywhere he went. He showed the shoe all the wonderful things in his world.

The shoe loved it. Everything was so different than what he was used to!

And even though the ant had to carry the shoe, he enjoyed their friendship and the cool shade that the shoe provided.

The ant and the shoe became good friends.

[ Shoe ] You’re right, Ant. This is wonderful! Thank you for showing me all these great new things!

[ Ant ] That’s what friends are for. I can take you nice places, and you protect me from the sun. But you’re starting to get a little heavy, Shoe.

One day, the ant started walking somewhere new. The ant knew it was a nice place, but the shoe thought it was strange, and a little scary.

[ Shoe ] Hey Ant, don’t go this way. I want to go back.

[ Ant ] I’ve always wanted to take you here. You’ll really like it.

[ Shoe ] No. Take me back. I didn’t think you were going to take me to strange places like this. I thought you were going to give me a ride everywhere nice. Now turn around. Carry me back! Now!

[ Ant ] Shoe, I am just trying to be your friend, but you’re not being very nice to me. Maybe I should put you down for a while.

[ Shoe ] No! I like being carried around everywhere. I’ll squish you if you try to put me down!

[ Ant ] What? Shoe! How could you say such a terrible thing? I thought we were friends!

[ Shoe ] I like you Ant. You carry me everywhere and I don’t have to do any work. But I’m bigger than you, so you better do what I say! Now take me where I want to go! And if you don’t, I’ll squish you!

The ant was very sad and a little scared. He still wanted to be friends, but he didn’t know what else to do.

So he carried the shoe wherever the shoe wanted to go. The shoe still acted nice to him, but ordered him around a lot and didn’t care what the ant thought.

The ant didn’t understand what went wrong.

So he just kept walking.

~ ~ ~

This story has no ending. There is no moral to this story. Some stories, like life, keep going, even when you don’t have all the answers. Sometimes, you just have to hope it will work out in the end.

~ ~ ~

But you can finish this story!
What do you think will happen to the ant and the shoe?
Can the ant and the shoe be friends?
Why does the ant like the shoe?
What made the shoe become selfish?
Have you ever felt this way? What did you do?