The squirrels used the acorns from the oak tree for food and they built their homes in the tree. Some squirrels living on the tree were grey while the others were red. Penny Pincher along with his friends Emily Babbit, York and Max, Patricia’s adorable Scottish Terrier, loved to watch the antics of the squirrels. When Patricia was not around, they used to talk and play with the squirrels.
One fine day when Penny Pincher was out in the garden with Max, he heard the grey and red squirrels quarreling over the mighty oak. Each squirrel family wanted the oak tree for its self because they did not want to share the acorns.
“Why are you fighting?” asked Penny Pincher.
“We are fighting because we want to figure out who the oak tree belongs to,” replied the grey squirrels. “The oak tree is ours and we want the red squirrels out.”
“No, the oak tree is ours, and we want the grey squirrels out,” replied the red squirrels adamantly.
“Hold on. Hold on. Why can’t both the red squirrels and grey squirrels live together?” asked Penny Pincher looking very puzzled. “You have been living like this for years so I don’t see the reason to start a fight now.”
“No, we need a decision and we have to conclude this fight once and for all,” said the both the red and grey squirrels unwaveringly. “Penny Pincher, you are a smart and intelligent teddy bear. Why don’t you decide who should get the mighty oak?”
This put Penny Pincher in a quandary. Both the red squirrels and grey squirrels were his friends and he did not want to choose between them. “Hmmm. Now let me think,” said Penny Pincher very wisely. “Please leave me alone for awhile. I will give you my decision shortly,” saying this Penny Pincher signaled to Max to take him back home.
In the house he told the squirrels’ problems to his friends. They all sat down with their thinking hats trying to come up with a solution. However, there seemed to be none. All four looked very gloomy and dejected.
Suddenly Penny Pincher sprang up and screamed, “Max, take me immediately to the squirrels. I have a brilliant idea.”
“What? What?” asked his friends but Penny Pincher just smiled mischievously.
As Penny Pincher, Max, Emily Babbit and York approached the mighty oak, he called out to the squirrels, who came immediately. “Tell us Penny Pincher. Have you decided who the mighty oak belongs to?” asked the squirrels.
Puffing up his chest, Penny Pincher put on what he thought was a very wise look and said, “Yes, but first let us all go to the fountain. The grey and red squirrels will have a water balloon fight and whoever wins gets the mighty oak.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun. Yes, we all agree,” said the squirrels giggling like little children.
With this the grey squirrels, red squirrels, Penny Pincher, Emily Babbit, Max and York walked to the fountain. Emily started smiling. She was finally beginning to comprehend Penny Pincher’s plan. York and Max kept asking her what Penny Pincher was up to. “Just wait and watch,” she replied.
And so the water balloon fight between the squirrels began. Most of the time, the squirrels missed each other. But when they were hit, they would fall onto the ground. Soon all the squirrels were covered with mud and grass. No one could tell which squirrels were grey and which were red. Suddenly the water balloon fight stopped.
A red squirrel said laughing, “We all look the same. Now I just can’t differentiate between a red squirrel and a grey squirrel. So, who should I hit with my water balloon?”
All squirrels looked at Penny Pincher who was standing along with his friends looking very wise. He smiled and said, “Yes, now no one can tell a red squirrel from a grey squirrel.”
Suddenly all the squirrels understood what Penny Pincher was trying to tell them. It did not matter what color a squirrel was because ultimately they were all the same. The two groups of squirrels hugged each other and slowly made their way back to the mighty oak.
For Penny Pincher it was just another day full of adventure but this time he felt contented because he had saved the day. His friends thought he was the cleverest little teddy bear in the whole wide world and they were not far from the truth!
Besides sharing adventures with Patricia and his three best friends, Penny Pincher is the beloved teddy bear of Patricia Twitchell aka The Teddy Bear Lady of Myrtle Creek, Oregon. To experience one of the largest and best selections of teddy bears, angels, fairies, jade, crystal, pewter and more that you can find anywhere, visit Just Bears and Stuff eBay Store at
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