by Ashley Brooks

One fall day in the forests of the Appalachian Mountains a Squirrel was gathering some acorns to store for the long winter ahead. A Deer came running by. "Oh, please little Squirrel do you know of a place where I can hide? Hunters are in the forest looking for me," pleaded the Deer. "Just stand very still behind this huge Oak Tree. It will camouflage you from the hunters’ eye," explained the Squirrel. The Deer laughed. "Oh, little Squirrel. This tree is not big enough to protect me from the hunters. For, I am much larger than you are." The sound of the approaching hunters was getting louder and louder. "I have to go. I will run as fast as I can, and then I will jump over the cliff to the other side of the mountain. The hunters surely won’t be able to catch me there." The sound of the hunters’ boots was very close now. The deer turned and ran and tried to leap to the other side of the cliff. Right as the deer vaulted into midair, the squirrel heard the mighty sound of a gun. The squirrel finished collecting his acorns behind the mighty Oak Tree.

You should always look before you leap.