In a cheerful forest, there lived a group of animal friends: Baloo the Bear, Nellie the Elephant, Sheldon the Turtle, and Coco the Monkey. They loved playing together, exploring the woods, and having fun under the big oak tree.

One sunny day, Baloo had an idea. “Let’s have a picnic!” she exclaimed. Everyone agreed it was a great idea. They decided to each bring their favorite food to share with the group.

Let's have a picnic!

Each friend hurried home to prepare. Baloo made honey sandwiches, Coco packed his bananas, Sheldon gathered lettuce, and Nellie picked juicy strawberries. They were all excited to share their favorite treats.

Each friend thought of how much they loved their favorite treats as they prepared their food. 

Baloo loved her honey sandwiches because they were sweet, Coco loved his bananas because they were soft, and Sheldon loved his lettuce because it was fresh and crispy. Nellie loved her juicy strawberries because they were full of flavor.

“I love bananas so much, maybe I should keep them all for myself.”

But as the friends walked to the picnic spot, something began to happen. They were each feeling unsure about sharing their favorite foods.

“What if there aren’t enough honey sandwiches for me?”

When they arrived at the oak tree, everyone sat down, but instead of sharing, they each kept their food close. 

Baloo munched on her sandwiches.

Coco nibbled his bananas.

Sheldon chewed his lettuce.

Nellie gobbled her strawberries.

As they ate, the friends noticed that something was missing. The picnic didn’t feel as fun or special as they had imagined. They weren’t laughing or talking like they usually did. It was quiet, and they felt a little lonely.