Once it was raining heavily in a forest. Two days passed and it did not stop raining. A small ant popped its head out of its anthill to see weather the weather had cleared. Disappointed that it had not, the ant turned to go back into the anthill, just then it heard a bugging sound. The ant turned back and saw that it was a cricket, shivering beneath a big leaf, unable to bear the cold.

The ant asked the cricket, `what are you doing here out in this heavy downpour? Why do not you go home? The cricket answered, `Thanks for your concern. But where can I go, I do not have a home.’ The ant felt sorry for the insect, `Oh, I pity you. Did you have your breakfast?’

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`No, I am starving for the past two days,’ the cricket replied. `I do not have food stock like you do.’

The ant then invited the cricket to come with him. He took the cricket to the queen and said, `Your Majesty. This creature was starving and shivering to death. It doesn’t have a home. Can he stay with us till rain stops?’

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The queen gave the cricket an inspecting glance. She then sensed the earnestness in the ant’s eyes and said, `Okay. He can stay with us till the rain stops.’ The queen then ordered the worker ants to give him food.

A messenger ant led the cricket to the food store. On the way, the cricket saw a busy world of ants. Some workers were shifting the eggs to safer places and other workers were looking after the young ants. Some ants guarded the store. It was a wonderfully knit community.

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