Scooter the squirrel stood on a stone in Meadowland. Morning light touched his satchel of letters. He puffed his chest. “Every message today is on time,” he said.

First he raced through soft grass to a bunny family. “Letter from Granny,” he called. The bunnies cheered. Scooter smiled and marked a page in his route book.

He hurried toward Enchanted Forest. Trees watched with quiet eyes. “Important scroll for Alderwise,” Scooter said. A root caught his foot. He tumbled. Letters slid out. He grabbed them fast and checked each mark. “All safe,” he whispered. He packed them back with care.

Clouds grew dark. Rain began to fall. The path to Paddington Town turned muddy. Scooter slowed. His fur dripped. “If I rush, I will slip. If I stop, they will worry,” he said. His heart thumped.

A strong gust pushed him toward a puddle. One parcel wobbled on the edge. Scooter leaped and caught it close. “You are counting on me,” he told the parcel. He tied his satchel tighter and walked, steady and slow.

He reached Paddington Town square at last. Ducks, mice, and badgers waited. Scooter read each name and placed each letter with care. No mix ups. No missing scrolls. Tired legs shook, yet his eyes were bright.

As rain cleared, Alderwise sent a warm note through a bird. “Every letter arrived. Thank you, Scooter.”

Scooter opened his route book. He drew a tiny acorn beside this day. “Being fast is fun,” he said, “but being trusted feels better.”

A young mouse tugged his vest. “Will you bring my drawing to my grandma tomorrow.”

Scooter grinned. “I will. You can count on me.” He felt his granddad walking with him, quiet and proud in every careful step at dusk, smiling.

Being Trustworthy & Reliable

This story helps children see that:

Responsibility means caring about how your actions affect others.

Sometimes doing the job well matters more than doing it fast.

Being trustworthy feels good, because others know they can rely on you.

Discussion Starters

• Why did Scooter slow down in the rain instead of racing?
• How did he show care after he tripped and dropped the letters?
• What does it mean when Scooter says, “Being trusted feels better”?
• What jobs at home or school help you practice responsibility?

Take-Home Idea

Create a “You Can Count on Me” chart. Let your child choose one small daily responsibility—feeding a pet, watering a plant, tidying a shelf—and mark each day they follow through. Review together, just like Scooter’s route book acorn.