The House That Hugged

Once upon a sunny meadow, at the edge of a green forest, lived a pig family. There were three pig children. The youngest pig loved family best of all. One morning, the pig family said, “You may each build a little house near our garden.” The two older pigs clapped. The youngest pig clapped too. Mama Pig packed a basket of apples, and everyone set off to build.

The two older pigs chose straw and sticks. Quick, quick, quick! Soon, two little houses stood beside the garden. “Come play!” called the two older pigs. The youngest pig shook a happy head. “I want a house that hugs our whole family.” So the youngest pig chose bricks. Brick by brick, slow and steady, the youngest pig built a little house. A small black foal named Black Horse trotted by. Black Horse had a purple mane and a golden star on the forehead. “May I carry two bricks?” asked Black Horse. “Thank you,” said the youngest pig. “We will set them just so.”