Once upon a time, in a quiet forest glade, there stood a small, tidy cottage where three bears lived. There was Papa Bear, tall and broad with a deep, rumbling voice; Mama Bear, gentle and wise, with soft brown fur; and Baby Bear, a playful little thing who was always full of curiosity.
Every morning, the three bears would sit down to breakfast, and this morning was no different. Papa Bear stirred his big bowl of porridge, Mama Bear carefully tasted hers, and Baby Bear poked at his smaller bowl with an eager spoon. But today, the porridge was far too hot to eat.
“Let’s go for a walk in the forest while the porridge cools down,” Mama Bear suggested with a kind smile. Papa Bear grunted his agreement, and Baby Bear, already bouncing with energy, was more than happy to explore the woods.
So off they went, leaving the cozy little cottage empty, the doors gently swinging closed behind them.
Now, not far from this very cottage lived a young girl named Goldilocks. She had bright golden hair that tumbled in loose curls down her back, and though she was quite sweet, she was known for being a little too curious for her own good. On this particular day, as she wandered through the forest picking wildflowers, she stumbled upon the bears’ cottage.
Goldilocks had never seen this house before, and something about it seemed to call to her. Without thinking twice, she pushed open the door. It creaked as it swung open, but Goldilocks didn’t hesitate. Her curiosity got the better of her.
Inside, the cottage was warm and inviting. The smell of porridge filled the air, and Goldilocks’ stomach rumbled. She hadn’t had breakfast that morning, and the bowls of porridge on the table looked delicious.
She sat down in front of the first bowl—Papa Bear’s big, hearty portion. She picked up the spoon and took a bite. But immediately, she winced and spat it out. “Too hot!” she exclaimed, fanning her mouth. She moved quickly to the next bowl—Mama Bear’s.
This porridge smelled just as lovely, but when Goldilocks tasted it, she shook her head. “Too cold,” she muttered with disappointment.
Finally, she sat in front of Baby Bear’s small bowl. Tentatively, she took a spoonful, and her eyes lit up. “Ah, just right!” she said, smiling as she devoured the whole bowl.
Feeling much more satisfied, Goldilocks wandered around the cottage. In the next room, she found three chairs set neatly in a row. She thought it wouldn’t hurt to sit for a moment, just to rest her feet.
First, she climbed into Papa Bear’s large, sturdy chair. The wooden frame groaned beneath her weight, and she felt dwarfed by its size. “Too big,” she sighed, shifting uncomfortably.
Next, she tried Mama Bear’s chair. It was softer, with a cushioned seat, but as soon as she sat down, she sank into it far too deeply. “Too soft!” she declared, struggling to get back up.
At last, she spotted Baby Bear’s little chair. It looked just the right size, and when she sat down, it was indeed comfortable. Goldilocks smiled, swinging her feet happily. But she leaned back just a little too far, and with a loud crack, the chair gave way beneath her. She fell to the floor in a heap, surrounded by broken wood.
“Oh no,” Goldilocks whispered, brushing herself off. But instead of feeling guilty, her eyes wandered upstairs. “Perhaps I should lie down for a bit…”
So up the stairs she went, where she found a cosy bedroom with three neatly made beds. She climbed into Papa Bear’s first, pulling the thick quilt over herself. But the bed was too firm, the mattress stiff beneath her. “Too hard,” she grumbled, rolling out of it.
Next, she tried Mama Bear’s bed. It was much softer, the quilt heavy and warm, but it seemed to swallow her whole. “Too soft,” she sighed, feeling more and more tired.
Finally, she crawled into Baby Bear’s bed. It was smaller, just the right size for a nap, and Goldilocks gave a contented sigh as she nestled under the covers. “Just right,” she murmured as she drifted off to sleep.
While Goldilocks slept soundly, the three bears returned from their walk. As they stepped inside, Papa Bear sniffed the air and frowned. “Someone’s been eating my porridge,” he growled, peering into his half-empty bowl.
Mama Bear looked at her bowl, too, her brow furrowing. “Someone’s been eating my porridge as well,” she said, more puzzled than angry.
Baby Bear, standing on tiptoe to look at his empty bowl, cried out, “Someone’s eaten all my porridge!” His little face crumpled in disappointment.
The bears exchanged worried looks. Something wasn’t right.
In the living room, Papa Bear’s eyes narrowed as he looked at his chair. “Someone’s been sitting in my chair!” he boomed, noticing how it had been moved.
“And someone’s been sitting in mine, too,” Mama Bear added, straightening her own seat.
Baby Bear looked sadly at his broken chair and whimpered, “Someone’s been sitting in my chair—and they’ve broken it to pieces!”
By now, the bears were on high alert. They moved upstairs, their large paws quiet on the wooden steps. When Papa Bear reached his bed, he growled, “Someone’s been lying in my bed.”
Mama Bear touched her bed, a puzzled frown on her face. “Someone’s been lying in my bed too.”
But it was Baby Bear who let out the loudest cry. “Someone’s been lying in my bed—and there she is!”
Goldilocks stirred, blinking sleepily as the bears loomed over her. For a moment, she stared at them, her eyes wide with shock. Then, with a scream, she leapt out of bed, dashed down the stairs, and ran out of the house as fast as her legs could carry her. She didn’t stop running until she was far, far away from the bears’ cottage.
The three bears stood at the top of the stairs, watching as the girl disappeared into the trees. Baby Bear looked up at his parents, still bewildered. “Who was that?” he asked, but neither Papa Bear nor Mama Bear had an answer.
In the end, the bears returned to their morning routine—though from that day on, they always locked their door whenever they went for a walk.
As for Goldilocks, she never ventured so far into the forest again. And she certainly never let her curiosity get the better of her quite like that.
