It was a beautiful spring day in the forest. The wind was making music in the trees, and wild flowers danced to the sun. The sun warmed the land as night turned into day.
"Short cut. Some short cut", shouted a voice.
"We've walked all night and all I see is more trees," said another voice.
"Complaints, complaints. Is that all you two can say? What about this beautiful morning, and those pretty flowers? Just look around you there is so much loveliness to see. Come on, we can be home in time for breakfast," said a third voice.
Down the winding path went three fat little pigs. The first pig wore a blue vest; his name was Elmer. The second pig wore a bright red shirt; his name was Willie. The third pig was dressed in blue coveralls and a blue hat; his name was Ziggy.
Ziggy tried to hurry the others along. "Come on walk faster. You must be the slowest two pigs in the whole world."
"Can't we rest here a few minutes please, Ziggy?"
"Yes! Just look at that pretty stream and the green grass. We really should stop and enjoy them. I guess we would spend a few minutes here," answered Ziggy.
"Do you think we can find some breakfast? I sure am hungry," said Elmer.
"You eat more than four pigs at every meal. How can you be hungry?" said Ziggy.
In a nearby cave, slept three bears. They were just waking up from their winter's nap. They were not fully awake, but they could hear the pigs' voices. Papa bear, still not awake, begins to talk in his sleep. "Pig. Breakfast. Fat." He opens his eyes with a start. "Pigs for breakfast. I want pig for breakfast."
"Now, now, settle down. You know there's no pigs around here for miles. When you wake up, you're always grumpy," said Mama Bear.
"All I know is I'm hungry and I want pig," bellowed Papa Bear.
"Will you lower your voice? You'll wake the baby," said Mama Bear.
"I don't care," he bellowed. "I'm hungry!"
"Did you hear something?" asked Willie.
"I think so," said Elmer looking around.
Papa Bear stumbles out of his cave with his eyes still full of sleep. The bright sun blinded him even more. "I want food," he bellowed again.
"Food?" said Elmer with a quiver in his voice.
"Do you think it eats pigs?" said Willie.
"Let's not take any chances," said Ziggy. "I know a cave near by where we can hide. Follow me."
Papa Bear stumbles back into his cave and sits down at the table.
"You just sit there and be still. I know you're as hungry as a bear," said Mama Bear with a smile. "I'll try to find you something to eat."
The three pigs ran up the hill as fast as their short stubby legs could carry them. "This way. Hurry," said Ziggy. "I can see the cave now."
They ran past a large rock and a crooked tree. Ziggy lead them right into the cave. They were running so fast that they could not stop. They tripped over a rug and fell onto a table. The very table that Papa Bear was sitting at!
Papa Bear could not believe his eyes. He rubbed his eyes and looked again. There on the table were three fat pigs. The three pigs were so scared they could not move. "Just what I wanted," said Papa Bear.
Mama Bear turned and stared at the table. "My, my where did you find such fine looking pigs?" she asked.
Ziggy had to think fast. He sat up on the table and looked at Mama Bear. "Well, in dreams anything can happen."
"I suppose so," she said.
"Dream, smeam, I am hungry and I'm going to eat all three of you pigs," said Papa Bear reaching for Ziggy.
Ziggy jumped off the table and took Papa Bear by the hand. He led him to his bed. "Now, now, it's not good to eat when you are sleeping. You won't be hungry when you wake up."
"I suppose you're right," agreed Papa Bear. He got back into bed and Ziggy tucked him in.
Elmer slowly got off the table and took Mama Bear by the hand. "You sure look nice today," he said.
"Oh, you flatter me," she said.
Elmer slowly led her to her bed. Mama Bear sat down, then with a quick turn, she looked at Ziggy.
"I feel wide awake and hungry," she said.
"Hungry," muttered Papa Bear.
Ziggy walked to Mama Bear. "You only think you are awake. Dreams seem so real. Here, take my hand, don't I feel real?"
"Well, yes you do."
"That proves you're asleep. Would I let a hungry bear take my hand?" said Ziggy.
"Well…." Mama Bear started to speak.
Elmer turned her around and got her to lie down.
Ziggy tucked her in and started to move toward the door. He looked at Willie who was still lying on the table. "Are you staying for dinner?" he asked.
"Who me? Not by the hair on your chinnie-chin-chin," he said getting off the table.
The three pigs crept very slowly toward the door. When they got outside, Elmer said, "Run for your lives!" And they ran all the way to Ziggy's house. His house was made out of bricks so they would feel safe there. When Ziggy opened the door, Willie and Elmer both made a dive under Ziggy's bed. All that showed was their curly tails. Ziggy felt the top of his head; his hat was gone. "I wonder where my hat is?" he said to himself.
Papa Bear woke up for the second time. "I am hungry."
"Lower you voice, you'll wake the baby," said Mama Bear.
"I dreamed I had three fat pigs right here," he said pointing at the table."
"That's funny, I had the same dream," said Mama Bear getting out of bed.
Papa Bear got out of bed. "Come on, Junior, get up; spring is here," said Papa Bear tugging on Baby Bear.
Papa Bear sat down at the table. Baby Bear slowly got out of bed. He was so sleepy that he tripped and fell.
"Oh my, are you all right?" asked Mama Bear.
"Yes, I'm okay." As he was standing up he saw a hat and put it on. "I must have grown. My hat doesn't fit me any more," said Baby Bear as it sat down in his chair.
"You don't have a hat. Let me see that," said Papa Bear. Papa Bear looked at the hat. When he turned it over and looked at the lining he saw a name. "Z Pig," he yelled. "It wasn't a dream. It wasn't a dream." He let out a loud growl that rattled the dishes off the shelf.
"Did you hear something?", asked Elmer.
"No," said Ziggy, "and you didn't either." He went very slowly to the door to make double sure that it was locked, locked, locked.
Elmer and Willie were now shaking under the bed.
"I wonder if bears can climb down my chimney. Guess I better start a fire just in case," he said to himself.