Life in the palace of Ant King and Queen was very busy. All the ants scurried about doing their duties, some carrying heavy loads and some working late.
But Princess Annie didn’t consider it necessary to work at all. She lay on a velvety leaf under a tree and expected all the ants to serve her all the time. They brought her drops of water or dew in a leaf cup, crystals of sugar, little wings of butterflies and many other delicacies that she enjoyed eating.
She really was the laziest little ant in the world, lying around doing simply nothing and being a nuisance to all the other ants!
“Do something about that silly daughter of yours!” the Queen’s mother said angrily to the Queen. But the Queen was unable to do anything.
The Queen’s mother took matter into her own hands.
“Annie, we are going on a trip now,” she told her one day. Annie was very happy as she thought of a picnic lunch. Granny’s attendants would fetch and carry things and what a wonderful time they would have! But next morning when they set off, Annie found that Granny was alone. There were no attendants. Granny didn’t even have a basket! “Carry this, Annie!” said Granny, holding out her umbrella. Annie was aghast!
Granny took off down the path towards the fields below, Annie running beside her.
‘Granny must have planned a surprise lunch for me at the picnic spot,’ thought Annie, feeling suddenly much happier. “Stop!” said Granny, bringing her back to the reality, “Open the umbrella, child. It’s hot.”
And there was Annie trudging along holding the open umbrella over Granny. The trip was proving very long.
“Ah! This seems to be a good spot!” said Granny as they reached the edge of a green field. “Annie, get me some water, please,” said Granny. Annie spent a long time ferrying the drops of water on a leaf from the field to Granny. She was tired.
“Annie dear, there are juicy berries near the path. Why don’t you fetch some?” said Granny. Annie hadn’t a clue how to fetch the berries! But in a while, she came dragging a bright red berry by its stem.
“Look! There are some sugar crystals there!” exclaimed Granny, “Bring them along too.”
Off went Annie again, carrying the sugar crystals one by one to where Granny sat. She shared it all with Annie. But Annie had never worked so hard in her life!
It was a long walk home carrying Granny’s umbrella. That night, Annie dreamt of trips with Granny and woke up in fright. The next day, everyone was delighted when they saw Annie joining her friends to fetch food for the palace!
