Once upon a time, on a sunny little farm, a cheerful red hen named Ruby found a bag of wheat seeds. She fluffed her feathers excitedly and said, "I’ll plant these seeds and make fresh bread! But first, I’ll need some help."

Ruby waddled up to her friends: Daisy the duck, Max the cat, and Ollie the sleepy dog. "Who will help me plant these seeds?" she asked, holding them up with her beak.

Daisy splashed in the pond. "Not me, I’m busy swimming!"

Max stretched lazily on a haystack. "Not me, I’m too tired from all my… napping."

Ollie yawned so wide you could see every tooth. "Not me, I’m saving my energy for more sleeping."

Ruby shook her head, but she wasn’t discouraged. "Fine, I’ll do it myself," she said, and off she went to plant the seeds.

Weeks passed, and the seeds grew into tall, golden wheat. Ruby clapped her wings with joy. "Time to harvest!" she chirped. Once again, she asked her friends, "Who will help me cut the wheat?"

Daisy floated by on her back. "Not me, I’m busy floating."

Max batted a ball of yarn across the barn. "Not me, I’m perfecting my pounce."

Ollie rolled over on his side. "Not me, I’m mid-nap."

Ruby sighed, but she wasn’t about to give up. "Fine, I’ll do it myself," she said, and she harvested the wheat all by herself.

Next came grinding the wheat into flour. Ruby looked at the dusty old mill and then at her friends. "Who will help me grind the wheat into flour?"

Daisy quacked from the pond. "Not me, I just painted my feathers."

Max licked his paw. "Not me, I’ve got grooming to do."

Ollie rolled onto his back. "Not me, I’m at a really good part of my dream."

Ruby shook her head again. "Fine, I’ll do it myself," she said, and soon enough, she had a bag of the finest flour.

Finally, it was time to bake the bread. Ruby dusted off her apron and called out, "Who will help me bake the bread?"

Daisy waddled past with a bubble wand. "Not me, I’m making bubbles."

Max stared out the window. "Not me, I’m busy watching birds."

Ollie gave a little snore.

Ruby chuckled this time. "Fine, I’ll do it myself," she said. She mixed, kneaded, and baked until the entire farm smelled like warm, delicious bread.

When the bread was finally ready, Ruby placed it on the table outside. It was golden brown and perfect. The smell drifted through the air, catching Daisy’s nose, Max’s whiskers, and Ollie’s floppy ears.

They all rushed over. "That smells amazing! Can we have some?" they asked, licking their beaks, noses, and chops.

Ruby tapped her beak thoughtfully. "Well, let’s see. Did any of you help me plant the seeds?"

"No," they admitted.

"Did any of you help me harvest the wheat or grind the flour?"

"No," they said, squirming a little.

"Did any of you help me bake the bread?"

"No," they whispered.

Ruby smiled kindly. "Then I guess I’ll eat this bread myself." And with that, she sliced off a big, warm piece and enjoyed every crumb.

Her friends shuffled their feet. "We’re sorry, Ruby. Next time, we’ll help," they promised.

Ruby chuckled. "Good! Because now I have an idea for cookies!"

And from that day on, Daisy, Max, and Ollie always lent a paw or a wing whenever Ruby asked. Because Ruby had taught them something important: when you pitch in, you get to enjoy the best rewards!