In a tall oak tree in the middle of the forest, there lived a very wise owl named Ottoline.
Ottoline knew everything.
Which mushrooms were safe. Which paths went where. Which clouds meant rain.
She had an answer for every question.
But only when she was wearing her glasses.
Her glasses were made of two curved leaves, fitted just so, perched on the end of her beak.
And this morning, they were gone. 🦉
🌲 Everything Is a Blur
Ottoline blinked.
The forest was a blur of greens and browns.
“Hello?” she called.
A blur flew past.
“Is that a bird or a leaf?” said Ottoline.
“It’s a leaf,” said the leaf.
“Thank you,” said Ottoline.
She climbed down from her tree — carefully, very carefully — and stood on the forest floor.
Everything was fuzzy.
A blurry brown thing stood nearby.
“Are you a tree stump or a badger?” she asked.
“I’m a badger,” said the badger.
“Excellent. Have you seen my glasses?”
“What do they look like?”
“Like glasses,” said Ottoline. “But leafier.”
🍂 Everyone Helps
The badger went left.
A rabbit went right.
A very small mouse went straight ahead.
Sniff sniff sniff. The mouse had an excellent nose.
Rustle rustle rustle. The rabbit had excellent ears.
Dig dig dig. The badger was just enthusiastic.
And then:
“FOUND THEM!”
The mouse had found them in a hollow at the base of Ottoline’s own tree.
They must have slipped off while she slept.
Ottoline put them on.
Everything went sharp and clear and beautiful.
“Oh, that’s better.”
She looked at the badger.
At the rabbit.
At the very small mouse.
“You know,” she said, “I tell everyone I have all the answers.”
She paused.
“But I needed all of you to find my glasses.”
💛 Mila Holds Them Safe
Mila was the one who found Ottoline sitting on the forest floor, blinking at nothing.
Mila carefully picked up the glasses — which had slipped even further during all the searching — and handed them to Ottoline.
“Thank you, dear,” said Ottoline, settling them back on her beak.
She blinked at Mila with her big round eyes.
“I think,” she said seriously, “that you might be the wisest one here today.”
Mila smiled all the way home. 🦉