Just One Ant - Short Story For Kids

A young ant, who like many of its kind, lived in a large colony within the trunk of an old fallen tree.

The young ant did, as many ants do, his work as was customary. He carried large leaves for food all day, repaired the interior of the colony, dug new holes in the trunk along many other, huddled with others for warmth, kept watch with so many others, rested, ate and had very little time for anything else.

One day he thought “I am bored of this life. I want to go out and explore, meet new ants, see the world! Besides, I want to be on my own. I don’t need anyone’s help. I don’t want to work anymore, why should I do so much for so many?”

He told some of his brothers and sisters about how he felt and also told a much older ant who was wisest among many about his desire to leave the colony and strike it on his own. The older ant after having carefully and patiently listened, looked at him and uttered the following; “Sometimes we need each other.”

The young ant didn't pay much attention to the wise ant’s words and one early morning crawled down the trunk and quietly left to seek his destiny. Along the way he came upon other ant colonies, but none accepted him into their midst, since they were close nit.

Other insects rejected him too, since he was not of their kind. Soon he found himself hungry and alone and was quite cold too.

He tried digging a shelter in an old tree but it was too hard for just one ant, he tried lifting some leaves to eat but they were too big for just one ant. He felt the chill of the night but couldn't get warmth since he was just one ant.

As he continued on his journey, he encountered many other insects as well as strange and very large creatures he had never seen before. Before long he found himself running for his life as more than one of these creatures fancied the taste of ants. He could not even defend himself since he was just one ant.

Still hungry, tired, cold and afraid for his life, he made the decision to return to his colony. “At least it’s better than nothing” he thought.

Upon reaching his colony once again, he marveled as to how nice and comfortable it looked, how well stocked with food it was, how many happy ants there were and no other creature in sight with a taste for ants.

“Yes” he said to himself “I will have to work for many, dig alongside others, collect food alongside others, keep watch alongside others but will share alongside others as well. I will get to eat; I will not be cold, I will not be afraid, for I will no longer be just one ant.