Once upon a time, a little red hen lived on a farm with a dog, a cat, and a duck. The little red hen was always busy, but the dog, the cat, and the duck were very, very lazy.

One day, the little red hen found some grains of wheat scattered on the ground.

"Who will help me plant this wheat?" she asked.

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I'll do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

The wheat grew tall and golden in the sunshine. When it was ready, the little red hen asked, "Who will help me cut the wheat?"

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I'll do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

She cut the wheat, bundled it up, and carried it to the mill. "Who will help me grind this wheat into flour?"

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I'll do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

She carried the flour home and got out her mixing bowl. "Who will help me bake the bread?"

"Not I," said the dog.

"Not I," said the cat.

"Not I," said the duck.

"Then I'll do it myself," said the little red hen. And she did.

She mixed the dough, kneaded it, shaped it into a beautiful loaf, and baked it in the oven. The smell of fresh bread filled the whole farm.

The dog lifted his nose. The cat opened one eye. The duck waddled over.

The little red hen took the bread out of the oven. It was golden brown and perfect. She set it on the table.

"Now," she said. "Who will help me eat the bread?"

"I will!" said the dog.

"I will!" said the cat.

"I will!" said the duck.

"Oh no you won't," said the little red hen. "I planted the wheat. I cut it. I ground it. I baked the bread. And I'm going to eat it myself."

And she did. Every last crumb.

The next time the little red hen asked for help, the dog, the cat, and the duck didn't say "Not I." They said, "We will." And they did.