Sammy carefully placed another acorn in his growing pile. “I’m building my stock,” he explained proudly.

“Stock? What’s that?” Bella’s nose twitched with curiosity.

“Stock is what you save for later,” Sammy explained. “Just like the lake collects rainwater, or how the trees store sunshine as energy. My stock of nuts will help me when winter comes and food is hard to find.”

Bella looked thoughtful. “I never save anything. I just eat berries whenever I’m hungry.”

“That works in summer,” Sammy said kindly, “but what about winter when berries don’t grow?”

Bella’s ears drooped. “I never thought about that.”

As the days grew shorter and the air turned crisp, the animals of Oakwood Forest prepared for winter in different ways. Old Owl watched from his hollow as some animals, like Sammy, carefully built their stock. Others, like Bella, continued playing without a care.

When the first snow fell, covering the forest in a white blanket, Sammy was cozy in his tree hollow, surrounded by his carefully organized nut collection.

One morning, a light tapping sound woke him up.

“Sammy? Are you there?” It was Bella, shivering in the cold. “I’m so hungry. There are no berries anywhere!”

Sammy opened his door. “Come in, Bella. I have plenty of nuts to share.”

As they sat together sharing breakfast, Sammy explained more about stock.

“There are different kinds of stock,” he said. “I have physical stock – these nuts we can touch and eat. But Old Owl has knowledge stock – all the wisdom in his brain. And the bees have a stock of honey in their hive.”

“The whole forest is full of stock!” Bella realized, her eyes widening.

Bella stayed with Sammy for a few days, but she noticed something important. “Your nut pile is getting smaller, Sammy. Will we have enough for all winter?”

Sammy nodded. “That’s why managing stock is important. I know exactly how many nuts I need each day, and I saved extra in case someone like you needed help. I also hid backup stashes in different places, in case one gets found by hungry foxes.”

“You’re so smart,” Bella said admiringly. “Can you teach me about managing stock?”

“Of course!” Sammy replied. “First, you need balance – enough stock without having too much. Second, you need to monitor your stock so you know what you have. Third, you should rotate your stock, using older nuts before newer ones so nothing goes bad.”

That winter, Bella learned all about stock management from Sammy. When spring finally arrived and fresh food became plentiful again, Bella made a decision.

“This summer, I’m going to build my own stock,” she announced proudly. “Not just food stock, but I’ll learn new skills too – that’s knowledge stock!”

Throughout the year, the friends worked together. Sammy showed Bella all his favorite nut-gathering spots, and Bella taught Sammy the best places to find juicy berries. By the time the next winter approached, Bella had her very own stock – a cozy burrow lined with dried grass and a impressive collection of nuts, berries, and seeds.

When the other forest animals came seeking help during the harsh winter, both Sammy and Bella were able to share from their well-managed stock. Even Old Owl was impressed.

“You see,” Sammy told the younger animals who gathered to learn their secrets, “stock isn’t just about having a lot of something. It’s about planning wisely, knowing what you need, and making sure you’ll have it when the time comes.”

Bella nodded in agreement. “And sometimes, the most important stock isn’t what you can hold in your paws – it’s the knowledge in your head and the friends by your side.”

From that winter on, Sammy and Bella became known as the Stock Masters of Oakwood Forest, teaching all the animals how a little planning today means safety and comfort tomorrow.