The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  (An  Adaptation  of  The  Little  Red  Hen)  

By:  Addie  S.                              

The   air   smelled   sweet   like   sweaty   socks,   the   sky   smelled   purple,   (perhaps  because   it  was)   and  The  Big   Yellow  Peanut   smelled   like   cornflakes.  No   one   knew  why,   there  was   really   no   good   reason   –   he   had   never   even   tasted   cornflakes.   But  nevertheless,  he  smelled  of  them.    

 Even   though   the  Big   Yellow  Peanut  was   the   smallest   of   them   all,   everyone  

still   called  him  “big”.  All  of   the  peanuts   in  Nutvalley  were  big   for  peanuts.  When  a  peanut   was   eaten,   it   grew   to   about   the   size   of   a   large   shampoo   bottle   and  transported  to  Nutvalley.      

Nutvalley   was   a   very   big   place,   (a   lot   of   people   ate   peanuts),   and   the   air  smelled   like   sweaty   socks……yummm.   All   peanuts   love   the   magnificent   smell   of  sweaty   socks.  Nutvalley  even   sold   sweaty   sock  air   fresheners!  And   sometimes   the  naughty   peanuts   stole   socks!   (For   good   purposes   of   course)   Ever   lost   a   sock   and  never  found  it?  It  is  most  likely  currently  being  used  as  a  scarf,  a  purse,  or  in  the  Big  Yellow  Peanut’s  case,  a  sleeping  bag.  Being  the  smallest  of  them  all,  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  –  you  would  think  –  had  a  small  amount  of   friends.  But  actually,  out  of   the  9,624   peanuts   in   the   Nutvalley,   9,617   were   his   friends.   And   every   second   the  population  grew!      

One   day,   The   Big   Yellow   Peanut   and   his   best   friend,   Teal   Peanut,   were  walking  home  from  peanut  school.  The  walk  from  school  was  37  miles  to  be  exact,  but  no  one  minded.  Before  Nutvalley,  peanuts  couldn’t  walk  at  all!    

“Wanna’  come  to  my  house  after  school?”  Teal  peanut  asked.    “I’d   love   to,   but   I   can’t.   I   have   to   read   some   silly   fairy   tale   for   homework”,  

replied  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.       “Oh  well  –  see  you  tomorrow  then!”  Teal  peanut  said  as  she  ran  off  onto  her  street.    

“Okay,”  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  whispered  to  himself.      

Soon  he  found  himself  at  home.  Then  he  found  himself  unzipping  his  peanut  pack  and  shuffling  through  his  books,  journals,  and  binders  until  he  found  the  small,  red  book  his  teacher  had  assigned  him  to  read.  “Ugh”,  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  sighed.  Then  he  sat  down  on  a  sock  and  started  to  read.  He  read  aloud.    

                               “The Little Red Hen”    “Hey,  that  sounds  cool!  I  like  hens!”  And  that  was  all  it  took.  Seconds  later,  The  Big  Yellow   Peanut   was   scanning   the   pages   of   “The   Little   Red   Hen”   with   complete  

satisfaction  and  a  big  nutty  smile  on  his  face.  After  an  extremely  inspired  Big  Yellow  Peanut  was   finished  reading,  he  had  the  most  genius   idea   in  the  history  of   ideas!!!  The  Little  Red  Hen!  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  –  The  Little  Red  Hen!  Since  seven  and  a  half  minutes  ago  he  envied  her  so  much  that  he  wanted  to  be  her!  So  he  got  started.      “Step   #1:   Costume”,   The   Big   Yellow   Peanut   read   aloud   as   he   wrote   it   down.  “Perfect!”  Step  #2:  Find  some  seeds  Step  #3:  Ask  for  help  to  plant  them.  Step  #4:  Plant  them  Step  #5:  Ask  for  help  to  cut  wheat  Step  #6:  Cut  wheat  Step  #7:  Ask  who  will  help  take  the  wheat  to  the  mill  Step  #8:  Take  the  wheat  to  the  mill  Step  #9:  Ask  who  would  help  me  bake  bread.  Step  #10:  Bake  bread  Step  #11:  Eat  J  bread       The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  nodded  his  head.  This  was  perfect.  Now  to  get  started.  Step  #1:  Costume.    “Costume”,  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  repeated.  Then  he  got  to  work.  First,  he  headed  over  to  Teal  Peanut’s  house  –  for  a  headband.  After  all,  he  was  going  to  be  a  hen  and  all  hens  needed  a  comb.  So  Teal  Peanut,  being  his  best  friend,  contributed  a  bright  orange  headband  to  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.  He  sprinted  home  through   the  winter  snow  with  it  safely  tucked  in  his  pocket.    

Now  he   needed   some   construction   paper   for   the   actual   “comb”   part   of   the  comb.   But   there   was   only   one   problem   –   THERE   WAS   NO   RED   CONSTRUCTION  PAPER!!!  And  it  was  snowing  outside  so  he  definitely  couldn’t  go  stop  by  Target  to  buy  any.  There  was  only  one  sheet  of  pink  paper  and  one  sheet  of  blue.  He  decided  he  would  use  the  pink.  It  was  his  only  choice.  So  he  cut  out  a  pink  comb  and  glued  it  to  the  orange  headband.  It  wasn’t  quite  as  he  had  expected,  but  it  worked.    

 Next,  for  the  body.  His  only  choice  of  color  was  blue,  so  he  had  his  Mom  trace  

his  body  on  the  blue  piece  of  construction  paper.  Then  he  cut  it  out.  Lastly,  the  final  touches.  Some  green  wings  made  out  of   feathers,  and  chicken  feet  from  old  purple  socks.    

He  was   finally   done.   So   he   tried   it   on   and   looked   in   the  mirror.   He   hadn’t  really  expected  a  pink  combed,  green  winged,  purple  footed,  blue  hen,  but  it  was  the  best  he  could  do.  So  he  put  a  check  beside  Step  1  and  got  to  work  on  Step2.                                            

   “Find  some  seeds.”  was  step  2.  “This  should  be  easy.”  Thought  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.  So  he  went  outside  to  

look  for  some  seeds.  And  then  he  suddenly  remembered  it  was  snowing.  Great.  He  would  have  to  search  his  house  for  a  seed.    

After   2  ½   hours   of   seed   searching,   The   Big   Yellow   Peanut   gave   up.   There  were  NO  seeds  in  the  house.  He  had  searched  high  and  low  and  hadn’t  found  a  single  one!    

 “I’m  hungry”,  thought  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.  So  he  walked  into  the  kitchen  

for  a  snack.  At  the  sight  of  a  fruit  bowl,  he  had  an  idea!  An  apple!  There  were  seeds  in  apples!  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  quickly  snatched  an  apple  from  the  fruit  bowl,  and  2  minutes  later,  it  was  gone!  All  except  for  the  seed  of  course.  So  he  checked  Step  #2  off  and  read  Step  #3,  “Ask  for  help  to  plant  them.”  Well,  he  only  had  one  seed,  and  “one”   couldn’t   ever   equal   “them.”   So   he   ate   seven  more   apples   so   he  would   have  seven  more  seeds.  Eight  seeds  in  total.    

 Now  to  ask  for  help  to  plant  them.  He  wanted  to  call  the  people  who  would  

not  help  him,  because  that  was  how  the  story  went.  So  he  called  up  7  of  the  meanest  peanuts  he  knew.  They  would  all  definitely  say  no.  But   it  was   just  his   luck,  and  all  seven  said  yes.  Maybe  because  it  was  snowing  and  there  was  nothing  else  to  do.  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  sighed.  How  would   the  story  work  now?  He  had  seven  peanuts  coming  over  his  house  to  help  him.  He  was  supposed  to  do  it  by  himself!  But  Fuchsia  Peanut,  Purple  Peanut,  Gold  Peanut,  Black  Peanut,  Silver  Peanut,  White  Peanut,  and  Rose  Peanut  were  all  going  to  be  here  soon!  He  needed  to  get  ready!  

 He  took  out  eight  assorted  sized  planting  pots  from  the  garage,  2  big  bags  of  

gardening  soil,  and  set  up  a  planting  station  in  the  living  room.  Hopefully  the  other  peanuts   would   change   their   mind   about   helping;   especially   because   now   he   was  dressed  in  his  hen  outfit.  Suddenly,  the  doorbell  rang.  It  was  Gold  Peanut  and  Silver  Peanut.  “Please  wait  over  there”,  said  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut,  pointing  to  the  couch  

in  the  family  room.  He  was  worried.  No  one  could  help  him!  That  was  how  the  story  went!  

“I  LOVE  your  chicken  suit”,  complimented  Silver  Peanut.    “Yes.  Beautiful  it  is!”  agreed  Gold  Peanut.  Great.  This  was  going  to  be  harder  

than  he   thought.   Then   the  doorbell   rang   again.  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut   let   in  Rose  Peanut.    

“I   am   so   excited!   I   love   planting   things!”   she   squealed.   Then   she   sat   down  with   Silver   Peanut   and   Gold   Peanut.   Seconds   later,   the   doorbell   rang   again!   He  hoped  the  peanut  behind  the  door  wouldn’t  be  as  complimentary  as  the  others  and  that   they   would   change   their   mind   on   staying.   The   Big   Yellow   Peanut   worriedly  opened  the  door.    

“Hi!”  yelled  Purple  Peanut,  White  Peanut  and  Black  Peanut  in  unison.    “Ooooo!”  whispered  Black  Peanut  to  White  Peanut.   “Look  at   the  ducky  suit!  

Love  it!”  All  of  them  started  giggling.  Fuchsia  Peanut  walked  up  the  porch  stairs  behind  them.  

“Hi!”  cried  Fuchsia  Peanut.  “Come  in  guys.  Sit  down  on  the  couch  with  the  others”,  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  

said.  Everyone  came   in.  Then  everyone  started  planting.  There  were   lots  of  smiles  and   too  many   laughs  according   to  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.  He  could  not  believe   it!  The  meanest  nuts  he  knew  were  having  fun  at  his  house!  He  would  never  be  just  like  The  Little  Red  Hen.  

 No  one  wanted  to   leave  and  apparently  Rose  Peanut  brought  some  magical  

grow  spray  which  made  the  seeds  sprout  in  seconds!  When  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  saw  the  apple   trees,  he  thought,   “Apples!  Of  course!  Apple  seeds  make  apples.  Not  Bread!”  

“OMG!   We   should   take   them   to   the   mill   to   be   grinded   into   applesauce!”  shouted  White  Peanut.  

“Yes!”  agreed  Gold  Peanut.  And  without  even  asking  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut,  everyone  headed  to  the  mill.  He  had  no  choice  but  to  go.  

Still   wearing   his   hen   suit,   The   Big   Yellow   Peanut   trudged   with   the   others  through   the   sugar-­‐white   snow   to  Purple   Peanut’s  mill.   Apparently   she   had   one   in  her  backyard.  

“How  weird”,  thought  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.    Once   they   got   there   and   had   grinded   the   apples,   they   had   a   very   pleasant  

(unpleasant  for  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut)  surprise.   Instead  of  applesauce,  the  apples  were   grinded   into   goldfish   crackers!  He   screamed  when  he   saw   them!  This  was   a  story  gone  wrong!  First,  the  costume,  then  the  apple  seeds,  then  help  ,  then  goldfish?!  Ugg!!!  What  was  the  problem?!  

                                                                                                         “Yess!  Those   are  my   favorite!”   screamed  Black  Peanut   as   she   scooped  up   a  

handful  of  goldfish.    “Me  too”,  chimed  in  the  others.  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  liked  goldfish  too,  but  

since  everyone  had  helped  make  them,  he  would  have  to  split  them  up.    A  few  minutes   later,  after  all  of   the  goldfish  crackers  were  collected,  Purple  

Peanut’s  Mom  called  her  and  all  of  her  friends  inside.    “Bye  Big  Yellow  Peanut!  Take  Care!”  they  all  yelled.  

    “We’re  coming  to  your  house  tomorrow  at  1:00  sharp!”       “Bye”,  mumbled  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut.  He  took  the  sack  of  goldfish  crackers  and   trudged   home.   “They’re   probably   coming   tomorrow   to   take   the   goldfish,”   he  sighed.  This  whole  day  had  gone  wrong.    

 The  next  day  at  1pm  exactly,  all  of  the  peanuts  showed  up  at  The  Big  Yellow  

Peanut’s   door.   He   had   the   goldfish   all   ready.   It   was   only   fair   to   share   after   all.  “Hello”,  welcomed  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  sadly.    

“Hi!”  all  the  other  peanuts  smiled  back.    “Come  in.”  All  the  peanuts  did  as  they  were  told  and  went  and  sat  on  The  Big  

Yellow  Peanut’s  living  room  sockfa  (sofa).    “So.  Er….who  wants  to  help  me  eat  the  goldfish?”    

Rose  peanut  asked,  “Huh?”  Which  was  followed  by  several  “Whats?”,  “No’s!”,  and  a  lot  of  confused  faces.       “No?”  asked  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut,  “Then  what  are  you  guys  here  for?”    

“Oh   you   silly!”   exclaimed  Fuchsia   Peanut,   “We   just  wanted   to   thank   you   in  person  for  inviting  us  over  yesterday!”    

“Yeah!  We  never  thought  we’d  be  friends!”,  agreed  White  Peanut.  “We  never  get  invited  anywhere.”  

 The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  was  BLOWN  AWAY!    The  mean  nuts  came  over  to  say  

thank  you?    “Thank   you,”   he   said.   “But   are   you   sure   you   don’t   want   any   goldfish  

crackers?”  Gold   Peanut   whispered   something   in   Silver   Peanut’s   ear,   and   the   whisper   went  down  the  line.    

“Sure,”  said  Black  Peanut.  

    “We’d  love  to”,  smiled  Purple  Peanut.  They  had  said  yes.  They  wanted  to  share  the  goldfish.  But  this  time,  The  Big  Yellow  Peanut  wasn’t  upset  about   it.  So  what   if  his  plan  hadn’t  worked  out?  So  what   if  he  was  going  to  have  to  split  the  goldfish  into  eighths?  He  had  seven  new  friends,  and  he  planned  to  keep   it   that  way.  Wait   -­‐  seven  new  friends!?  That  meant  he  was  now  friends  with  everyone  in  Nutvalley!  A  book  led  to  seven  great  new  friendships.  Who  would  have  thought?