Once upon a time . . . there were three little pigs, who left their mummy and daddy to see the world.

All summer long, they roamed through the woods and over the plains,playing games and having fun. None were happier than the three little pigs, and they easily made friends with everyone.Wherever they went, they were given a warm welcome, but as summer drew to a close, they realized that folk were drifting back to their usual jobs, and preparing for winter.

Autumn came and it began to rain. The three little pigs started to feel they needed a real home.

Sadly they knew that the fun was over now and they must set to work like the others, or they’d be left in the cold and rain, with no roof over their heads. They talked about what to do, but each decided for himself. The laziest little pig said he’d build a straw hut.

«It wlll only take a day,’ he said. The others disagreed.

«It’s too fragile,» they said disapprovingly, but he refused to listen. Not quite so lazy, the second little pig went in search of planks of seasoned wood.

«Clunk! Clunk! Clunk!» It took him two days to nail them together. But the third little pig did not like the wooden house.

That’s not the way to build a house!» he said. «It takes time, patience and hard work to build a house that is strong enough to stand up to wind, rain, and snow, and most of all, protect us from the wolf!»

The days went by, and the wisest little pig’s house took shape, brick by brick. From time to time, his brothers visited him, saying with a chuckle:

Why are you working so hard? Why don’t you come and play?» But the stubborn bricklayer pig just said «no».

«I shall finish my house first. It must be solid and sturdy. And then I’ll come and play!» he said. «I shall not be foolish like you! For he who laughs last, laughs longest!»

It was the wisest little pig that found the tracks of a big wolf in the neighbourhood.

The little pigs rushed home in alarm. Along came the wolf, scowling fiercely at the laziest pig’s straw hut.

«Come out!» ordered the wolf, his mouth watering. I want to speak to you!»

I’d rather stay where I am!» replied the little pig in a tiny voice.

«I’ll make you come out!» growled the wolf angrily, and puffing out his chest, he took a very deep breath. Then he blew with all his might, right onto the house. And all the straw the silly pig had heaped against some thin poles, fell down in the great blast. Excited by his own cleverness, the wolf did not notice that the little pig had slithered out from underneath the heap of straw, and was dashing towards his brother’s wooden house. When he realized that the little pig was escaping, the wolf grew wild with rage.