Itwasearlymorning.JennyHenwassittingonhernest.“Goodmorning,JennyHen.”saidAlicePig.“Goodmorning.”saidJennyHen.“Haveyoumetmylittlechicks?ThisisCuteChick,SweetChick,andGoodChick.”“Butyouarestillsittingonanegg.”saidAlice.“Yes.”saidJennyHen.“ThiswillbeNiceChick.”“Hatch,NiceChick.”saidJennyHen.“Hatchquickly.Thenallmylittlechickscanlearntheirlessonstogether.”ChipChip!Theeggcracked.Twoblack,beadyeyespeepedovertheshell.Slowlyachickclimbedout.Thenhesatdown.“Yousee.”saidJennyHen.“Heisanicechick.”“Hemaybeanicechick.”saidAlicePig.“Butheisveryslow.MaybeyoushouldcallhimSlowChick.”“Justyouwaitandsee.”saidJennyHen.FirstJennyHentaughtherlittlechickstoscratchforcorn.CuteChickandSweetChickdidit.SodidGoodChick.Butthelastchickdidnot.Hescratchedoncetotheright.Hescratchedoncetotheleft.Thenhestoppedandlookedaround.HappyHalloween!“Whatdearlittlechicks.”saidMabelGoat.“Butwhywon’tthelittlestonescratch?”“Hewill.”saidJennyHen.“Mychickswillalllearntheirlessons.”“Butwhen?”saidMabel.“Heissoslow.MaybeyoushouldcallhimSlowChick.”“Justyouwaitandsee.”saidJennyHen.NextJennyHentaughtherlittlechickstodigforworms.CuteChickandSweetChickdidit.SodidGoodChick.Butthelastchickdidnot.Hedugtotheright.Hedugtotheleft.Thenhewatchedthecloudsgoby.“Oh!Suchsweetchicks.”saidLucyDuck.“Butwhywon’tthelittlestonedig?”“Hewill.”saidJennyHen.“Mychickswillalllearntheirlessons.”“Butwhen?”saidLucy.“IthinkyoushouldcallhimSlowChick.”“Justyouwaitandsee.”saidJennyHen.NextJennyHentaughtherlittlechickstopeckforseeds.CuteChickandSweetChickdidit.SodidGoodChick.Butthelastchickdidnot.Hepeckedtotheright.Hepeckedtotheleft.Thenhestoppedandyawned.“Oh,mychick.”saidJennyHen“Youmustlearntopecklikealllittlechicks.”“Whatcutechicks.”saidBettyLamb.“Butwhywon’tthelittlestonepeck?”“Hewill.”saidJennyHen.“Mychickswillalllearntheirlessons.”“Butwhen?”saidBetty.“Heissoslow.Don’tyouthinkyoushouldcallhimSlowChick.”“Justyouwaitandsee.”saidJennyHen.ThenJennyHentaughtherlittlechickstocleantheirfeathers.CuteChickandSweetChickdidit.SodidGoodChick.Butthelastchickdidnot.Hepluckedonhisrightside.Hepluckedonhisleftside.Thenhetuckedhisheadunderhiswingandwenttosleep.“Ohdear.”saidJennyHentoMillieCow.“Mylastchickwillnotlearnhislessons.”ThenJennyHensaidtoherchicks,“Thisisthemostimportantlesson.Onthisfarmthereisacat.Sofollowclosebehindmeinastraightline.Thenthecatwillnotgetyou.”“Yes.”SaidMillieCow.“Catsareveryfondofchasinglittlechicks.”JennyHenstartedwalking.CuteChickandSweetChickfollowedher.SodidGoodChick.Butthelastchickdidnot.Hetookonesteponhisrightfoot.Hetookonesteponhisleftfoot.Thenhesatdown.“Lookout,SlowChick!”calledAlicePigandMabelGoatandLucyDuckandBettyLambandMillieCow.“Herecomesthecat.”Thechicklookedbehindhim.Hesawabigcat.Ithadalongtail.Ithadlotsofpointyteeth.Thechickpickeduphisrightfoot.Hepickeduphisleftfoot.Thenheran.Heranveryfast.Hedidnotlookattheclouds.Hedidnotyawnorgotosleep.Heranandran.Thecatranrightbehindhim.Thechickrantothecreek.Thenhestoppedrunning.Butthecatdidnotstop.Thecatwentsplash!rightintothecreek.“Yeow!”criedthecat.“Thatissomequickchick.”saideveryone.“Itoldyouallalong.”saidJennyHen.Thatafternoon,SammyDogmetJennyHen’schicks.“ThisisCuteChick,SweetChick,andGoodChick.”saidJenny.“Whatisthelittlestone’sname?”askedSammyJennyHensaid,ThislittlestoneisnamedQUICKCHICK.”StorysummaryJennyHenhasfourchicks.CuteChick,SweetChick,GoodChickAndthelittleoneWhoissoslowatlearningeverything.Hemightbeaslowchick.Hemightbealatebloomer.ButhewillsurelybloomWhenonedayhebecomesTheQuickChick.