Meenu and Teenu were two little ants and the best of friends.

One sunny morning, they went into the garden to find some breakfast.

The marigolds were bright yellow.
A butterfly danced from flower to flower.
A little ladybird crawled up a green stem.

“Look, Teenu!” cried Meenu. “A biscuit crumb!”

“Yum!” said Teenu. “Let us take it home.”

The two little ants picked up the crumb and started walking.

Soon, they came to a big green leaf.

Tiny drops of morning dew sparkled on it.

“Careful!” said Teenu. “The leaf is slippery.”

“I am a very good walker,” said Meenu proudly.

She took one step.

Slip!

She took another step.

Slide!

“Wheeeee!”

Down the leaf Meenu went!

She landed on a flower.

Teenu rushed over.

“Meenu! Are you all right?”

Meenu sat up and looked at her.

“Yes,” she said. “It felt like a slide ride. I think the leaf wanted to give me a ride!”

They both burst out laughing.

Then Meenu looked at the leaf.

“I couldn’t cross it,” she said.

“Let’s try again,” said Teenu. “I will help you.”

So the two little ants climbed onto the leaf again.

This time, Meenu went slowly.

One tiny step.

Then another.

She slipped a little.

“Oops!”

Teenu held her hand.

“Try again,” she said.

Step by step, they walked across the leaf.

At last, they reached the other side.

“We did it!” shouted Meenu.

Just then, the butterfly fluttered past them.

The little ladybird wiggled its tiny legs as if it were cheering too.

Meenu smiled.

“If you slip, get up and try again!” Teenu grinned.

“And what if you slip again?” Meenu laughed.

“Try again!”

And off they marched home.

Step. Step. Step.

Then Meenu looked back at the slippery leaf.

And the two little ants giggled all the way home.