Clarence is a rooster who thinks 5:00 AM is far too early, so he finds an alarm clock to do his job for him.
About this story
Clarence hides a digital alarm clock in the hay and goes back to sleep. At dawn it blasts rock music instead of crowing: the cows dance, the sheep jump the fence, and every press of the snooze button makes it worse. A noisy farm comedy about shortcuts and doing your own job.
Ages: 3–8 · Reading time: about 4 minutes
Clarence was a rooster with very fine feathers and a very deep love for sleeping in. He hated the sun. “It’s too yellow,” he would grumble, covering his eyes with a wing.
Being the official alarm clock of Sunny Valley Farm was exhausting. Every morning at 5:00 AM, Clarence had to stand on a cold fence and scream. He began to hatch a clever plan.
Clarence found a discarded digital alarm clock in the farmer’s garage. “Aha!” he chirped. “I will set this to ‘Loud’ and hide it under the hay. I can sleep, and the farm still wakes up. It’s a win-win!”
He set the clock for dawn and went back to his cozy nest. He fell into a deep, wonderful sleep, dreaming of a world where the sun didn’t rise until noon. But Clarence didn’t check the radio station on the clock.
The Rock-and-Roll Sunrise
At exactly 5:00 AM, the sun began to peek over the hills. Instead of Clarence’s usual *Cock-a-doodle-doo*, a blast of loud, electric guitar music exploded from the barn. BWAAAAA-DUN-DUN-DUN!
The cows started dancing. The pigs fell out of their beds. The sheep were so shocked they accidentally bounced over the fence. The chaos reached its peak when the farmer ran out in his polka-dot pajamas, thinking there was a parade in the barn.
Clarence woke up with a fright, his feathers standing up like a hedgehog. He tried to turn off the clock, but he accidentally hit the “Snooze” button. Every nine minutes, the rock music started again! The farm was a chaotic, musical mess.
Clarence realized that his “shortcut” had turned the peaceful morning into a circus. He flew up to the fence, took a deep breath, and let out the loudest, most traditional crow of his life. The music stopped, and the animals finally settled down. Being clever was okay, but being a reliable rooster was his true calling.
___In the end, Clarence decided that the sun wasn’t so bad after all—at least it didn’t play heavy metal. He still likes to nap in the afternoon, but he never uses a digital clock again. He fell asleep dreaming of quiet mornings and golden corn.
He knew that doing things yourself is usually the best way to get them done right.
💡 Moral: Take Pride in Your Work
- Responsibility: Taking shortcuts often leads to more work and confusion for everyone.
- Unique Talents: Clarence realized that a machine couldn’t replace his unique voice and role in the farm.
- Adaptability: Even if you aren’t a “morning person,” you can find joy in your daily tasks.
