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Old Grumbles was a rock. Not a boulder, mind you, just a rather large, rather round, and exceptionally grumpy rock. He had been sitting in the same spot for over a hundred years, watching the seasons change and the moss grow. Grumbles liked his solitude. He liked the quiet hum of the forest and the gentle patter of rain on his surface. He did not, however, like chipmunks.

So when a family of five very energetic chipmunks decided to build their nest right under him, Grumbles was furious. He felt the tiny feet scurrying, the constant chattering, and worst of all, the incessant chewing on his foundation. “Ahem!” he rumbled, but of course, no one heard a rock.

The chipmunk family—Chip, Chipette, and their three little ones, Pip, Pop, and Pounce—were having a grand time. “This is the best home ever!” squeaked Chipette. “It’s so sturdy!”

Grumbles tried everything. He concentrated very hard, trying to vibrate and shake them off. The chipmunks just thought it was a fun game and giggled. He tried to get a squirrel to move them, but the squirrel just chattered at him and ran up a tree.

One day, a huge storm rolled in. The wind howled, and the rain came down in sheets. The chipmunks, safe and dry in their home under Grumbles, were huddled together. They heard a loud crack as a tree fell nearby. They were scared.

But Grumbles felt something. He felt the little family trembling beneath him. He was a grumpy rock, but he wasn’t a mean one. He decided to do something. He pulled himself together, every bit of granite and stone, and held his position with all his might. He felt the wind pushing and the rain trying to wash him away, but he didn’t move an inch. He was their shelter.

When the storm passed, the sun came out, and the chipmunks scurried out, chattering happily. They looked up at Grumbles and squeaked, “Thank you, sturdy rock! You kept us safe!”

Grumbles didn’t rumble. He just felt a little… warm inside. It wasn’t the sun’s warmth, but something else. The constant chattering of the chipmunks didn’t bother him as much now. He even started to look forward to the little sounds. He was no longer just a grumpy rock; he was their home. And that, he realized, was a pretty good job to have.