by Judith Westerfield

Once upon a time there were 3 little pigs who were looking for a change of scenery.  Having decided that living in town was becoming too expensive, too crowded and too hectic they set off to find the perfect place to build new houses and new lives.

The first little pig hopped onto his motorbike and pedaled off.

The second little pig got into his pick-up truck and rumbled off.

The third little pig got into his Mercedes and drove off.

Lo and behold all 3 little pigs ended up at a tiny town at the edge of a very beautiful, dense forest, complete with a running spring, clear skies and a view of snow capped mountains.

Neighbors, who had already found the pleasures of living in such a wonderful place, welcomed them.  There was the most delightful young girl wrapped in a beautiful red cape, a white rabbit who wore a top hat and carried a large watch, a courageous lion and  a business savvy wolf who introduced himself with his contractor’s card.

“A perfect spot to build a new life!” declared the 3 little pigs.

The first little pig, being very frugal suggested they pool their money.

The second little pig being quite resourceful suggested they order materials from the Internet and have them delivered.

The Third little pig being very educated poured over house plans and construction manuals.

Soon big trucks pulled up to the edge of the forest and unloaded concrete and wood, cinder blocks and roofing materials.  Trucks pulled up to the edge of the forest and unloaded plumbing and electrical supplies.  Trucks pulled up to the edge of the forest and unloaded tools and equipment, hardware and flooring until only the very tips of the snow-capped mountains were visible.

And so the work began:

The first little pig gleefully ran up and down and around the piles of materials and supplies getting a feel for what appealed to him.  When just the right materials caught his attention he dragged his new found treasures off to his plot of land by the edge of the forest.

The second little pig checked his house plans, made a list of everything needed and carefully amassed precisely the amounts and sizes of material specified.  He stacked everything on his portion of land by the edge of the forest in the order needed to follow the building plans.

The third little pig hired the Wolf to build his house and sat in the shade of a big tree sipping lemonade and reading The Wizard of Oz and other tales.

The contractor wolf, being very savvy, hired sub-contractors.  He huffed and puffed orders at them – telling them what to do, how to do it and when to do it.

The first little pig’s house took shape very quickly.  He pre-fabbed the walls while the concrete foundation was setting.  When the walls didn’t precisely line up he created the most innovative ways of designing new shapes.  Some of the rooms were square; some were round and some triangular.  Each room was different.  The first little pig got more and more excited as his house took shape.  It was an architectural and visual delight.  He added turrets on the roof.

The second little pig was still waiting for his foundation to set by the time the first little pig had added turrets on his roof. When the foundation was finally ready the second little pig began construction on the framing.  He measured and sawed, re-measuring and fitting until everything was aligned just right.  He put in plumbing according to the plans.  He installed the electrical according to the plans. Walls went up, the roof went up, he installed gutters for the rain and drainage on his land. He tightened and tested until everything was in place, exactly as the plans specified.  When finished it was a sturdy house, easily replicated by the plans . . . should anyone ask.

The third little pig’s house was proceeding quickly as all the subs had built many houses and knew exactly what to do.  The Wolf, who was very clever, suggested to the third little pig he might want to consider additional square footage since “After all you only build once.”

“Great idea”, said the third little pig, “I would nave never thought of that myself. Add a great room where I can play pool, a workshop next to the garage so I can tinker and a movie theatre where I can entertain.” 

The additions went up quickly as the subs had built many houses before and knew exactly what to do.

The wolf, who was very clever, suggested that the third Little Pig might want to up-grade the plumbing and have a waterfall in the back yard that cascades into a swimming pool.

“Great idea”, said the third little pig, “I would nave never thought of that myself. Add a hot tub too so I can relax.”

Magnificent water-works went up quickly as the subs had built many before and knew exactly what to do.

The wolf, who was very clever, suggested that the third Little Pig might want to up-grade the electrical to have an intercom and music piped into all the rooms, and home security systems to protect everything. 

“Great idea”, said the third little pig, “I would nave never thought of that myself. Add remotely controlled lights and smart appliances so I have even more environmental control.” 

The improvements went in quickly as the subs had installed many of the most current systems  before and knew exactly what to do.

The wolf, who was very clever, suggested that the third Little Pig might want to be environmentally friendly and install solar panels and do zero landscaping.

“Great idea”, said the third little pig, “I would nave never thought of that myself. Add skylights and triple paned windows too .”

Everything suggested went in quickly as the subs had built many energy efficient houses before and knew exactly what to do.

The first little pig loved his new house.  He continued to paint all the walls different colors, hung up crystal chandeliers and glow-in-the-dark stars on the ceilings.  Every room was a visual delight.  After a big rain, when water pooled in his yard, he made a pond for the frogs.  When doors didn’t close tight he replaced them with hanging beads and tie-dyed fabric.  When the heater didn’t work, he built a fire-pit in the living room where he roasted marshmallows and drank hot cocoa.  When his kitchen appliances broke down he ate at the second little pig’s house.

The second little pig was snug and content in his new house.  He watched cable TV movies every night.  During good weather he mowed the lawn and planted flowers, delighting in the aromas of freshly cut grass and roses.  He washed his windows to have a clear view of the snow-capped mountains.  And every evening he cooked dinner in the microwave, for himself and the second little pig.

The third little pig glowed with pride at the magnificent house that was the showpiece of the entire forest town.  On the weekends he hosted parties so all could delight in what he built.

Whereupon the wolf, who was very clever, presented the third little pig with his bill. “I know how to build and I know how to tear down so pay up before I huff and puff and blow your house down.” Said the Wolf.  

“I have little money left after paying property taxes, water and electrical bills and hosting weekly parties for all to enjoy my magnificent home”, squealed the third little pig.

“Never fear,” said the Wolf.  “I know where you can get all the money you owe me”.  And so the Wolf, who was very clever, took the third little pig into town to get a bank loan.

The first little pig and the second little pig lived happily ever after, comfortable and happy in their homes.  The third little pig got into his Mercedes Monday through Friday and drove into town to his job.

And the wolf . . . he huffed and puffed carrying his bags of money into the forest where he, too, lived happily ever after, retired from his contracting business.