Sammy the squirrel lived in a small, sunny forest. But in one corner, there stood a tall tree, dark and shadowy. Sammy shivered each time he scampered by.

One windy night, Sammy was jolted awake by a sound - Clang! Bang! Whoosh! 'Who's there?' he squeaked, his tail fluffed in fright.

Silence answered Sammy. Only the wind whispered through the leaves. But Sammy’s curiosity got the better of him. He decided to investigate in the morning.

Morning came brisk and bright. Sammy found his courage and hopped over to the shadowy tree. It looked creepy, like a giant claw reaching for the sky!

As Sammy inched closer, he noticed something hanging from a branch. A tattered old hat! 'Hmm,' he muttered, 'who lost their hat?'

Suddenly, the tree shook, and the hat fell down with a thud. 'Oh no!' Sammy jumped back. But then, he saw a tiny mouse pop out from behind the tree. 'Boo! Gotcha!'

'M-Mouse! You scared me!' Sammy stammered. The mouse grinned. 'Sorry, Sammy! I just wanted to borrow the hat for my ghostly game.'

Sammy chuckled, feeling brave now. 'So, this tree isn’t spooky at all? Just you playing tricks?' he asked. The mouse nodded and held up the hat.

'Yes,' the mouse said, 'I’ve been practicing my scare tactics. Would you like to join my ghostly games tonight?'

Sammy’s eyes twinkled. 'Count me in!' he chirped. And from that day, the shadowy tree wasn’t scary at all. It was the best place for Sammy and his new friend to play!

So remember, dear friends, things that seem spooky might just be friends in disguise. It's fun to be brave and explore!

And who knows, you might find a friend who shares your love for ghostly games!