Once upon a time, in a small town, lived a boy named Tommy who hated baths. His mother would always tell him, "Dirty kids should become skunks, Tommy!"

Tommy would simply roll his eyes, ignoring his mother's warning. He didn't mind being dirty and thought baths were a waste of time.

One morning, Tommy woke up to find his hands replaced with tiny, black paws. He looked in the mirror and gasped. He had turned into a skunk!

Startled, he tried to scream, but all that came out was a strange squeaking sound. He ran to his mother, who recoiled in shock and disgust.

"You stink, Tommy!" she exclaimed, covering her nose. "I told you this would happen if you stayed dirty!" And with that, she sent Tommy outside.

Tommy was confused and scared. He tried to play with his friends, but they too ran away from his stench. He felt incredibly lonely.

He tried to join a group of skunks, hoping they would accept him. But even they found his stink unbearable and pushed him away.

Tommy felt utterly rejected. He missed his home, his friends, and his old life. He realized he needed to change.

He remembered his mother's words about cleanliness. With a deep sigh, he decided to give bathing a try.

He found a clear stream and hesitantly stepped in. The cold water felt strange against his fur, but he pressed on, cleaning himself thoroughly.

As he scrubbed, the dirt and the stench began to wash away. He could already feel the difference. He felt cleaner, lighter, and less stinky.

He continued this routine daily. Each day he felt better, less stinky, and more like his old self. He hoped others would notice the change too.

One day, while he was cleaning his fur, a group of skunks approached him. They sniffed him cautiously, then welcomed him into their group.

Tommy was overjoyed. He finally had friends who accepted him. He played with them, learned from them, and felt a sense of belonging.

One day, he decided to visit his old home. He missed his mother and wanted to show her that he had changed.

He approached his house, his heart pounding. He hoped his mother would not reject him again. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door.

His mother opened the door and looked down. She gasped. "Tommy, is that you?" she asked, surprised. Tommy nodded, his eyes welling up.

His mother bent down and hugged him. "You smell so fresh, Tommy!" she exclaimed, tears rolling down her cheeks. Tommy felt a wave of relief wash over him.

She welcomed him back home, where he now lived as a beloved pet. He continued to clean his fur daily, ensuring he remained fresh and clean.

His human friends were initially scared, but when they saw how clean and friendly he was, they too accepted him back. Tommy was overjoyed.

He played with them, albeit a little differently now. But he didn't mind. He was happy to have his friends back and to be accepted for who he was.

His old life was different, but Tommy was content. He had learned an important lesson about cleanliness and personal hygiene.

He became a symbol of change in his town. Kids started taking baths regularly, fearful of turning into a skunk like Tommy.

Tommy was proud of the change he brought about. He realized that sometimes, a little bit of discomfort can lead to a greater good.

Tommy lived happily with his mother, his friends, and his new skunk family. He had found a balance between his old and new life.

And so, Tommy, the stinky skunk cub, became a beloved friend, a cherished pet, and a symbol of cleanliness in his town.

And though he remained a skunk, he was now loved by all, because he understood the importance of cleanliness, and kept his fur clean every day.

As for his mother, she never had to nag Tommy about taking a bath again. For Tommy had learned his lesson, and he never forgot it.

Tommy's story spread far and wide, reminding children everywhere about the importance of cleanliness. And Tommy lived happily, his stink long forgotten.

And so, the story of the stinky skunk cub serves as a reminder that personal hygiene is important, and that even the stinkiest of creatures can become loved and cherished with just a little bit of cleanliness.