Storytelling has proved to be an effective way of passing on information from one generation to the next. Whether the information relates to history, culture, health, or morality, the story provides a framework so that complex ideas can be better understood and retained. In this article, we consider the role of narrative in the design and implementation of effective calculus homework. Focusing on three problems spanning first-year calculus, we examine how the elements of a good short story might translate into meaningful elements of a good homework assignment.