Once upon a time there lived a little rabbit in the forest. Long-eared, quick, and clever, but he had one flaw — he grumbled about everything. That's why the forest animals called him Grumpy. It was hard for the grumbling rabbit to get along with other animals. Every single day, nothing pleased him. The sun rises bright and shines through his window, but he lies in bed and just mutters:
Ugh, the sun's so bright, it's blinding my eyes. I wish the clouds would hurry up and cover it! — and he pulls the blanket over his head.
Another time, his mum bakes pies with carrots and cabbage. The pies are hearty and fragrant, and all the forest neighbours come running to try a piece and praise mum rabbit. But Grumpy is unhappy again:
The pies are tasty, sure, but I've eaten so much I can't go for a walk now. I can't even get out of my chair. Oh dear!
One day the forest rabbits decided to have a race to find out who was the fastest in the forest. But they didn't invite the grumbling rabbit — he wouldn't like it anyway. When Grumpy found out, he was upset, because he loved to run and was the fastest and most clever rabbit in the whole wide world. But they didn't invite him. The rabbit trudges through the forest, grumbling to himself:
The weather's bad, the path is too narrow, the trees are too tall, my shoes are rubbing, I'm hungry...
He grumbled so much that he didn't notice how he'd wandered deep, deep into the forest. The rabbit often walked in the forest, but only on familiar paths and never went far from home. Besides, there was nothing to do in the depths of the forest. All the animals live on the edges, in the clearings, not in the bowl of the forest.
Only wolves and foxes hunt here sometimes. Grumpy looked around and realised he didn't know how to get back home. The rabbit got scared, a branch would creak behind him, leaves would rustle, and it seemed like danger was lurking everywhere. The little rabbit perked up his ears and heard someone walking ahead beyond the trees. He hid behind a wide spruce trunk and looked through the branches.
A thin, grey-haired old man in a funny fur hat was passing by. He was the local forest ranger. He lives in a cottage and looks after the forest. He knows every animal by name and doesn't let anyone come to harm. The animals love the ranger too, but nobody knows where his cottage is. Some even think he's a wizard and doesn't live anywhere, but turns into a forest animal himself and walks through the forest.
Grumpy recognised the ranger and ran towards him.
Grandpa ranger, I'm lost! — he said sadly.
Grumpy? How did you end up here? I didn't expect to meet you in such a remote place, — the ranger greeted him in surprise.
I ran into the forest because I was upset that the other rabbits didn't invite me to the race. And then I didn't notice how I got lost. — the rabbit told the old man.
I see... — the ranger thought, — you live on the edge, don't you? It's quite far for you to go home now, and it's getting late. Tell you what, why don't you stay at my cottage tonight? I'll feed you, warm you up and make a bed for you, and in the morning I'll take you home.
At your place? But do you... — the rabbit hesitated, — do you really live in a cottage?
Of course I do, where else! It's right here, not far away. I need to keep a closer eye on this part of the forest, so I settled here.
Then I agree! — the rabbit smiled.
The path to the ranger's cottage was short. They walked through thick undergrowth and came out into a small clearing. When they entered the house, Grumpy looked around and said:
Yes, you've got a nice little house, but it could be bigger... How will we both fit in here?
We'll manage somehow, — the ranger smiled, — Will you have some tea?
Of course!
The ranger heated the samovar and poured himself and the rabbit a large cup of fragrant herbal tea. The rabbit took a sip and said:
Ouch, it's too hot, it's burnt my tongue!
The ranger brought some cold water and diluted the rabbit's tea. He took another sip and started grumbling again.
The tea's tasty and fragrant, but why are the cups so big? I can't drink that much, and it's a shame to waste it. And it's too sweet.
Will you have dinner, Grumpy? — the ranger only replied.
Yes!
The ranger brought pies with potatoes, a drink made from forest berries and specially for the rabbit he took out carrot jam. The rabbit ate his fill, but didn't stop grumbling:
Pies with potatoes, where have you ever seen that! Now pies with cabbage like mum makes — that's the thing. Pies should be with cabbage, not potatoes, that's not tasty. The berry drink is sour, and the jam...
If you don't like the jam, you don't have to eat it, — the ranger didn't let the rabbit finish.
No, I'll eat it of course, but it's too orange.
After dinner the ranger made a bed for the rabbit, gave him a down quilt and a pillow. The rabbit lay down and couldn't sleep for a long time — he tossed and turned and grumbled:
Oh, how uncomfortable, the mattress is hard, the quilt is too heavy, and the pillow is too soft.
But the ranger didn't go to bed. He heard the rabbit grumble again and decided to teach him a lesson. After all, the animals were right, he really was a wizard. He just couldn't turn into an animal, but he could cast spells better than anyone. When the rabbit fell asleep, the old man crept up to his bed and sent him a special dream.
In his dream, the rabbit saw his little house on the edge of the forest, his mum and the other rabbits. He happily ran towards home, wanting to say how glad he was to be back, to tell them about the ranger's cottage and the tea they drank together, and about the rabbits who didn't invite him to the race, but when he opened his mouth, he realised he couldn't say a word.
His mum hugged him, but he just kept opening and closing his mouth. He so wanted to share the news with his mum, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. The rabbit got very scared and woke up in tears. It was already morning, the ranger was drinking tea by the window, and the rabbit decided to ask him about this strange dream.
Good morning, Grumpy, did you sleep well? – asked the old man and smiled.
The rabbit told him his unusual dream, and the ranger replied:
You see, when you could speak, you grumbled all the time and didn't appreciate what others did for you. But when you lost the ability to speak, you were upset. So maybe you shouldn't grumble over trifles? After all, every word has value.
Yes, I don't want to grumble at all now! — the rabbit confirmed his words.
Then let's have some tea, — suggested the ranger. And he didn't put any sugar in the rabbit's tea. He wanted to see what he would say. Would he grumble or not.
The rabbit took a sip of tea and frowned. He was about to tell the ranger that the tea wasn't tasty and that there wasn't enough sugar, when he remembered the scary dream and said:
Grandpa ranger, thank you for your hospitality, for the night's stay and for the tea and pies. Could I have a little sugar added?
The ranger laughed, brought jam, buns and sugar. And said:
You see, little rabbit, you don't have to grumble, you can just ask. You're a good lad for understanding that. Let's have breakfast, and then I'll take you home, just in case you get lost again.
When the rabbit finished eating, he thanked the ranger once more. They found the way home quickly, the old man knew all the forest paths well. The rabbit was very happy to be back, he hugged his mum, who had been very worried, and told her everything. But he decided to keep quiet about the dream. It was a secret between him and the old ranger.
From that day on, the rabbit didn't waste words. He began to appreciate the little things and never forgot to say 'thank you'. And when the other animals saw that Grumpy had changed, they started inviting him for walks more often, and even asked him to take part in the race. The rabbit came in first. Soon they called him Speedy Rabbit, and everyone forgot about his old nickname.
