Suhkarik the Traveller

This story happened at the very end of summer, when the leaves on the trees began to turn yellow, rain fell more often, the sun started setting earlier behind the hill and the days were getting shorter.

Suhkarik woke up early in the morning, poked his little grey snout outside and squeaked:

Brrr, it's gotten so cold in the mornings!

Yes, son, autumn will arrive in a few days.

Sighed Mum, Grey Mouse.

Well, autumn's almost here, and I haven't seen anything good all summer long.

Said Suhkarik indignantly.

How can you say that? We have such a wonderful forest. Your friends – the forest creatures – live here. The birds sing such beautiful songs, colourful butterflies fly about, and so many fragrant flowers and aromatic berries have grown in the clearing. Soon the lingonberries will ripen, and I'll bake your favourite lingonberry pie!

Mum said, surprised.

But I don't want lingonberry pie! I want to try pineapples and coconuts. A crane I know told me that far, far away in warm lands on islands in the ocean, these exotic fruits grow.

The little mouse got angry. He snorted so hard that his whiskers trembled!

Mum Grey Mouse became upset; she was distressed. She lowered her grey head and continued to listen to Suhkarik's complaints.

I want to visit the islands and see how coconuts and pineapples grow!

He repeated.

The little mouse stamped his grey paw and hurried to dash out of his burrow. He quickly ran along the forest path and soon found himself at the forest stream.

"Now I'll make myself a little boat and sail in it to the warm lands to see the islands" – Suhkarik decided firmly.

Looking around, he found a watermelon rind on the stream bank, was very pleased and confidently said:

This will be my boat, I'll sit in it and sail to the warm lands to look at the islands in the ocean.

Muttered the little mouse to himself.

Happy Suhkarik sat in his watermelon rind boat, content and joyful, and sailed along the forest stream.

Bush after bush, tree after tree, the little boat floated quickly. The little mouse daydreamed and imagined how his boat would float down the winding stream to the blue sea, and then the sea would carry him into the deep ocean. And in the ocean, islands with palm trees awaited him, on which coconuts grew.....

But suddenly a strong wind blew, a dark cloud rushed in and it quickly grew dark. The storm howled. The little mouse became very frightened, his boat rocked from side to side. And suddenly the watermelon rind cracked and burst......

The little mouse fell into the water and cried out:

Mum, Mum, where are you, save me!!!

Suddenly he felt someone cleverly catch him in the water and pull him to the bank. It turned out that Suhkarik was saved by a young beaver named Tarasik, who at that moment was building a dam on the stream and saw the little mouse floating past on the watermelon rind.

Where were you heading, Suhkarik, if you can't even swim?

Asked Tarasik.

I wanted to get to the warm lands and see the islands. I wanted to see how coconuts and pineapples grow. First I had to sail down the stream, then across the blue sea, and then across the deep ocean.

Said the wet Suhkarik quietly, shaking water droplets from his fur.

What a silly little mouse you are! How could you set off on such a long journey on a watermelon rind?

Asked Tarasik. The little mouse lowered his small black bead-like eyes. He didn't know what to say to the young beaver.

Your mum is worried, running all over the forest, asking all the animals where her son has gone.

Tarasik continued.

Suhkarik remembered his kind mum, the cosy burrow near which purple bluebells grew. And Mum had probably lit the stove and baked a delicious lingonberry pie.... Suhkarik felt very sad, he lowered his head sorrowfully and bitter tears began to fall to the ground.

I want to go to Mum!

Cried Suhkarik.

Let me take you home, I know where your burrow is.

Offered Tarasik.

Bush after bush, tree after tree, soon the little mouse was home. Mum was very happy that her son had returned. She hugged her little one and said:

Suhkarik, how wonderful that you're safe, and kissed his little shiny nose.

The little mouse ate a piece of fragrant lingonberry pie, lay down in his little bed and fell sweetly asleep. He was happy to be home with his beloved mum.

And Suhkarik dreamed of distant warm wonderful lands and paradise islands in the ocean with beautiful tropical palm trees.