In a small cottage under a bush lived a little bug. He was five years old. He had lots of friends: other bugs, earthworms, and spiders. Throughout the whole forest, this little bug was the eldest. He loved visiting his mates. One day, the little bug decided to visit his best friend—the spider Sanya. As he was walking along, he met an earthworm named Masha. Masha said to him:
Dear little bug, where are you off to?
I'm going to see Sanya. He invited me to visit a couple of days ago.
I see, said the earthworm, and when will you be home? I was just planning to visit you, but you're leaving.
Why don't you come with me to the spider's place, and tomorrow you can both come to mine, and the day after that, I'll come to you.
Alright. Just wait for me a moment while I go and get my cake—I baked it this morning.
Go on, I'll wait for you, said the little bug. What flavour is the cake?
Raspberry, strawberry and blackberry.
Mmm... sounds delicious.
Ten minutes passed, and Masha returned with the cake.
They walked and walked until they came to another small cottage. They approached the door and saw a note hanging on it: "I've gone to visit the earthworm Masha. I'll be home in the evening."
The little bug and the earthworm stood there for a moment, and Masha said:
Well, what shall we do?
We should go.
You mean, you want me to go back to my place? said Masha. Maybe we should wait here instead, especially since it's getting dark, and the note says he'll be home in the evening.
Alright, let's wait a bit, and if Sanya doesn't come, we'll go home. Tomorrow we'll try again and invite him to my place.
Ten, twenty, thirty, forty minutes passed, and the little bug said:
Let's go home. We'll come back tomorrow.
Yes, let's go.
Morning came, and the little bug and the earthworm met by a huge oak tree and set off to see Sanya again.
They arrived at the spider's place, knocked on the door and said:
Open up! It's us: the little bug and Masha.
The door opens. The little bug says:
Sanya, where were you yesterday? Masha and I came to see you, but the door had a note saying: "I've gone to visit the earthworm" and so on.
I'm sorry, I went to see Masha. I thought she'd be home...
Never mind, no harm done, said the little bug. Come to my place!
Yes, let's go, said Masha. I have a cake waiting at home.
Alright, let's go.
They arrived at the little bug's place and spent the whole day drinking tea with cake and playing.
After this incident, the little bug, the spider Sanya and the earthworm Masha always made plans in advance before visiting each other.
