It was a cold December outside. The trees in the forest dressed themselves in snow-white coats, and the ground was covered with a huge layer of snow. Forest animals were settling into their homes, and birds in their nests gathered fallen twigs and leaves so they wouldn't freeze in such terrible cold and could shelter their little ones.
A little hare named Snowball had built himself a very cozy house, where he had been wintering for many days. And one day, when the frost began to rage, a fox knocked at his door.
The hare, without poking his nose out, shouted loudly:
Who's that knocking at my house?
It's me — Rusty the fox. Hare, oh hare, let me stay with you for the night! My burrow, which I made for the winter, was covered by a huge snowdrift, and I can't get into it. It's so cold outside, and I have nowhere to spend the winter.
You've got to be kidding, fox! How can I let you in? You'll gobble me up right away.
The frightened hare replied.
No, no, I won't eat you. I'll be very grateful to you, and we'll live together happily and cheerfully!
Rusty replied, not intending to deceive the grey hare.
Snowball, without thinking long, locked himself in more securely and answered:
No, you deceiver! Go on your way and never come back here again!
The fox wandered through the dark snowy forest looking for shelter, and the hare quietly went to sleep.
The next day, when Snowball poked his nose out of his house, he saw that winter had completely gone wild. After running not far in search of food, the little hare soon returned home. He settled in comfortably, ate all the treats he had managed to find in the terrible forest, and lay down to rest.
Not much time had passed when someone knocked at his door again.
Well, who's knocking at my door again, won't let me sleep!
It's me, your friend the hedgehog. Let me in, little hare, to spend the night. It's so freezing cold outside, and my house is completely covered with branches, and I can't get into it.
Oh, that's a good one! You'll poke me with your sharp quills and kick me out of my house. No way, find yourself another roommate, and don't knock on my door anymore, I won't let you in!
Snowball replied.
The hedgehog waited a little longer, hoping that the grey hare would take pity and let his forest friend stay for the night. But time passed, and Snowball never opened the door.
The night was harsh, so much snow had fallen that in the morning the hare couldn't even get out of his little house. There was enough food for another whole day, so Snowball didn't run outside so he wouldn't freeze his tail and paws.
And then evening came, the snow was falling so hard that nothing could be seen around, the wind was knocking down tree branches, and no one could be seen outside. And suddenly an unexpected guest came to Snowball's house again.
Hare, hey, hare, can you hear me? It's me, Arrow the squirrel, let me stay with you for the night. My tree, where I lived, was knocked down by the terrible fierce wind, and now I'm afraid I'll freeze and get sick.
Yeah, right. I'll let you in, and you'll mess up my whole house with your fluffy tail, and then we'll both end up outside for sure. No, squirrel, go ask other animals, and don't set foot here again!
Snowball answered her.
So, having turned away all his forest neighbours, the hare remained alone in his burrow for the winter. He just didn't want to let anyone into his home, because then it would be cramped, but this way he lived alone and no one bothered him eating and sleeping whenever he wanted.
A month passed, then another, and suddenly the snow was replaced by pouring rain. The burrow where the grey hare lived was completely flooded with water, and one fine day his luxurious spacious house turned into a deep puddle. Snowball went outside and immediately got his paws wet. Evening came, and again snowflakes began falling on the cold ground.
The hare runs through the forest, thinking:
What should I do? I thought spring had already come and it would be warm soon, but here you go, this winter has gone wild again, and now I have nowhere to live.
The hare wanders through the snowy trees, crying, he's cold, and very hungry too. And suddenly he sees a big burrow in front of him, with the tail of a fox sticking out of it.
Snowball was delighted, rushed to her, and squeaked:
Friend fox, it's me, the grey hare, let me stay with you for the night. It's so cold out here, I've completely frozen my paws, ears and tail, I'm afraid I'll get sick.
Ha-ha-ha, that's funny! Go where you were going, and don't come to me anymore. When I had nowhere to live, you didn't feel sorry for me at all, but drove me away. So now I won't help you either!
The fox replied, hiding her red tail and closing the door tightly to her warm cozy burrow.
Snowball cried and wandered on to look for a new home. He runs through the snowy trees, and suddenly looks, there's a beautiful hut made of leaves and branches in front of him.
Who lives here? I'll knock on the door, maybe they'll let me stay for a while. Hey, answer if anyone lives in the hut!
Snowball wondered.
Oh, is that you, little hare? Why are you waking me on such a cold night?
The sleepy hedgehog replied.
It's me, the grey hare. My burrow has now turned into a huge puddle, and now it's completely frozen over, let me stay with you!
No way, I won't let you in! You drove me away, and I don't want to know you.
Then the hare decided that he must find the squirrel at all costs, she would surely let him live with her. The hare runs, looking around, and suddenly sees a squirrel sitting on a tree eating a nut.
Squirrel, I finally found you. Let me visit you, I'm very cold, and I've probably frozen my paws and tail.
Snowball asked hopefully, thinking he had finally found a new home.
You know, hare, I would gladly, but I can't. I'm very offended by you, and I won't let you into my house. Run along, look for a new home, but it seems to me that no one will let you stay for the night.
The hare cried and trudged on through the snowdrifts. Deep night fell, and Snowball had no strength left at all. He fell by a bush and fell asleep. And suddenly, through his sleep, he hears someone pulling his ear.
Well, grey hare, didn't find a place to spend the night? All right, come on, we'll shelter you. Our forest friends told me how you didn't want to let them into your house. I let them all come stay with me then, and when it warmed up a bit and it rained, they all built themselves new houses and now they live there.
A big brown bear growled.
The hare was delighted, jumped up, and followed his rescuer to the den. Having reached the new dwelling, the bear and the hare ate well and lay down to sleep. But Snowball couldn't fall asleep, he thought about how he hadn't let his forest neighbours in during the fierce frost, and he cried.
He understood that friends must always be helped, because by acting meanly and badly, he was left completely alone. Now Snowball will never drive away his friends, and if something happens to them, he will definitely come to their aid.
