In a wonderful forest, in a cosy hollow of a mighty oak tree, lived a charming squirrel. And she was beautiful in every way. Her fur was smooth, her tail was fluffy, and the tufts on her ears were absolutely delightful, and the way she bounced through the trees was breathtaking. Even her name was beautiful — Bella. But the squirrel had no friends. And that was because she kept choosing and choosing, and couldn't find anyone better than herself.
One day she was walking through the forest. A cheerful and nimble rabbit came towards her.
Oh, Bella, let's run together. We're going to play tag with the other animals.
No way, rabbit! You're cross-eyed, and your ears are so long, and your tail is just a little pom-pom, and your name is b-r-r
The squirrel snorted and bounced away.
A name is a name — "Floppy Ears" — my mother gave it to me and I don't need any other
The rabbit thought cheerfully and ran off to his friends.
One day the squirrel met a little mouse near her home.
Bella, please help me. My burrow entrance is blocked with pine cones, and my paw hurts.
No way. You're so tiny, and you seem to be sick or something. No, you'll manage on your own
And she hid in her hollow.
And one day a white bear cub named Snowball came to visit the brown bear.
The squirrel saw them together and started laughing at Snowball:
Ha-ha-ha, hee-hee-hee. White as snow, and your name is Snowball too. Oh, I'll split my sides laughing, ha-ho-hee, have you looked in a mirror?
Bella kept mocking him.
Snowball burst into tears, feeling hurt. He had always been proud of his white fur, but now they were laughing and insulting him.
The animals couldn't take it anymore. And the brown bear spoke in his deep voice:
So what, should everyone be a squirrel? And live without friends? Open your eyes and look around: everyone is different — in height, in colour, in talents. Everyone has their own special qualities. The rabbit is cross-eyed, but those eyes help him see all his enemies. But he's fast and cheerful.
The mouse is small but clever. She's always ready to help everyone. And if she twisted her paw, that can happen to anyone. But she's so kind. And why do you hurt my Snowball? He was born white, and you're red, and I'm brown, and the frog is green. So should we laugh at you? My bear cub won't be seen in the white snow in winter, but your fiery beauty can be seen from a kilometre away. So which is better?
The bear growled and asked:
Should everyone be a squirrel?
Live without friends like this?
Look around quickly
And perhaps you'll understand.
And the ant spoke as if he were the bravest of all:
There are countless differences in this world, and each one of us is just as we are.
A tiny ant, but oh so clever.
A small hedgehog, but with a big heart.
Though covered in spines, he's not mean at all.
The hedgehog also spoke, though he had been silent until now:
A white rabbit, a red fox. A green frog is lovely too.
If a grasshopper has a broken leg, that doesn't mean he's bad now.
One is faster, another is more clever. One is kinder, another is smarter.
There are countless differences in this world, and each one of us is just as we are.
The friends spoke together:
It's not for us to decide, it's not for us to judge.
For we must live together in friendship.
