Once, before New Year's Day, Grandfather Frost decided to visit the children to celebrate the holiday and give them gifts. The children had behaved well throughout the year and studied hard. He had prepared many gifts and sweets for them.
He packed all of this into a large red sack and set off to the children's celebration. The sack was very heavy, and Grandfather Frost walked slowly, groaning and sighing.
Snow began to fall. When he approached the forest, snow had drifted—almost a metre deep. It became difficult for Grandfather Frost to walk. He came to a large snow drift and decided to rest—he put the sack on the ground and sat down.
Suddenly he heard a squeaking sound, but he didn't see anyone nearby. The squeaking came again, but he couldn't see where it was coming from. Suddenly, Grandfather noticed the snow on the drift move and a small white tail appeared.
Who are you? — asked Grandfather Frost.
I'm a little Bunny, — answered the "Tail."
Little Bunny, I'm going to the children to celebrate New Year's with them and give them gifts. But my sack is very heavy. Can you help me carry it? — asked Grandfather Frost.
Of course, Grandfather, I'll help you, — answered Bunny.
The blizzard didn't stop. The snow drifts grew larger, and Bunny couldn't hop and was getting cold. Grandfather Frost placed him inside his coat against his chest. Evening came, and in winter it gets dark quickly.
Grandfather, — said Bunny, — we won't make it to the children today. I know a place where we can warm up. Not far from here live my friends, Squirrel and Owlet. They have food to eat (as you know, squirrels and owls store food for winter). And they live in a warm cottage.
Let's go quickly, show me the way! — replied Grandfather Frost.
Soon they came to a beautiful log cottage where Squirrel and Owlet lived. They knocked on the door and were let in.
Squirrel and Owlet were delighted to see guests. They hadn't seen Bunny in a long time, and they had long dreamed of meeting Grandfather Frost. The cottage was warm and smelled of tea with jam and biscuits. After tea, the friends began to share their news.
After hearing their guests' story, Squirrel and Owlet decided to help them. On the morning of December 31st, the blizzard stopped and the sun was shining. But a lot of snow had fallen. Owlet said:
You help Grandfather Frost carry the sack, and I'll fly above and show you the way from up there.
That's a clever idea, Owlet, otherwise we'd wander in the forest for a long time, — replied Grandfather Frost.
Owlet flew up and after a while pointed them to a pine tree that grew on a hill.
Do you see that pine tree?
Yes! — answered Bunny and Squirrel together.
Head towards the pine tree, and then turn right, — commanded Owlet.
Grandfather Frost made something like a sleigh out of spruce branches and put the sack on it. This made it easier for the friends to carry the sack of gifts. After a few hours, they arrived at the kindergarten.
The children were very happy, because they had been waiting for Grandfather Frost and had prepared well for the New Year celebration: they decorated the tree, decorated the kindergarten, dressed up as fairy tale characters and forest creatures, and learned poems.
Goodbye! — said Squirrel and Owlet and began to get ready to go home.
Wait, don't go, stay with us. We're going to have fun and celebrate the New Year.
And besides, there are enough gifts for everyone! — said Grandfather Frost.
And the friends stayed. And Grandfather Frost and Bunny became such good friends that from then on, on New Year's postcards and pictures in books, Grandfather Frost is always drawn together with Bunny, who became his best friend and indispensable helper.
