In one huge dense forest, in a big old house made of pine logs, lived a grey wolf named Jack Greyside. He was called that because one of his sides was grey. He was the most important figure in the forest, and all the animals respected him and listened to his advice.
When any mishaps occurred in the forest, Jack Greyside always found the right solution, so many came to him for advice. Sometimes Mother Squirrel would hop over to complain about her wayward son, or Mrs. Snake would slither by to tell him about her troublesome neighbour.
Or the phone would ring:
Jack Greyside, I need your advice! I want to build myself a new house, could you recommend where to get good branches?
Wild Boar shouted from the other end of the line.
And Greyside had no choice but to set Squirrel's son on the right path, have long conversations with Mrs. Snake's neighbour, and call all the stores where you could buy sturdy branches for Wild Boar's house.
But one beautiful morning, when the sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing cheerfully, such melancholy came over the Wolf that he turned off his phone, firmly closed the doors of his house, took out his old hiking pipe and lit it. And he began to remember his younger years, when he was healthy, strong and young.
Greyside had a best buddy — Wolf Brownside. They had lived in the same forest since childhood and were inseparable friends. Many interesting stories happened to them, they'd been everywhere and seen everything.
And how many funny incidents happened to them — you couldn't tell them all. Wolf Greyside sits there, smoking his pipe, and remembers one of those funny stories. Funny to some, sad to others.
Both friends decided to steal nuts from Squirrel's hollow. Brownside climbed up the tree, reached the very top, filled his pockets full of nuts, but couldn't climb back down. He sat in the tree all night, while Greyside sat under the tree afraid to tell his mother, because they both would have gotten a serious scolding. Their mothers were stern she-wolves.
And they were helped by Beaver — an old firefighter. He tore his shirt and ripped his trousers when he got Brownside down from the tree. As a sign of gratitude, the friends decided to help Beaver plant a garden. They came in the morning, dug up the beds while the firefighter went for seeds. They saw some roots lying on a bench along the garden.
Well, the old firefighter probably forgot about these seeds! Let's do him a favour — we'll plant them all around the garden, let them grow and bear fruit.
Brownside and Greyside decided to help Beaver.
And two weeks later, the firefighter came running to them shouting:
I got you down from the tree, saved your lives, and you filled my garden with weeds, such weeds that no hoe can clear them and no axe can cut them down! Now nothing grows there except this useless grass! I worked so hard planting vegetables, all for nothing because of your "help"!
Another funny incident happened when best buddies Greyside and Brownside were guarding the forest from loggers. There were several squads of defenders at the border. And Greyside was the cook there. Once he cooked a full pot of porridge and instead of sugar he put salt in it, and not a pinch, but five whole spoonfuls. He mixed them up.
And everyone ate silently, pretending it was tasty. All because Brownside — his best buddy, ordered everyone to be quiet and praise the porridge, so that Greyside wouldn't be punished and thrown in the brig.
Jack Greyside got so lost in his daydreams, sprawled in his armchair, that a knock at the door startled him.
Well, here we go! Who's come to me for advice now!
Greyside opened the door and saw on the threshold — you'll never guess who — Jack Brownside! He too had been terribly missing his friend and decided to visit him.
