Once upon a time there lived a little rabbit in the forest. Long-eared, quick, and nimble, but he had one flaw — he complained about everything under the sun. That's why the forest animals called him Grumpy. It was hard for the complaining rabbit to get along with other animals. Every single day, nothing was right for him. The sun rises bright and shines through his window, but he lies in bed and just mutters:
Ugh, the sun is so bright, it's blinding my eyes. I wish the clouds would hurry up and cover it! — and he pulls the blanket over his head.
Another time, his mother bakes pies with carrots and cabbage. The pies are hearty and fragrant, and all the forest neighbours come running to try a piece and praise mother rabbit. But Grumpy is unhappy again:
The pies are tasty, of course, but I've eaten so much that I can't go for a walk now. I can't even get up from my chair. Oh dear!
One day, the forest rabbits decided to have a race to find out who was the fastest in the forest. But they didn't invite the complaining rabbit — he wouldn't like it anyway. Grumpy found out about this and was upset, because he loved to run and was the fastest and most nimble rabbit in the whole wide world. But they didn't invite him. The rabbit wanders through the forest, muttering to himself:
Bad weather, the path is too narrow, the trees are too tall, my shoes are rubbing, I'm hungry...
He complained so much that he didn't notice how he wandered deep, deep into the forest. The rabbit often walked in the forest, but only on familiar paths and never went far from home. And there was nothing to do in the depths of the forest anyway. All the animals live on the edges, not in the heart of the woods.
Only wolves and foxes hunt here sometimes. Grumpy looked around and realized he didn't know how to get back home. The rabbit got scared, a branch creaks behind him, leaves rustle, and it seems like danger is lurking everywhere. The little rabbit perked up his ears and heard someone walking ahead behind the trees. He hid behind a wide spruce trunk and looked through the branches.
A thin, grey-haired old man in a funny fur hat was passing by. He was the local forest ranger. He lives in a small cottage and looks after the forest. He knows every animal by name and doesn't let anyone harm them. The animals also love the ranger, but no one knows where his cottage is. Some even think he's a wizard and doesn't live anywhere, but instead turns into a forest animal and walks through the woods.
Grumpy recognized the ranger and ran towards him.
Grandfather ranger, I'm lost! — he said sadly.
Grumpy? How did you end up here? I never expected to meet you in such a remote place, — the ranger greeted him in surprise.
I ran into the forest because I was upset that the other rabbits didn't invite me to the race. And then I didn't even notice how I got lost. — the rabbit told the old man.
I see... — the ranger thought, — you live on the edge of the forest, right? It's quite far for you to get home now, and it's getting late. Tell you what, why don't you stay at my cottage tonight? I'll feed you, warm you up, and make a bed for you, and in the morning I'll walk you home.
At your place? Do you really... — the rabbit hesitated, — do you really live in a cottage?
Of course I do, where else! It's right here, not far away. I need to keep a closer eye on this part of the forest, so I settled here.
Then I agree! — the rabbit smiled.
The path to the ranger's cottage was short. They walked through thick undergrowth and came to a small clearing. When they entered the house, Grumpy looked around and said:
Yes, you have a nice little house, but it could be bigger... How will we both fit in here?
We'll manage somehow, — the ranger smiled, — Will you have some tea?
Of course!
The ranger heated the samovar and poured himself and the rabbit a large cup of fragrant herbal tea. The rabbit took a sip and said:
Ouch, it's too hot, I burned my tongue!
The ranger brought some cold water and diluted the rabbit's tea. He took another sip and started complaining again.
The tea is tasty and fragrant, but why are the cups so big? I can't drink that much, and it's a shame to waste it. And it's too sweet.
Will you have dinner, Grumpy? — the ranger simply replied.
Yes!
The ranger brought pies with potatoes, a berry drink, and especially for the rabbit, he took out carrot jam. The rabbit ate his fill, but didn't stop complaining:
Pies with potatoes, where have you ever seen that! My mother makes them with cabbage — now that's good. Pies should be with cabbage, not potatoes, that's not tasty. The berry drink is sour, and the jam...
If you don't like the jam, you don't have to eat it, — the ranger interrupted the rabbit.
No, I'll eat it of course, but it's too orange.
After dinner, the ranger made a bed for the rabbit, gave him a down quilt and a pillow. The rabbit lay down and couldn't fall asleep for a long time — he tossed and turned and complained:
Oh, how uncomfortable, the mattress is too hard, the quilt is too heavy, and the pillow is too soft.
The ranger didn't go to bed. He heard the rabbit complaining again and decided to teach him a lesson. After all, the animals were right — he really was a wizard. He just couldn't turn into an animal, but he could cast spells better than anyone. When the rabbit fell asleep, the old man crept up to his bed and sent him a special dream.
In his dream, the rabbit saw his little house on the edge of the forest, his mother, and the other rabbits. He joyfully ran towards home, wanting to say how happy he was to be back, to tell them about the ranger's cottage and the tea they drank together, and about the rabbits who didn't invite him to the race, but when he opened his mouth, he realized he couldn't say a word.
His mother hugged him, but he just opened and closed his mouth. He so wanted to share the news with his mother, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. The rabbit got very scared and woke up in tears. It was already morning, the ranger was drinking tea by the window, and the rabbit decided to ask him about this strange dream.
Good morning, Grumpy, did you sleep well? – asked the old man and smiled.
The rabbit told him his unusual dream, and the ranger replied:
You see, when you could speak, you complained all the time and didn't value what others did for you. But when you lost the ability to say a word, you got upset. So maybe you shouldn't complain about trifles? After all, every word has value.
Yes, I don't want to complain anymore! — the rabbit confirmed his words.
Then let's have tea, — suggested the ranger. But he didn't put any sugar in the rabbit's tea. He decided to test what he would say. Would he complain or not.
The rabbit took a sip of tea and made a face. He was about to tell the ranger that the tea wasn't tasty and needed sugar, but he remembered the scary dream and said:
Grandfather ranger, thank you for your hospitality, for the night's stay, and for the tea and pies. Could I please have a little sugar?
The ranger laughed, brought jam, buns, and sugar. And said:
You see, little rabbit, you don't have to complain, you can just ask. You're a good rabbit for understanding that. Let's have breakfast, and then I'll walk you home so you don't get lost again.
When the rabbit finished eating, he thanked the ranger once more. They found the way home quickly — the old man knew all the forest paths well. The rabbit was very happy to be back. He hugged his mother, who had been very worried, and told her everything. But he decided to keep quiet about the dream. It was a secret between him and the old ranger.
From that day on, the rabbit didn't waste words anymore. He began to appreciate the little things and never forgot to say "thank you". And when the other animals saw that Grumpy had changed, they started inviting him for walks more often, and even asked him to join the race. The rabbit came in first. Soon they called him Speedy Rabbit, and everyone forgot about his old nickname.
