In a forest, there lived two best friends — Chipmunk Charlie and Raccoon Freddy. The friends had been inseparable since childhood; they always helped each other in difficult times and cared for one another.
The forest where the friends lived was the most beautiful of all in the area. There were so many interesting and beautiful trees, and in summer, when everything turned green, wonderful bright flowers bloomed in the clearings.
Charlie and Freddy often came here to play and admire the incredible beauty, bringing along various treats and toys. One beautiful summer day, when the bright sun was shining and birds were singing their lovely songs all around, the friends decided to have fun in the flower meadow again.
They brought from home all the tastiest things — nuts, berries, seeds, and other delicacies. Each of them had their own little house, and each decorated it as they wished.
The doorstep of Charlie's house was decorated with different twigs that looked like crafts made from colourful paper. All the forest creatures even came to look at this beauty. Freddy had pasted beautiful patterns made of leaves on the windows of his house; he knew how to make very beautiful collages. The friends often visited each other and had a lot of fun together.
And so, arriving at the flower meadow, Charlie and Freddy spread out their mat, made from willow branches, on the warm green grass, laid out the food, and began to run and play. Right in the middle of the meadow stood a tall tree, and our friends loved to climb to the very top to see all the hidden spots in the forest, all the burrows and houses of their neighbours, and all the clearings where they could go to play.
Charlie: Come on, catch up with me! I'm almost at the very top!
Freddy exclaimed.
The tree was very tall, and if you looked down from the very top, the friends' paws sometimes trembled with fear. But still, it was very interesting for them to compete to see who would reach the highest branch first.
Freddy, how do you always climb to the top so fast? Are you eating something special that gives you so much strength?
Charlie asked.
Ha-ha-ha! You're so funny! You're just a weakling, and I'm strong, that's all!
Raccoon Freddy laughed.
Chipmunk frowned; he always did that when he was offended. Every time the friends played games where they had to climb or run somewhere, Freddy won and always teased the slow chipmunk.
You know I was just joking! You're doing great, and I'm deliberately encouraging you to move faster! You're my best friend, and I'll never love anyone else as much as I love you! I won't say things like that anymore; I really don't like it when you get upset!
Charlie offered Freddy his paw and helped him climb to the very top.
And suddenly, when the friends settled on the outermost and strongest branch, they heard a strange sound: "chr-chr-chr."
Who's there???
Charlie was frightened.
Who else is sitting here besides us? Where are you hiding?
Freddy shouted.
From behind the leaves covering the tree trunk, a small red face suddenly appeared. First, a little nose showed, and then eyes and ears.
Hello! My name is Scarlet, and I live here now.
The new tree resident suddenly exclaimed loudly. It was a squirrel with a fluffy fiery-red tail and a fluffy black chest.
Well, I'll be! You scared us so much we nearly fell off the branches!
Charlie said with a loud sigh.
Please forgive me, I didn't mean to scare you at all. I'm just new here, don't know anyone, so I didn't show myself right away. You know what? Let's be friends! I know so many different interesting games; we'll never be bored. Come visit me often, and I'll treat you to sweets.
Scarlet chattered and hugged her new forest friends.
From then on, the little animals played and walked together, ran through the flower meadow, gathered berries and seeds together, and were happy.
One day, Charlie, Freddy, and Scarlet decided to go to the river together. Scarlet brought a small raft she had made herself, and the boys brought various treats.
Arriving at the river, Scarlet sat on the raft and said:
Only two can fit here. You decide who will float down the river with me, and I'll wash up in the meantime.
Me, of course, me!
Charlie shouted.
Why you? I want to too!
Freddy protested.
You know, Scarlet! You're my best friend now, so you should let me on the raft!
Charlie insisted.
What about me? I want to be friends and play with you too, Scarlet. Charlie doesn't have as many wonderful and interesting games, and with you it's always fun and interesting!
Freddy shouted.
The little animals began to argue with each other and, in the end, both rushed onto the raft. Crashing onto it simultaneously, the raft suddenly broke into two pieces and floated in different directions.
Well, you've ruined everything!
Scarlet shouted.
She waved her fluffy tail and quickly hopped home.
And Charlie and Freddy turned away from each other and went to their own houses.
Winter came, and it became very cold in the forest. White fluffy snow fell in such a thick layer that you couldn't even see the bushes. One day, Charlie decided to leave his house; he decided to collect new twigs to decorate his home. Having gathered everything necessary, the chipmunk prepared to go home; it was already getting dark outside, and he didn't want to wander through the dark wilderness.
But approaching his house, he fell in amazement — instead of his house, a huge tree lay on the ground, which had fallen right onto the roof from the wind. Charlie burst into tears, because now he had nowhere to live, and it was so cold outside. And then he remembered his new best friend who lived in the clearing at the top of the biggest tree in the forest. He set off to see her.
Squirrel, it's me, Charlie! Let me in; my house was crushed by a tree, and now I have nowhere to live! We're friends, aren't we!
As if! If I let you in, there'll be very little space left for me, and I'll have to share my food with you. No, I won't let you in. Go build yourself a new home; I don't want to live with you!
Charlie heard a completely unexpected answer.
Confused by such a terrible response, Charlie began to sob, so loudly that Freddy heard him. The raccoon's house wasn't far from the clearing where Scarlet lived.
He rushed toward the sound, and arriving at the spot, asked:
What happened, Charlie? You're crying so loudly I can hear it even at my house!
Freddy? Aren't you upset with me? We had a fight; I thought you wouldn't want to see me anymore! I don't have a house anymore; it was crushed by a huge tree, and now I have nowhere to go.
The chipmunk cried.
Freddy lifted Charlie from the cold snowy ground, and they headed home to the raccoon's place.
You know, Charlie, I thought about it and decided that I never had, don't have, and never will have a better friend than you. Stay and live here; together we'll be happier, and we'll gather food together!
Freddy burst into tears of happiness.
From then on, the chipmunk and raccoon never parted. They understood that you must never betray your best and loyal friends; you must always help each other, care for one another, and never quarrel.
Free stories are a real and very good textbook for children and adults. These tales teach us to live in kindness and care.
