In a large, dense forest there once lived a rabbit family. The family was large and close-knit. All the little rabbits obeyed their father — the wise Rabbit and their mother — the kind Rabbit Mother.
But trouble suddenly befell the smallest, most mischievous and restless Little Rabbit Long Ears. He suddenly stopped obeying everyone — absolutely everyone, even his mom and dad.
Little Rabbit, breakfast is ready!
Mother Rabbit Mother would say.
But Little Rabbit would only droop his long ears, pretending not to hear.
Little Rabbit, it's time to go to bed!
Father Rabbit would remind him, but in response everyone would again see those drooped long ears that wouldn't listen.
One day the little rabbits were playing near their home. Our little one was so eager to run far away and see what was beyond the thick, dark bushes.
Little Rabbit, you can't run far into the forest. Mom doesn't allow it!
His brothers and sisters cried out to him.
But Little Rabbit had already pressed his ears back and bolted away from them.
There we go.
Little Rabbit thought.
I'll decide for myself what to do and where to walk.
He stopped, perked up his ears, opened his eyes and saw that he had ended up in a large forest clearing.
Suddenly his perked-up ears heard the voice of a large bird scolding her chicks.
I'm flying away, sit still, or you'll fall out of the nest and end up in the teeth of predators.
Mother Bird fluttered away, and the chicks were left alone in the nest.
Little Rabbit saw that at first they sat quietly and still, but then they started pushing and teasing each other.
I'm the strongest.
One chick said.
We'll see about that.
The second chick echoed, pushing his brother.
They made such a racket, screamed so loudly, that a fox came running out from behind the bushes at the noise. And as soon as she raised her snout up, she saw a chick that had fallen out of the nest…All she had to do was open her mouth and swallow the disobedient little one.
Little Rabbit froze in horror.
Those disobedient ones! I would never…
He thought.
And suddenly our little one realized that he was just as disobedient as these chicks, and right now, he too could end up in the teeth of the cunning fox. He rushed back to his home, under the protection of his parents.
Of course, he asked for forgiveness for his disobedience and became the most obedient Little Rabbit in the entire forest!
