In a deep, dense forest, on the forest's edge, several rabbit families had made their homes. In each family there were many small, fluffy, and mischievous baby rabbits. But with an old grey rabbit mother, by rabbit standards, there was only one son. She loved him dearly and carefully protected him from all sorts of troubles. But as the bunny grew older, he began to resent his mother's care. He constantly tried to run away from her and refused to listen to what his wise and experienced mother told him.
You're always following me around, always telling me what I can't do.
The bunny, who considered himself grown up, complained angrily.
Well, how could it be any other way? I love you very much. There are so many dangers in the forest. Most predators dream of nothing but catching us and eating us.
Replied the wise mother rabbit.
That's all nonsense. I've been around for a while now and haven't met a single predator.
That's precisely because I've protected you from them. And if you listen to my advice, you'll soon learn to avoid predators yourself...
The rabbit mother began to say.
I don't want to, I won't.
Said the bunny and dashed away.
The mother rabbit tried to chase him, but how could she catch up with such a small and quick rabbit? And the bunny ran so fast that soon he was far from home. He had never run so far before.
Finally, freedom!!!
The foolish rabbit shouted loudly.
And suddenly he heard: "dom, dom." It was an echo, but the bunny didn't know that. He thought someone was talking to him.
Who's there? Come out and show yourself.
The rabbit shouted loudly again.
"Self, self..."
That's all he heard in response.
Who are you? And how dare you speak to me like that?
The bunny shouted even louder and arrogantly.
The echo replied with "that, that."
The bunny became even angrier. And he began to shout even louder.
Come out, I said.
A fox heard this noise from the bunny's shouting. She was passing by and was looking for something or someone to have for breakfast. The fox ran towards the sounds and saw a small bunny sitting in the middle of the forest clearing, shouting. The fox looked around and saw no one nearby. The fox thought it might be a sick rabbit, but listening to the conversation, she realized that the shouting bunny was simply foolish. After all, he was talking to an echo.
Why are you shouting?
Asked the fox.
And who are you? Were you the one talking to me?
The bunny asked in surprise.
Don't you know what an echo is?
The fox was surprised.
An echo?
The bunny asked again.
Yes. An echo is fragments of sounds that come from the forest.
So I was talking to myself?
The bunny asked in surprise.
Exactly.
Said the cunning fox with a laugh, anticipating a tasty dinner.
Who are you? Are you perhaps a predator?
The bunny suddenly decided to ask.
No, of course not. I eat berries and plants. What are you doing here? Where are your parents?
Replied the fox.
I'm all alone here. I ran away from home. I'm already grown up, but my mother doesn't understand me at all. She's always telling me what to do. I'm tired of it.
The bunny said with pride in his voice.
You must be hungry?
A little.
Come visit me. I'll treat you to delicious herbs and berries. You won't go home anyway.
At that moment, the bunny's mother appeared in the clearing. She too had heard his cries and hurried to find her foolish son. When the mother rabbit saw her bunny talking to a fox, she was terrified. The mother rabbit jumped right onto the fox's head and covered the predator's eyes with her paws.
Run, my son. This is a fox—the most cunning predator. She'll eat you!
Cried the mother rabbit.
The bunny ran as fast as he could. He ran for a long time without looking back, but then, exhausted, he stopped. The bunny realized his mother was in mortal danger, and he wanted to run back, but he saw his mother running towards him. She hugged her son tightly.
Forgive me, Mother. I was so foolish. All your teachings are so important. I promise I will always, always listen to you.
Said the bunny, trembling with fear.
I'm so glad you understand that.
Said the mother rabbit, comforting her son.
They returned home. The bunny began to listen to his mother in everything and never ran away from her again.
