It was January. Outside the window, beautiful snowflakes danced through the air as if alive, while the bright sun shone in the sky. The day was so wonderful that even the bitter, nose-nipping frost couldn't spoil it.
Little Liam put on his favourite grey toque, his mittens and warm scarf were also grey. And the little boy looked just like a grey fluffy kitten.
Liam opened the door, stepped onto the threshold, and exclaimed:
This is beautiful! I've only seen this in pictures in the book that Grandpa reads to me in the evenings. Can it really be this beautiful outside? I bet magical things happen on wonderful days like this.
Liam rushed to run through the snow, which crunched so melodiously under his feet. The boy decided to go into the forest for a walk—there, the trees were probably dressed in white coats, and the snowdrifts were surely taller than Liam himself.
The boy walked through the forest and suddenly heard someone squeaking in a thin, gentle voice.
I wonder who that could be?
The boy thought.
Slowing his pace, Liam peered ahead and saw a small red mouse. It was lying on its back, not moving. Liam rushed over in bewilderment:
Mouse, mouuuse, are you alive?
The mouse didn't react.
The poor thing must have frozen. And suddenly the little red mouse opened one eye and jumped up.
Phew! Well, I'll be!
She squeaked.
This is amazing! Can animals really talk?
And then Liam remembered how Grandpa told him interesting stories where different magical things happened during the winter months. This must be one of those magical moments.
So you're not a cat?
Asked the squeaky mouse.
No, what made you think that?
The boy was surprised.
Well, I was running along quietly, and suddenly I turned my head, and there you were on the horizon, all grey, fluffy and round. I thought you were a cat and decided to pretend I'd frozen in this cold.
But why?
The boy continued to be surprised.
So you wouldn't eat me.
Liam and the mouse laughed loudly. And then the mouse asked:
Would you like to come visit me?
I'd love to. I've never visited real animals that can talk before. But how will I find your home?
How about this—I'll run home slowly and my paw prints will stay in the snow. You can follow them to my house.
And so they agreed. The mouse scurried down the path, and Liam followed her tracks.
The boy walked along the trail without turning anywhere. Suddenly, a snowball appeared in his path, and right in front of Liam's nose, the ball turned into a wild boar.
Hey there! Who's blocking my path?
Amazing! You can talk too? Is this really possible?
Liam said, falling on his bottom in bewilderment.
Of course, we animals talk too, and we understand you people perfectly well.
The boar replied.
I never thought you could understand us!
The boy said.
You know what? Come visit me. I'll feed you, and you can warm up before heading home.
The boar shouted with a smile.
The new friends agreed just as he had with the mouse. The boar would leave tracks, and Liam would follow them to his home.
The boy walked along the path, humming a tune.
Before he knew it, the red mouse jumped out in front of him and shouted:
Here's my home! And these are my friends!
Next to the mouse, other red mice were stomping their feet.
Now we'll feed you the most delicious delicacy.
The mouse handed Liam a small clump of hay.
Liam thought that since the mice could talk, the hay must be magical—edible for people. The boy tried the clump and was delighted.
It turned out that this haystack was one the boy and his grandfather had prepared last summer for their horses, who lived in the stable near the house. Grandpa had been raising stallions and snow-white horses for a long time, and they stored the cut hay for their animals right here, in the forest.
While Liam was thinking and rejoicing, the wild boar quietly crept up from behind.
Aha, you're already here! Well, that's good! Now I'll treat you to something tasty.
The tusked boar handed the boy the same clump of hay.
Liam couldn't believe his eyes. Turning around, he saw that the mice had vanished without a trace.
Do you live here with the mice?
The boy asked the boar.
What mice? I live here all alone.
The boar replied.
This haystack must be huge if so many little animals have settled in it.
Liam thought.
At that moment, a loud creak sounded nearby, and from behind the haystack appeared Liam's grandfather, who had come to the forest on a sleigh for hay.
Before Liam could turn around, all the animals had disappeared, scattering in all directions.
Liam told Grandpa what had happened to him. Grandpa wasn't surprised at all—he'd lived longer and seen many wonders in his life.
Well then, Liam. Let's leave a small haystack for these forest animals. Of course, we prepared all this for our horses, but forest animals also need somewhere to winter and live. We'll be doing a good deed!
And so they agreed. And when Liam and Grandpa left, the boar and mice returned home. They had a home for the winter, and they had food too.
