Once, before New Year, Grandfather Frost decided to visit the children to congratulate them on the holiday and give them presents. The children had behaved well throughout the year and studied hard. He had prepared many gifts and sweets for them.
He packed all of this into a large red sack and set off to the children's celebration. The sack was very heavy, and Grandfather Frost walked slowly, groaning and sighing.
Snow began to fall. When he approached the forest, snow had drifted—almost a metre deep. It became difficult for Grandfather Frost to walk. He came to a large snow drift and decided to rest—he put the sack on the ground and sat down.
Suddenly he heard a squeak, but saw no one nearby. The squeak sounded again, but he couldn't see the source. Suddenly Grandfather noticed the snow on the drift move and a small white tail appeared.
Who are you? — asked Grandfather Frost.
I'm a little bunny, — answered the "Tail".
Little bunny, I'm going to the children to congratulate them on New Year and give them presents. But my sack is very heavy. Can you help me carry it? — asked Grandfather Frost.
With pleasure, Grandfather, I'll help you, — answered Bunny.
The blizzard didn't stop. The snow drifts grew larger, and Bunny couldn't hop and was freezing. Grandfather Frost placed him inside his coat. Evening came, and in winter it gets dark quickly.
Grandfather, — said Bunny, — we won't make it to the children today. I know where we can warm up. My friends, Squirrel and Little Owl, live not far from here. They have food to eat (as you know, squirrels and owls store food for winter). And they live in a warm cottage.
Let's go quickly, show me the way! — replied Grandfather Frost.
Soon they came to a beautiful log cottage where Squirrel and Little Owl lived, knocked on the door and were let in.
Squirrel and Little Owl were delighted to see guests. They hadn't seen Bunny in a long time, and had long dreamed of meeting Grandfather Frost. The cottage was warm and smelled of tea with jam and biscuits. After tea, the friends began to share their news.
After hearing their guests' story, Squirrel and Little Owl decided to help them. On the morning of 31 December, the blizzard stopped and the sun shone. But a lot of snow had fallen. Little Owl said:
You help Grandfather Frost carry the sack, and I'll fly above and show you the way from up there.
That's a clever idea, Little Owl, otherwise we'd wander in the forest for a long time, — replied Grandfather Frost.
Little Owl flew up and after a while pointed them to a pine tree that grew on a hill.
Do you see that pine tree?
Yes! — Bunny and Squirrel answered in unison.
Head towards the pine tree, then turn right, — commanded Little Owl.
Grandfather Frost made something like a sledge from spruce branches and put the sack on it. This made it easier for the friends to carry the sack of gifts. After a few hours they came to the nursery school.
The children were overjoyed, as they had been waiting for Grandfather Frost and had prepared well for the New Year celebration: they had decorated the tree, decorated the nursery school, dressed up as fairy tale characters and forest creatures, and learned poems.
Goodbye! — said Squirrel and Little Owl and began to prepare to go home.
Wait, don't go, stay with us. We're about to have fun and celebrate New Year.
And besides, there are enough gifts for everyone! — said Grandfather Frost.
And the friends stayed. And Grandfather Frost and Bunny became such good friends that from then on, on New Year postcards and pictures in books, Grandfather Frost is always drawn together with Bunny, who became his best friend and indispensable helper.
