In a beautiful and large house there once lived a children's Bed. It had the finest and warmest bedding, the lightest duvet in a lace duvet cover. It also had a comfortable mattress, which was covered with a beautiful sheet featuring a fairy-tale princess, and a soft pillow.
In this Bed slept a small, pretty girl named Lenochka. Every morning she would wake up, stretch and yawn in bed, then quickly jump up and run to her toys, but she would forget to tidy her bed after sleeping.
The Bed felt sad because it loved everything to be in order. During the day, after a long night, it loved to rest completely made up and neat, but the crumpled duvet and wrinkled sheet caused it much distress. Lenochka never straightened her bed after sleeping. She waited for her grandmother Valya to come and tidy up her bedroom. The poor Bed was very upset, because it had to work all night to keep its mistress warm and lull her with sweet dreams. So during the day it dreamed of proper rest.
The Bed hoped very much that Lenochka would grow up and care for it, just as it cared for the girl. But time passed, and the little girl still did not want to look after her bed.
And our Bed also very much disliked the tantrums with which Lenochka went to sleep every evening.
She cried loudly and shouted:
I don't want to sleep! I want to play with my toys! I don't like my bed!
And the poor Bed began to feel even sadder, because not everyone would like such treatment. And one day, after the girl woke up and went off to breakfast again, it decided to teach the spoiled child a lesson:
Since I'm treated this way in this house and nobody needs me, I'll leave here and find a caring owner! After all, it's so hurtful when nobody looks after you and nobody loves you! — said the Bed and walked out of the house.
Moving its legs, the Bed found itself on the street, stood in the middle of the road and began to think about where to go.
Our runaway had never walked before, so it was difficult for her to move along the road. Seeing a path, she turned onto the grass. Walking turned out to be easier, because the soft grass reminded her of the carpet that lay in Lenochka's bedroom.
The path led the Bed into the depths of the forest. There was so much interesting and new for our Bed! All around, trees rustled with leaves, birds flew from branch to branch and chirped in their cheerful language. Under a little fir tree, young rabbits played tag, and young squirrels threw nuts at them and laughed merrily.
I'm sure to find a new owner here! — the Bed thought happily.
Just then a hedgehog ran by.
Hello, Hedgehog! — says the Bed. — Would you like to become my owner and sleep on my comfortable mattress?
But the Hedgehog only laughed at her.
Hello, Stranger! — replies the Hedgehog. — I would gladly, but I love to sleep during the day in my cosy nest, which is in the roots of big trees! And you're too tall for me, how would I climb up each time?
And he ran off, rustling the leaves.
The Bed sighed and began to make her way deeper into the forest. She sees a bear gathering berries in the bushes. She approached closer.
Hello, Bear! — says the Bed. — You must be tired after a whole day? Would you like to rest on me, and I'll sing you a lullaby, and perhaps you'll fall asleep?
Hello, Bed! Thank you for such an offer! But if I lie on you, I'll break you at once, — answered the Bear. — I'm more used to and comfortable in my warm den, on soft moss.
And he continued to gather berries.
The Bed was very upset, but there was nothing to be done, so she decided to go further. She had barely taken a few steps when a little young rabbit jumped out from under her legs:
Excuse me, — said the Little Rabbit to the Bed and wanted to hop away.
Hello, little one! — she answered. — You're so small and very quick, you must get tired during the day playing active games? I can help you get a good night's sleep! Look at my duvet and pillow!
The little rabbit became interested, jumped onto the Bed's mattress, lay on the soft pillow, and covered himself with the warm duvet.
Wow, how cosy and soft! Not like in our burrow! I still have three brothers and a sister, we could all fit on you, — marvelled the Little Rabbit. — But, sorry, with us on you, it would be easy for predators to attack us.
The little rabbit jumped off the mattress and disappeared into the grass. The Bed cried bitterly, because it was beginning to get dark outside. She already regretted leaving home, and she didn't know the way back at all.
At that time, little Lenochka, having been given warm milk before bed, was being sent — as always, with tantrums — to sleep in her bedroom.
She cried loudly and stamped her feet:
I won't go to bed, I want to play!
But, stepping into her room, she froze in amazement: the room was empty, there was no Bed in the corner. Lenochka began to search for it all over the house: she looked in her parents' room, went to the cupboard, to the kitchen… The Bed was nowhere to be found.
