Once upon a time there lived a little rabbit in the forest. Long-eared, quick, nimble, but he had one flaw — he grumbled about everything under the sun. That's why the forest animals called him Grumbles. It was difficult for the grumbling rabbit to get along with other animals. Every day, nothing pleased him. The sun rises bright, peering through the window at the rabbit, but he lies in bed and only mutters:
Ugh, the sun is so bright, it even blinds my eyes. I wish the clouds would come quickly and hide it! — and he covers himself with the blanket over his head.
Another time, the rabbit's mother bakes pies with carrots and cabbage. The pies are hearty, fragrant, all the forest neighbours come running to try a piece and praise the rabbit's mother. But Grumbles is displeased again:
The pies are certainly tasty, but I've eaten so much that now I can't go for a walk. I can't even get up from the chair. Oh dear!
One day the forest rabbits decided to have a race. To find out who was the fastest in the forest. But they didn't invite the grumbling rabbit — he wouldn't like it anyway. Grumbles found out about this and was offended, because he loved to run and was the fastest and most nimble rabbit in the whole wide world. And they didn't invite him. The rabbit walks through the forest, grumbling to himself:
The weather is bad, the path is too narrow, the trees are awfully tall, my shoes are rubbing, I'm hungry...
He grumbled so much that he didn't notice how he wandered deep, deep into the forest. The rabbit often walked through the forest, but only on familiar paths and never went far from home. And there was nothing to do in the depths of the forest anyway. All the animals live on the edges, in the clearings, not in the depths.
Only wolves and foxes hunt here sometimes. Grumbles looked around and realised he didn't know how to get back home. The rabbit became frightened; a branch creaks behind him, leaves rustle, and it seems like danger lurks everywhere. The little rabbit perked up his ears and heard — someone was coming ahead behind the trees. He hid behind a wide spruce trunk and looked through the branches.
A thin, grey-haired old man in a funny fur hat was passing by. He was the local forester. He lives in a small cottage and looks after the forest. He knows every animal by name and doesn't let anyone be wronged. The animals also love the forester, but no one knows where his cottage is. Some even think he's a wizard and doesn't live anywhere, but instead turns into a forest animal and walks through the forest.
Grumbles recognised the forester and ran towards him.
Grandfather forester, I'm lost! — he said sadly.
Grumbles? How did you end up here? I didn't expect to meet you in such a remote place, — the forester greeted him in surprise.
I ran into the forest because I was upset that the other rabbits didn't invite me to participate in the race. And then I didn't notice how I got lost. — the rabbit told the old man.
I see... — the forester pondered, — you live on the edge, don't you? It's quite far for you to go home now, and it's getting late. Tell you what, why don't you spend the night at my cottage today? I'll feed you, warm you up, make a bed, and in the morning I'll see you home.
At your place? Do you really... — the rabbit hesitated, — do you really live in a cottage?
Of course I do, where else! It's right here, not far away. I need to keep a closer eye on this part of the forest, so I settled here.
Then I agree! — the rabbit smiled.
The path to the forester's cottage was short. They walked through dense thickets and found themselves in a small clearing. Entering the house, Grumbles looked around and said:
Yes, you have a nice little house, but it could be bigger... How will we fit in here?
We'll manage somehow, — the forester smiled, — Will you have some tea?
Of course!
The forester heated the samovar and poured himself and the rabbit a large cup of fragrant herbal tea. The rabbit took a sip and said:
Oh, it's too hot, it even burnt my tongue!
The forester brought cold water and diluted the rabbit's tea. He took another sip and started grumbling again.
The tea is tasty, fragrant, but why are the cups so big? I can't drink that much, and it's a shame to waste it. And it's too sweet.
Will you have supper, Grumbles? — the forester only replied.
Yes!
The forester brought pies with potatoes, a drink made from forest berries and specially for the rabbit took out carrot jam. The rabbit ate his fill, but didn't stop grumbling:
Pies with potatoes, where have you ever seen that! Now my mother makes them with cabbage — that's the thing. Pies should be with cabbage, not potatoes, that's not tasty. The berry drink is sour, and the jam...
If you don't like the jam, you don't have to eat it, — the forester didn't let the rabbit finish.
No, of course I'll eat it, but it's too orange.
After supper, the forester made a bed for the rabbit, gave him a down quilt and a pillow. The rabbit lay down and couldn't fall asleep for a long time — he tossed and turned and grumbled:
Oh, how uncomfortable, the mattress is hard, the quilt is too heavy, and the pillow is too soft.
The forester didn't go to bed; he heard the rabbit grumble again and decided to teach him a lesson. After all, the animals were right, he really was a wizard. He just couldn't turn into an animal, but he could cast spells better than anyone. When the rabbit fell asleep, the old man crept up to his bed and sent him a special dream.
In his dream, the rabbit saw his little house on the edge of the forest, his mother and the other rabbits. He joyfully ran towards home, wanted to say how happy he was to return, to tell about the forester's cottage and the tea they drank together, and about the rabbits who didn't invite him to the race, but when he opened his mouth, he realised he couldn't say a word.
His mother hugged him, but he just opened and closed his mouth. He so wanted to share the news with his mother, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't. The rabbit became very frightened and woke up in tears. It was already morning, the forester was drinking tea by the window, and the rabbit decided to ask him about this strange dream.
Good morning, Grumbles, did you sleep well? – asked the old man and smiled.
The rabbit told his unusual dream, and the forester replied.
You see, when you could speak, you grumbled constantly and didn't value what others did for you. And when you lost the ability to say a word, you became upset. So maybe you shouldn't grumble over trifles? After all, every word has value.
Yes, now I don't want to grumble at all! — the rabbit confirmed his words.
Then let's have tea, — suggested the forester. But he didn't put any sugar in the rabbit's tea. He decided to test what he would say. Would he grumble or not.
The rabbit took a sip of tea and frowned. He was about to tell the forester that the tea wasn't tasty and that there wasn't enough sugar, when he remembered the frightening dream and said:
Grandfather forester, thank you for your hospitality, for the night's lodging and for the tea and pies. May I add a little sugar?
The forester laughed, brought jam, buns and sugar. And said:
You see, little rabbit, you don't have to grumble, you can just ask. You're a good boy for understanding that. Let's have breakfast, and then I'll see you home, in case you get lost again.
When the rabbit finished eating, he thanked the forester once more. They found the way home quickly, the old man knew all the forest paths well. The rabbit was very happy to return, he hugged his mother, who had been very worried, and told her everything. But he decided to keep quiet about the dream. It was a secret between him and the old forester.
From that day on, the rabbit no longer wasted words. He began to appreciate the little things and never forgot to say 'thank you'. And when the other animals saw that Grumbles had changed, they started inviting him for walks more often, and even asked him to participate in the race. The rabbit came in first. Soon he was called Swift Rabbit, and everyone had long forgotten his old nickname.
