In a forest lived two best friends — Chipmunk Gesha and Raccoon Fima. The friends had been inseparable since childhood; they always helped each other in difficult times and looked after one another.
The forest where the friends lived was the most beautiful of all in the area. There were so many interesting and lovely trees, and in summer, when everything turned green, marvellous bright flowers bloomed in the clearings.
Gesha and Fima often came here to play and admire the incredible beauty, bringing along various treats and toys. One fine summer's day, when the bright sun was shining and birds were singing their beautiful songs all around, the friends decided to have fun in the flower meadow again.
They brought from home all the tastiest things — nuts, berries, seeds, and other delicacies. Each of them had his own little house, and each decorated it as he wished.
The doorstep of the house where Gesha lived was decorated with various twigs that looked like crafts made from coloured paper. All the forest creatures even came to see this beauty. Fima stuck beautiful patterns made of leaves on the windows of his house; he was very good at making collages. The friends often visited each other and had great fun together.
And so, arriving at the flower meadow, Gesha and Fima spread out their mat, made from willow twigs, on the warm green grass, laid out the food, and began to run about and play. Right in the middle of the meadow stood a tall tree, and our friends loved to climb to the very top to see all the hidden spots in the forest, all the burrows and houses of their neighbours, and all the clearings where they could go to play.
Gesha: Come on, catch me up! I'm almost at the very top already.
Fima exclaimed.
The tree was very tall, and if you looked down from the very top, the friends' paws sometimes trembled with fear. But still, it was very interesting for them to compete to see who would reach the highest branch first.
Fima, how do you always climb to the top so quickly? Do you eat something special that gives you so much strength?
Gesha asked.
Ha-ha-ha! You're funny! You're just a weakling, and I'm strong, that's all!
Raccoon Fima laughed.
Chipmunk frowned; he always did that when he was offended. Every time the friends played games where they had to climb or run somewhere, Fima won and always teased the slow chipmunk.
But you know I was only joking! You're doing brilliantly, and I'm deliberately encouraging you to make you move faster! You're my very best friend, and I'll never love anyone else as much as I love you! I won't say things like that anymore; I really don't like it when you're upset!
Gesha offered Fima his paw and helped him climb to the very top.
And suddenly, when the friends had settled on the outermost and strongest branch, they heard a strange sound: "chr-chr-chr".
Who's there???
Gesha was frightened.
Who else is sitting here besides us? Where are you hiding?
Fima shouted.
From behind the leaves covering the tree trunk, a small ginger face suddenly appeared. First a little nose showed, and then eyes and ears.
Hello! My name's Strelka, and I live here now.
The new tree resident suddenly exclaimed loudly. It was a squirrel with a fluffy fiery-ginger tail and a fluffy black chest.
Goodness me! You frightened us so much we nearly fell off the branches.
Gesha said with a loud sigh.
I'm ever so sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you at all. It's just that I'm new here, I don't know anyone, so I didn't show myself to you straight away. You know what? Let's be friends! I know so many different interesting games, we'll never be bored. Come and visit me often, and I'll treat you to sweets.
Strelka babbled and hugged her new forest friends.
From then on, the little animals played and walked together, ran about the flower meadow, gathered berries and seeds together, and were happy.
One day Gesha, Fima, and Strelka decided to go to the river together. Strelka brought along a little raft she had made herself, and the lads brought various treats.
Arriving at the river, Strelka sat down on the raft and said:
There's only room for two here. You decide amongst yourselves who'll sail down the river with me, and I'll have a wash in the meantime.
Me, of course, me!
Gesha shouted.
Why you? I want to as well!
Fima protested.
You know, Strelka! You're my very best friend now, so you should let me on the raft!
Gesha insisted.
What about me? I want to be friends and play with you too, Strelka. Gesha doesn't have as many wonderful and interesting games, and with you it's always fun and interesting!
Fima shouted.
The little animals began to argue amongst themselves and, in the end, both rushed onto the raft. Crashing onto it simultaneously, the raft suddenly broke into two pieces and floated off in different directions.
Well, you've ruined everything!
Strelka shouted.
She waved her fluffy tail and quickly hopped home.
And Gesha and Fima turned away from each other and went off to their own houses.
Winter came, and it became very cold in the forest. White fluffy snow fell, in such a thick layer that you couldn't even see the bushes. One day Gesha decided to go outside from his house; he decided to gather some new twigs to decorate his home. Having collected everything necessary, the chipmunk prepared to go home; it was already getting dark outside, and he didn't want to wander through the dark thickets.
But approaching his house, he fell down in amazement — instead of his house, an enormous tree lay on the ground, which had fallen from the wind right onto the roof. Gesha burst into tears, because now he had nowhere to live, and it was so cold outside. And then he remembered his new best friend who lived in the clearing at the top of the biggest tree in the forest. He set off to see her.
Squirrel, it's me, Gesha! Let me in, my house has been crushed by a tree, and now I've nowhere to live! We're friends, aren't we!
As if! If I let you in, there'll be hardly any room left for me, and I'll have to share my food with you. No, I won't let you in. Go and build yourself a new home; I don't want to live with you!
Gesha heard a completely unexpected answer.
Bewildered by such a terrible response, Gesha began to sob, so loudly that Fima heard. The raccoon's house wasn't far from the clearing where Strelka lived.
He rushed towards the sound, and arriving at the spot, asked:
What's happened, Gesha? You're crying so loudly I can hear it even at my house!
Fima? Aren't you cross with me? We fell out, I thought you wouldn't want to see me anymore! I haven't got a house anymore, it's been covered by an enormous tree, and now I've nowhere to go at all.
The chipmunk wept.
Fima lifted Gesha from the cold snowy ground and they headed home to the raccoon's house.
You know, Gesha, I've been thinking and I've decided that I've never had a better friend than you, I haven't got one now, and I never will. Stay and live here; together we'll be happier, and we'll gather food together!
Fima burst into tears of happiness.
From then on, the chipmunk and raccoon never parted. They understood that one must never betray one's best and loyal friends; one must always help each other, look after one another, and never quarrel.
Free tales are a real and very good textbook for children and adults. These stories teach us to live in kindness and care.
