I am a big and strong bear. I have many good and cheerful friends. A little rabbit, hedgehog, squirrel – we live in the forest in neighbouring cottages. We often wander through the forest as a merry company, humming songs. And, of course, we constantly visit each other.
We celebrate all holidays in the forest together. All except one – New Year. The thing is, I love to sleep very much, and as soon as winter arrives, I retreat to my cottage, cover myself with a warm downy quilt and fall into a sweet sleep. And in spring the rabbit, hedgehog and squirrel tell me how wonderfully they celebrated the new year.
Misha, this year we'll have a big, big New Year tree decorated with berries and pine cones! – the rabbit told me happily when we gathered at my cottage and drank tea with honey.
And we'll play snowball fights and dance in circles! – the hedgehog snorted cheerfully.
I felt a bit sad that my friends would have fun without me, but bears must sleep in winter – it's a great law of nature. I didn't want to upset my friends, so I simply said:
Wow. I'd like to celebrate with you too, but I'll sleep as usual.
Misha, but maybe this time you could fall asleep after the holiday? – the squirrel asked me.
I'm not sure, I'd have to stay awake for the whole month, – I answered, – I'm not confident I can manage it.
But then you'll be able to see Father Frost! – the little animals exclaimed.
I didn't know who this Father Frost was, but my friends told me so much about him. They said he was a wizard with a beautiful blue coat and a big grey beard. The hedgehog even shared a secret about how he once saw Grandfather Frost on New Year's night. And the squirrel told me that he brings gifts to everyone in the forest.
But to get a gift you have to behave well all year round. I thought: "What if I really don't go to sleep until the holiday? And as soon as New Year ends – straight to bed".
Misha, agree, it's a brilliant idea! – the rabbit interrupted my thoughts.
And we'll help you stay awake and wait for New Year, – the little animals promised me.
After thinking a bit more, I agreed. I really wanted to see Father Frost and help my friends decorate the tree. December arrived, and I had never seen a winter forest before, because I usually go to sleep before the first snow falls. The hardest part was staying awake; sometimes it seemed to me that just a little bit more and I would drift off to sleep, I only had to blink.
But my friends came to visit every day and told me winter stories, keeping me from falling asleep too early. In the evenings, when I especially wanted to sleep, the rabbit, hedgehog, squirrel and I would sit by the window in my cottage and watch how beautifully the snow fell.
I really liked the fluffy green little firs sprinkled with snow. And on the forest paths here and there, you could see the tracks of little paws. And it turned out that winter is very cold. But my friends came to my rescue and brought me a warm, warm winter jumper with a beautiful white snowflake on it. It turned out that the squirrel had knitted it herself especially for me as soon as I decided not to sleep through the winter.
And then it was time to decorate the tree. All the forest inhabitants gathered in a clearing where a big spruce with thick branches stood. When the other animals saw me, they were very surprised:
Misha, why aren't you sleeping? – the grey wolf asked me.
I decided to celebrate New Year with you, – I answered, yawning.
Well, you've surprised us, – the wolf said to me, – how do you manage to stay awake for so long?
I want to sleep, of course, but I really want to see Grandfather Frost and talk to him! And my friends help me stay awake.
You're something else! – the wolf exclaimed, – But Misha, you'll have to try hard to meet Grandfather Frost in person, none of the animals have seen him yet, and he brings gifts secretly to the house.
I'm sure I'll manage! – I was confident that I would see Grandfather Frost at the holiday, after all, I wasn't sleeping for nothing.
We decorated the tree for a long time, and it turned out elegant, beautiful, magical. As the tallest, I was trusted with hanging the homemade star on top. And then we all played snowball fights and it was so much fun that I didn't even feel cold.
At last the long-awaited holiday arrived. We decided to celebrate New Year at my place. For such an occasion, I even took out a large barrel of sweet honey from my stores. The hedgehog brought apples that he had collected in autumn, and the squirrel brought a whole sack of nuts.
The rabbit surprised everyone – he baked a delicious carrot cake, and such a big one that it would have been enough for ten bears, let alone one.
When only a few minutes remained until the holiday, the rabbit said:
Now it's time to thank the departing year, I'll start. I want to thank this year for a good harvest of carrots and cabbage, for the fact that the fox chased me less than before.
And I want to thank this year for the cheerful warm days when I walked through the forest with my friends and gathered mushrooms, – the hedgehog supported the rabbit.
I want to say thank you to the departing year for the bright sun and warm rain. And also for the fact that no one found the acorns and nuts I hid!
It was my turn. I didn't know what to thank the departing year for, but looking at my friends gathered at the festive table, I said:
Thank you to the departing year for my beloved rabbit, hedgehog and squirrel, thanks to whom I saw winter and decorated the New Year tree.
We all clapped our hands and hugged. Just then the clock on the wall began to strike midnight – which meant New Year had begun! My friends told me that I needed to make a wish while the clock was striking, and I wondered what I wanted most in the world. I closed my eyes and a wish came to me.
We sat at the table for a long time, danced in circles around the tree, played games and sang New Year songs. And then it was time to go to bed. I was very afraid that as soon as I closed my eyes, I would miss all the interesting things and sleep until spring, so when the rabbit, squirrel and hedgehog fell asleep, I sat by the window and looked at the New Year tree.
Suddenly I noticed unusual tracks in the snow, they led from the tree straight to my house, they were the imprints of big boots. Unexpectedly the door quietly opened and on the threshold of my house stood the real Father Frost! I was about to wake my friends, but Father Frost beat me to it and said:
Hello, Misha, I didn't expect to see you here. So you didn't sleep this winter?
No, grandfather, I really wanted to see you and celebrate the holiday with my friends.
I saw Grandfather Frost take a big gift out of his New Year sack. He handed it to me and said:
I'm glad to meet you, Misha, here's your New Year gift, – Grandfather Frost smiled at me and his eyes filled with warmth.
What's in it? – I asked impatiently.
I would like to ask you to open it after I leave, I don't want to spoil the surprise, – when Grandfather Frost spoke, an icy freshness emanated from him.
All right, grandfather, – I nodded.
And now, since you're not sleeping, help me take gifts to your friends.
I was so happy to help Grandfather Frost, and most importantly, my New Year wish came true! After all, I had wished to see him at least with one eye. And when Grandfather left, I felt so sleepy that I almost forgot about my gift.
I quickly tore off the beautiful paper wrapping with snowmen, and saw a large colourful patchwork quilt. Red, green, yellow, striped and spotted – beautiful scraps of fabric made up a whimsical picture. "Now it's definitely time to sleep!" – I thought, and covering myself with the quilt, I finally fell asleep.
I woke up in spring from the bright sun that was peeking through the window of my cottage. The patchwork quilt turned out to be very warm and I had never slept as soundly as I did that winter. And now I couldn't wait to tell my friends that I had helped Father Frost himself!
What a wonderful holiday New Year is!
