One frosty winter morning, Mishutka decided to visit his friend Pyf. The weather was absolutely wonderful.
The trees sparkled with winter magic: branches covered in frost glittered in the sunshine so brightly that the light made you want to squint.
There was a special atmosphere in the forest. It felt as though something good and very important was about to happen. Mishutka sensed it, but couldn't quite work out what it was.
He bounded off towards the hedgehog's cottage, but suddenly heard ringing laughter nearby. Mishutka stopped and looked around. On the clearing under an old, bent fir tree sat the cheerful Hare. His snow-white fluffy coat shimmered in the sunshine. He was lazily scratching behind his ear and, looking at Mishutka, chuckled mischievously.
Why are you laughing? ― grumbled Mishutka indignantly, settling back on his hind legs.
I'm laughing at you, Mishutka. Where are you rushing off to in such a hurry? You could miss the New Year at this rate!
What do you mean, the New Year? ― asked Mishutka in surprise, his little black bead-like eyes widening. ― And why is it new? Where's the old one then?
Do you remember, Mishutka, when you, me and the hedgehog went mushroom picking last summer? ― asked the Hare, putting on an important air and rising slightly onto his toes.
Yes, I remember.
And we wanted to taste some fresh honey from the bees, and they stung us so much that our noses swelled up and hurt for a week ― you remember that?
How could I forget that? ― grumbled Mishutka, rubbing his nose.
And do you remember how we jumped in puddles after the rain, and then all dried ourselves together in the sunshine?
I remember.
Well, all of that happened in the old year. And we're sitting here talking right now in the old year too.
So when will the New Year come? Do we have to call for it? ― Mishutka became worried.
No, ― replied the young Hare, ― it will come by itself. Tonight...
Ooo, but how will we know it's come?
The little Hare thought for a moment, scratched behind his ear again and put on his important expression once more.
Mishutka, tell me, what do you dream about?
I'd really like to see my mum again, ― Mishutka beamed with a happy smile, but then said sadly, ― I miss her so much...
And what else? ― the Hare persisted. ― What else do you dream about?
I want to have lots of honey and raspberry jam in my den all the time, ― and Mishutka even smacked his lips loudly, imagining his dream.
Good! ― continued the Hare, ― Well, is there anything else you dream about?
Yes, I want us never to quarrel with my best friend Pyf over silly things. It always upsets me so much, ― complained the little bear, and his eyes became sad again.
Well then, ― concluded the Hare, ― those dreams of yours are the New Year!
For the rest of the day, Mishutka thought about what the Hare had told him. Could it really be that simple: you just wish for something and it comes true? How does that work?
It was beginning to get dark. The first stars appeared in the sky, and the little bear hurried back to the clearing where he'd met the Hare that day. He had a strange feeling inside, as though something very unexpected and joyful was about to happen.
The Hare was already waiting for him. But not empty-handed. He'd brought hot, fragrant blackcurrant tea in a thermos and cups, set it all on a tree stump and settled down comfortably, looking up at the sky.
Hare! Hare! Has it started already? ― panted Mishutka nervously, flopping down in the snowdrift next to the Hare and breathing heavily.
Hush, almost. The New Year will come very soon, and all our dreams will start to come true little by little, ― whispered the Hare with a smile. Then he took a cup of fragrant hot tea, slowly breathed in its aroma, squeezed his eyes shut with pleasure and carefully took a sip.
Mishutka couldn't wait to see the New Year: 'What's it like, how does it manage to make wishes come true?'.
The little bear watched the sky silently. Stars were scattered across it like beads. Some of them sparkled more brightly, some faded, and then began to shine with even greater intensity.
And then, through the silence of the winter forest, he heard familiar footsteps. The excited little bear suddenly turned in the direction they were coming from. And he saw in the distance… his mother, the she-bear! She was bounding towards Mishutka with huge, rapid leaps, though she was limping badly on one paw. Mishutka's little heart beat so fast with joy that it seemed it would burst right out of his chest.
Mum! ― roared Mishutka so loudly that the Hare sitting beside him jumped and dropped his cup of tea.
The she-bear was already right there. She hugged her little son tightly in her huge, furry paws. Then she sighed with relief, smiled and looked at him with the same tenderness and affection as she used to before bedtime, tucking him under her side and covering him with her big, warm paw. Mishutka felt safe and calm. He immediately felt secure. After all, his mum was with him again.
The she-bear was also overjoyed. Her greatest dream had come true: she'd seen her mischievous little cub again. Several months ago, she'd been caught in a trap and badly injured her paw. The hunters had taken her to their facility, treated her and left her to live in an enclosure at the zoo section of the children's park.
There were other animals there that children and their parents came to see. But the she-bear missed her little cub terribly. Because of this, she ate poorly, slept little and often growled sadly and mournfully. The park owner realised that the she-bear wouldn't settle, and asked the hunters to return her to the wild.
Friends, has the New Year started already? ― cried out Pyf in alarm, who had just run onto the clearing with a large jar of raspberry jam. ― I was in such a hurry, but it looks like I'm late again!
You're not late, you're not late! Sit down next to us! ― reassured him the Hare.
The hedgehog scurried over on his little legs and settled down next to Mishutka.
I'm so glad you came, ― murmured the little bear affectionately and moved closer to his friend.
Then they all fell quiet. And silently began to watch the magical starry sky. The forest too had fallen silent, with only the occasional crack of branches from the frost.
Mishutka, overflowing with happiness and joy right to the tips of his ears, looking into the distance, whispered softly:
So that's what you're like, New Year!
