Once upon a time, there lived a kitten named Barsik. He was still very small and quite amusing. From morning to evening, his little black fluffy tail would dart here and there. With his pink nose, he was constantly sniffing around, as if afraid of missing something interesting.
Barsik especially loved climbing trees. He would climb up a tree and look down from above to see what was happening on the ground below. And there was plenty of interesting activity happening there…
Sometimes a flock of timid sparrows would fly in from somewhere and scatter across the yard searching for food, which greatly displeased the rooster Peter. When these unexpected guests appeared, he would cluck so loudly that even old cat Vasily, who had been dozing under the currant bush, would open his eyes. Upon seeing the sparrows, he would instantly transform into a real hunter.
Vasily would begin slowly creeping toward the careless birds, preparing to pounce. But it was no use: at the sight of the cat, the sparrows, as if caught by a whirlwind, would soar upward and disappear from view… Sometimes a dog named Grumpy would crawl out of his doghouse and, arching his back, would stretch, extending his front paws and opening his mouth wide, from which terrifying fangs protruded.
Barsik felt uneasy even when he was at such a safe distance from the fierce dog. The little one always tried to stay far away from the doghouse, thinking that would be safer. After all, who knows what might come into the angry dog's head!
And Grumpy was angry about everything, especially furious with the bothersome and impudent flies that often pestered him, not letting him enjoy the shade on summer days… And then a hen would run across the yard with loud clucking…
Barsik, hiding behind a branch, would watch what was happening below for a long time, until he got bored. Then his gaze would turn to the sky. Clouds driven by a mischievous wind raced across it. Barsik would follow them intently until they disappeared somewhere in the distance.
He very much wanted to befriend some little cloud, even the smallest one. After all, everyone knows that the power of friendship doesn't depend on whether you're big or very tiny!
But the clouds didn't notice Barsik, and this made the little one feel sad and lonely. Neither the blue tits, nor the beautiful butterflies circling over the flower bed, nor the chatty magpies that sometimes landed on the tree to rest—no one paid any attention to the kitten.
Will I never have any friends?
Barsik would sigh sadly and climb down from the tree.
One wonderful morning, Barsik, as usual, sneaked out of the house and set off in search of new adventures, though his limited life experience was doing its best to keep the restless kitten away from the troubles he had already encountered more than once in the yard.
Walking through the garden, he heard an unfamiliar buzzing sound coming from a flower bed where fragrant phlox bloomed abundantly. Barsik became alert, but curiosity proved stronger than fear. Carefully approaching the flowers, he saw many little bees circling over the phlox.
The kitten thought the bees were playing a fun game of tag and decided, without hesitation, to join them. He crept up to the flowers and reached out his paw toward one of the bees. But she, angered, stung the little one painfully right on his pink nose.
The poor thing, mewing pitifully, rushed headlong to his shelter: he quickly scrambled up an old birch tree and hid in its thick foliage, afraid of being chased. Once he calmed down, Barsik dared to look down.
And suddenly he noticed a small grayish creature, poking its head out of a hole and looking around fearfully. Barsik, forgetting everything in the world, tumbled down from the tree and found himself face to face with the stranger. The stranger froze in surprise.
Who are you?
Asked Barsik, looking over the stranger.
A little mouse. Will you eat me?
Stammered the little one.
Why do you think that?
My mother told me that cats eat mice.
Sighed the little mouse hopelessly.
Well, I don't want to eat you at all. Let's play instead, because I'm bored being alone.
Offered Barsik.
Let's!
Rejoiced the little mouse.
And Barsik and his new friend began to frolic. They didn't notice how evening came. The friends parted with regret, agreeing to meet again the next morning.
Barsik was so happy that he finally had a real friend that he couldn't sleep for a long time and could barely wait for dawn. With the first rays of the sun, he was already in the yard. Soon the little mouse appeared, but not alone… He brought his brothers. What fun that was!
It turned out that life in this world is so good when you have friends nearby, even if they are very small.
When Barsik grew up and became a big and strong cat, he continued to be friends with the mice and wouldn't let anyone harm them. He often had to fight with other cats who, upon seeing a mouse, would immediately chase after the poor thing.
And why are they so foolish? Can't we all just live in peace?
Barsik would wonder.
Curling up into a ball, he would lie on the porch, enjoying the warm rays of the sun, and would purr with pleasure. And when Barsik fell asleep, he would dream of his little gray friends, with whom he felt so good.
