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 neighboring houses. We often wander through the forest as a friendly group, 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 crawl into my house, cover myself with a warm down blanket and fall into a sweet sleep. And in spring the rabbit, hedgehog, and squirrel tell me how wonderfully they celebrated the New Year.
Mishka, this year we'll have a big, big New Year's tree decorated with berries and pine cones! — the rabbit told me happily when we gathered at my house and drank tea with honey.
And we'll play snowball fights and dance in circles! — the hedgehog snorted cheerfully.
I felt a little 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.
Mishka, but maybe this time you could sleep after the holiday? — the squirrel asked me.
I don't know, I'd have to stay awake for a whole month, — I answered, — I'm not sure I can do it.
But then you'll be able to see Father Frost! — the 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 gray 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 need to behave well all year. I thought: "What if I really don't go to sleep until the holiday? And as soon as New Year ends — straight to bed".
Mishka, agree, it's a great idea! — the rabbit interrupted my thoughts.
And we'll help you stay awake and wait for New Year, — the 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 more and I would fall asleep, I just needed to blink.
But my friends came to visit every day and told me winter stories, keeping me from falling asleep early. In the evenings, when I especially wanted to sleep, the rabbit, hedgehog, squirrel, and I sat by the window in my house and watched the beautiful snow fall.
I really liked the fluffy green fir trees dusted with snow. And on the forest paths here and there, you could see traces 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 sweater with a beautiful white snowflake. It turned out that the squirrel had knitted it herself as soon as I decided not to sleep in winter.
And then it was time to decorate the tree. All the forest residents gathered in a clearing where a big spruce with thick branches stood. When the other animals saw me, they were very surprised:
Mishka, why aren't you sleeping? — the gray wolf asked me.
I decided to celebrate New Year with you, — I answered yawning.
That's a surprise, — 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, Mishka, you'll have to try hard to meet Grandfather in person, no animal has ever seen him, and he secretly brings gifts to houses.
I'm sure I can do it! – I was confident that I would see Father Frost at the holiday, because I hadn't slept for so long for nothing.
We decorated the tree for a long time, and it turned out festive, beautiful, magical. As the tallest, I was trusted to hang a homemade star on top. And then we all played snowball fights and it was so much fun that I didn't even freeze.
Finally the long-awaited holiday arrived. We decided to celebrate New Year at my house. For such an occasion, I even took out a large barrel of sweet honey from my supplies. The hedgehog brought apples that he had collected in the fall, and the squirrel brought a whole bag of nuts.
The rabbit surprised everyone – he baked a delicious carrot cake, and such a big one that it would be enough for ten bears, let alone one.
When only 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 fun 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's 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 everything interesting and sleep until spring, so when the rabbit, squirrel, and hedgehog fell asleep, I sat by the window and looked at the New Year's tree.
Suddenly I noticed unusual tracks in the snow, they led from the tree straight to my house, they were the prints 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, Mishka, 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 from his New Year's bag. He handed it to me and said:
I'm glad to meet you, Mishka, here's a New Year's gift for you, — Grandfather Frost smiled at me and his eyes filled with warmth.
What's inside? — I asked eagerly.
I'd like to ask you to open it after I leave, I don't want to spoil the surprise, — when Grandfather Frost spoke, icy freshness emanated from him.
Okay, grandfather, — I nodded.
And now, since you're not sleeping, help me deliver gifts to your friends.
I was so happy to help Grandfather Frost, and most importantly, my New Year's wish came true! After all, I had wished to see him at least with one eye. And when Grandfather left, I wanted to sleep so badly that I almost forgot about my gift.
I quickly tore off the beautiful paper wrapping with snowmen, and saw a large colorful patchwork quilt. Red, green, yellow, striped and polka-dotted – beautiful fabric scraps 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 house. 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!
