My dear girls and boys! You may be wondering what the Sweet Forest is. Well, in this forest, alongside ordinary trees, grow sugar birches with gummy leaves, flowers where instead of pollen there is sweet jam, pretzel trees, and so much more than we could ever list. The forest's residents are unusual too: they can talk, invent things and, of course, make friends. But let's get to know them better. So, welcome to the Sweet Forest!
The bunny sisters were known for their cheerful spirit all across the forest. These little girls did nothing but weave flower crowns and nibble on gummy leaves. They even made up wonderful stories at forest school and told them to their friends with ringing laughter.
One day during recess, while playing in a circle with friends, one of the sisters noticed that Ollie the Hedgehog was standing alone and only now and then glanced over at them with a sigh.
Ollie had moved to the Sweet Forest recently, and the children didn't know much about him. He did well in class and always carried a book. The other kids decided he was a terrible know-it-all and started calling him a show-off behind his back.
Look, look, see how the show-off is glaring at us! Grumpy, thinks he's smarter than all of us!
He's not a show-off at all, said the squirrel, he's a prickly grump!
Yes, yes, yes, the others chimed in together, that name suits him much better!
Days passed, and the little ones kept steering clear of the 'Prickly Grump'. He didn't come near them either, he just watched them for long stretches from a distance.
One afternoon, Hazel was walking home from school. Her little sister was sick, and Mom was caring for her at home. Hazel hummed a cheerful tune under her pink nose when suddenly she heard a sad sniffling. She looked around and saw the hedgehog.
Prickly Grump... Oops, I mean Ollie, what's wrong?
The hedgehog looked at her with eyes full of tears.
Why won't you be friends with me?
Us? Hazel was taken aback. But do you even want to play with us? You never came over to us yourself.
I'm shy, said Ollie, and covering his little face with his paws, he hurried away.
Hazel thought it over. She didn't run after the hedgehog, and when she got home she asked her mom:
Is it really possible for someone to want to talk to others but can't make the first move because they're too shy?
Of course, Mom laughed, you girls are such chatterboxes: you just walk right up and start talking. But some people find those first steps really hard! Why do you ask?
Hazel told Mom about the 'Prickly Grump' and about her recent meeting with the crying hedgehog. Mom just shook her head:
Oh, I never expected my girls to be handing out hurtful nicknames left and right!
Sorry, Mom, Hazel felt ashamed.
Don't apologize to me, apologize to Ollie. He wasn't looking at you because he's a grump or a know-it-all. He didn't know how to start a conversation, he's a very shy boy!
The next day, the hedgehog didn't come to school. The teacher said he was feeling unwell. But Hazel already knew what they were going to do after class. She told her friends about her talk with Mom, and all the children felt terrible for calling the hedgehog a prickly grump.
Ollie lay in bed thinking: 'I'm never going back to school, never!'
Mom came into the room:
Sweetheart, you have visitors!
Who could possibly come to see me, Mom, sighed the hedgehog sadly.
We! came a chorus of cheerful voices, and the hedgehog looked up in surprise to see his classmates.
Hazel stepped forward:
We decided to come and visit you. Please don't be cross with us, and get well soon! We're waiting for you, we still have so many games to play! And this is for you!
The children began laying sweet treats on the table for the hedgehog: gummy leaves, berries, little mushrooms and many other goodies.
Thank you, said the hedgehog, beaming.
Yes, dear children, that's how it goes. We are all different: some of us are very brave, while others, like the hedgehog, are afraid to take the first step. It may seem to us that he is angry with us, but in truth he is simply shy.
