Zhizh was a bug. A bug like any other, except he was very quarrelsome: out of boredom he loved to pick fights:
Whack, take this in the face! — he would wave his legs in front of the ladybug — he had six of them.
Or:
Whack, stop smiling! — the little bug would threaten with all six of his tiny fists.
Whack, look at my flash mob! — the bug would nimbly box in front of the ant's nose and laugh. — You can't do this!
Because of this behavior, the bug was nicknamed Klop.
The insects disliked meetings with Klop, as they often ended in fights. Klop fought desperately and angrily, dealing blows to his opponent.
But it was impossible to avoid these encounters: Klop would ambush insects in the shade of a tree, or suddenly jump out scaring them, or suddenly swoop down, knocking them off their feet.
The insects grew tired of the quarrelsome Klop and decided to leave their native place and abandon the meadow.
One day Klop flew out of his home — a green leaf rolled into a tube — and headed to the meadow where insects usually went about their business on hot days. But for some reason, there was no one on the field. Klop circled the meadow three times lengthwise and crosswise, but didn't see a single living soul. "Where did everyone go?" Klop thought disappointedly.
Hey you, cowardly arthropods! Where did you all go? — shouted Klop, but no one answered.
Then he shouted louder:
Come out!
In response — silence. Klop shouted even louder, even louder, even more…
Klop shouted and waved his legs for a long time, he even turned red from the effort, but no one answered. The bug felt unbearably lonely and sad:
How will I live alone? Oh, how scary, — and Klop burst into bitter tears.
Who flooded my burrow? — poked out the field mouse's sharp nose (she lived underground and didn't know about the insects' conspiracy).
Stop crying, my house is flooding from your tears.
Poor me, everyone has abandoned me! — sobbed the little bug.
Tears won't help your sorrow, go to the forest keeper and ask him for advice, — and the mouse disappeared underground.
With nothing else to do, Klop cleaned his wings and set off on a journey to the forest keeper, into the magical forest. For three days he flew without rest, and finally reached the magical place. The forest keeper warmly welcomed the bug, fed and gave him drink. Klop told the forest keeper about his problem:
Everyone has abandoned me, I'm left all alone.
Maybe you did something bad? — asked the forest keeper.
No, everything was fine.
Maybe you hurt someone?
I didn't hurt anyone.
Maybe you teased someone?
Well, just a little.
A little yesterday, a little today, and in the end it adds up to a lot.
I won't do it anymore, I don't notice when I get angry, — whimpered Klop.
Alright, I'll help with your sorrow. But there's one condition.
What is it?
When you tease and get angry, an unpleasant rotten smell will come from you as a warning to you and those around you. Remember at that moment how alone you were, and calm down.
Alright, — sighed the little bug, — thank you very much, from now on I will control myself.
Good luck!
And the forest keeper disappeared, and Klop found himself on his native meadow, densely populated with insects. Little bugs buzzed as they flew, worms crawled in the shade of the grass, beautiful butterflies fluttered in the air, hairy bumblebees collected nectar from flowers, hardworking ants strengthened their anthill. Klop was happy to be among familiar friends.
From that day on, Klop stopped quarreling and getting angry. He learned to smile warmly, speak polite words, give way, come to agreements, maintain pleasant conversations, and be a friend.
But still, sometimes Klop emits an unpleasant smell, though this happens very rarely — only in cases of danger. In such situations, Klop cannot control himself.
