• The Musician and the Forest Friends

Choose friends wisely and kindly

Once upon a time, there was a kind musician who walked through a big, dark forest, playing his violin. His music was so beautiful that it made the trees seem to dance. But after a while, he felt lonely. “I need a friend,” he thought and began to play a sweet melody to call someone.

Before long, a wolf came out from behind the trees. “Oh no, a wolf,” the musician thought. “I don’t want a wolf for a friend.” But the wolf said, “Your music is amazing! Please teach me to play like you.” The musician smiled and said, “Okay, but you have to do everything I say.” The wolf agreed.

The musician led the wolf to a tree with a big crack in its trunk. “Put your paws here if you want to learn,” he said. The wolf did as he was told, and the musician quickly wedged the wolf’s paws with a stone, trapping him. “Wait here while I get something,” the musician said, walking away.

Soon, the musician felt lonely again. “I still need a friend,” he said, and played his violin once more. This time, a sly fox crept out from the bushes. “Oh no, a fox,” the musician thought. “I don’t want a fox for a friend.” But the fox said, “Your music is wonderful! Please teach me to play like you.” The musician agreed and said, “You must follow my instructions.”

He led the fox to a spot with two tall bushes. Bending one bush to the ground, he said, “Put your paw here.” The fox did, and the musician tied the fox’s paw to the bush. Then he tied the other paw to the second bush. When the musician let go, the bushes snapped back, lifting the fox into the air. “Wait here while I get something,” said the musician, and he walked away.

But again, the musician felt lonely. “I’ll try one more time,” he thought, and played another tune. This time, a little hare hopped towards him. “Oh no, a hare,” the musician thought. “I don’t want a hare for a friend.” But the hare said, “Your music is lovely! Please teach me to play like you.” The musician said, “Of course, but do exactly as I say.”

He led the hare to a tree, tied a string around its neck, and fastened the other end to the tree. “Run around the tree,” he said. The hare did as it was told, but as it ran, the string wrapped tighter and tighter around the tree, trapping the hare. “Wait here while I get something,” said the musician, and he left.

Meanwhile, the wolf finally freed itself from the tree and was very angry. It ran through the forest and found the fox stuck in the bushes. “Help me!” cried the fox. The wolf helped the fox escape, and together they found the hare. After freeing the hare, the three animals decided to chase the musician.

The musician kept walking, playing his violin, when a kind woodcutter heard the music and came over. “This is the friend I’ve been looking for,” thought the musician. The woodcutter loved the music and stood smiling, enjoying the wonderful tunes.

Suddenly, the wolf, fox, and hare appeared, looking very angry. The woodcutter saw them and picked up his sharp axe. “If you want to hurt him, you’ll have to deal with me first!” he said bravely. The animals got scared and ran back into the forest.

The musician was so grateful that he played a cheerful song for the woodcutter. Together, they walked out of the forest, happy to have found each other as friends. And from that day on, the musician was never lonely again.