A long time ago, a fox and a crane lived in the same forest. They lived as good neighbors, but they were not very close friends. The fox was cunning, the crane was quiet, but one day they decided to become closer friends.
They met once on a path. The fox wags its tail, the crane waves its long neck. «Dear crane,» the fox says gently, “come visit me, I’ll cook you such a dinner, I’ll make you such delicious porridge — you’ll lick your fingers!”
«"Oh, thank you, little dove," replies the crane, "I will definitely come." They agreed on tomorrow afternoon. The crane is happy, preens its feathers, cleans its beak, so that it will look good when it visits.
The crane came to visit the little fox. Her hut was cozy, the windows were neatly tidied, and there was an embroidered towel on the bench. And dinner was already waiting on the table—the little fox had poured some millet porridge, hot and fragrant. But she didn't pour it into a deep pot, but onto a completely flat plate, and she spread it thinly.
«"Sit down, little crane, enjoy what the house is full of." And she licks her tongue, eating and licking herself. The crane pokes at the porridge with its long beak, but the porridge just spreads across the plate, catching nothing. It pokes in one direction, it pokes in the other, not a single crumb sticks to its beak.
And the little fox eats and eats, praising: "Oh, delicious porridge, oh, delicious porridge!" The crane sits hungry, he spins his waist, but out of politeness he keeps quiet. He spins and spins, finally he says: "Thank you, my dear, you've treated me well." And the little fox licks his lips: "But the richer we are, the happier we are. Next time I'll cook even better.".
The crane was sad, but he didn't show it. "Come and visit me, little fox. I'll cook you a delicious meal, the kind you've never tasted before." "Oh, I'll come with pleasure, little fox!" the fox was delighted and ran home, laughing.
The next day, at the appointed time, the fox ran to the crane. The crane had already prepared everything: he had cleaned the hut and set the table. On the table stood a tall jug with a narrow neck, and in it was a fish soup with herbs, so fragrant that it was steaming.
«Sit down, little one, have a treat!» the crane invites. He sticks his long beak straight into the jug, takes out pieces of fish, swallows, praises: «Oh, delicious, oh, good!» And the fox is spinning around the jug - trying to get closer. She stuck her muzzle in the neck - it won’t go through. She licks the top - but she can’t get to the dish.
The little fox walks around the jug, wags its tail until tears come to its eyes. And the crane eats, not paying attention. He ate the whole jug, scooping it all the way to the bottom. «Thank you, little one, for coming,» the crane says politely, “and I treated you to whatever I could. If you call, you will be answered.” The little fox understood the hint, and was also ashamed. She went home hungry, but from science. She no longer teased anyone with her tricks. And the crane flew around the swamp as if nothing had happened.
💛 As you call, so it will be answered.