Александр Александрович Чечитов
Oswald the donkey
Magic Lake
Once upon a time, in a forest, there lived a donkey named Oswald and a hedgehog named Bruno. They were best friends and always spent time together.
One day, they decided to go on a journey through the forest to find new adventures and learn something new. They walked for a long time until they came across an old abandoned house, the walls of which were decorated with beautiful, ancient drawings.
“No one has lived in these rooms for a hundred years,” read the inscription right above the entrance to the house.
Oswald and the Hedgehog decided to look inside the house and discovered many interesting things there. On slanted wooden shelves, the friends found old books with drawings of unseen animals, ancient musical instruments, and even a collection of multi-colored stones sparkling in the light.
The friends spent a lot of time studying all these wonderful objects. Having played enough, Oswald and Bruno went home, but when they were leaving the house, they heard a strange sound coming from the depths of the forest.
Oswald and the hedgehog Bruno decided to follow this sound and discovered a mysterious lake that glowed with a soft blue light, and melodic sounds emanated from the surface of the water.
The friends approached the lake and saw a wise owl sitting on its shore.
– Who are you? – asked the curious donkey Oswald.
– I am an owl named Amelinda, and I have lived on this lake for a thousand years.
– Well, that can't be, – said the hedgehog Bruno with disbelief. Can anyone live for a thousand years?
– It is very possible, my friend, – the owl Amelinda answered cheerfully, – a long time ago I made a wish to know all the secrets of the world, making this wish right here.
– And you know everything, about everything in the world? – asked the donkey Oswald in surprise.
– Even a thousand years would not be enough for me to learn all the secrets that exist in this world, – answered the owl Amelinda, smiling, – and I learn something new every day. The owl invited her friends to tea in her house and told them that this lake had magical properties and could fulfill any wish. Donkey Oswald and hedgehog Bruno decided to take advantage of this opportunity and each made one wish. Oswald wished to become the smartest donkey in the world, and hedgehog Bruno wanted to become the fastest and most agile hedgehog. The owl smiled and said that their wishes would be fulfilled, but only on one condition. They must help other creatures of the forest to make their dreams come true. Oswald and the hedgehog agreed and began to help everyone who turned to them for help. They taught other animals to read and write, helped out when someone asked for help. During this time, donkey Oswald became much wiser, and hedgehog Bruno became more agile and stronger. Thanks to the kindness and wisdom of friends, the forest became the happiest place in the world. And the donkey Oswald and the hedgehog Bruno continued to live in this forest, helping everyone who needed their help.
