Fairy Tale by Lilian Moore (pen name, Sara Asheron; March 17, 1909 – July 20, 2004)Текст для перевода: ..Translation by O. Obraztsova, 1966.
Little Raccoon was small but brave. One day, Mama Raccoon said:
— Tonight the moon will be full and bright. Little Raccoon, can you go to the fast stream by yourself and bring back some crayfish for dinner?
“Sure, of course,” replied Little Racoon. “I’ll catch you some crayfish like you’ve never eaten before.”
Little Raccoon was small but brave.
At night, the moon rose, big and bright.
“Time to go, Little Raccoon,” said Mom. “Head out until you reach the pond. You’ll see a big tree that stretches across the pond. Cross over it to the other side. It’s the best spot for catching crayfish.”
By the light of the moon, Little Racoon set off on his journey.
He was so happy! So proud!
Here it is —
Went to the forest.
All alone,
For the first time in my life!
At first, he walked slowly,
Then a little faster,
And then — a hop.
Soon, Little Racoon entered the thick, dense forest.
Old Porcupine was resting there.
He was very surprised to see that Little Racoon was walking in the forest without his mom.
“Where are you going all alone?” asked Old Porcupine.
“To the fast stream!” replied Little Racoon proudly. “I’m going to catch crayfish for dinner.”
“Are you not scared, Little Raccoon?” asked Old Porcupine. “You know that you don’t have what I have—such sharp and long quills.”
“I’m not afraid!” replied Little Racoon: he was small, but brave.
Little Raccoon went further in the light of the bright moon.
At first, he walked slowly.
Then a little faster,
And then — off we go, hopping along.
Soon he arrived at a green clearing. There sat Big Skunk. He was also surprised to see Little Raccoon wandering in the woods without his mom.
“Where are you going all by yourself?” asked Big Skunk.
“To the fast stream!” replied Little Racoon proudly. “I’m going to catch crayfish for dinner.”
“Are you not scared, Little Raccoon?” asked Big Skunk. “You know, you don’t have what I have: I spray a liquid with a terrible smell, and everyone runs away.”
“I’m not afraid!” said Little Racoon and continued on.
Not far from the pond, he saw the Fat Rabbit.
The Fat Rabbit was sleeping. He opened one eye and jumped up.
“Hey, you scared me!” he said. “Where are you going all alone, Little Raccoon?”
“I’m going to the fast stream!” said Little Racoon proudly. “It’s on the other side of the pond.”
— Ooooh! — said the Fat Rabbit. — Aren’t you afraid of Him?
“Who should I be afraid of?” asked Little Racoon.
— The one who is sitting in the pond, — said the Fat Rabbit. — I’m afraid of Him!
“Well, I’m not afraid!” said Little Racoon and continued on.
And finally, Little Raccoon saw a large tree that had fallen across the pond.
“Here I need to cross,” said Little Racoon to himself. “And over there, on the other side, I’ll catch some crayfish.”
Little Raccoon started to cross the tree to the other side of the pond.
He was brave, but why did he have to meet that Fat Rabbit!
He didn’t want to think about the one sitting in the pond, but he couldn’t help himself.
He stopped and looked in.
Someone was sitting in the pond!
It was Him! He was sitting there, watching the little raccoon in the moonlight. The little raccoon didn’t show any sign of being scared.
He made a face.
The one in the pond made a face too.
What a face that was!
Little Raccoon turned back and ran as fast as he could. He zoomed past Fat Rabbit so quickly that it startled him again. And he kept running, running without stopping until he saw Big Skunk.
“What’s going on? What’s going on?” asked Big Skunk.
— There’s someone really big sitting in the pond! — shouted Little Raccoon. — I can’t get through!
“Do you want me to go with you and chase him away?” asked Big Skunk.
“Oh, no, no!” replied Little Racoon hurriedly. “You mustn’t do that!”
“Well, alright,” said Big Skunk. “Then take a stone with you. Just to show Him that you have a stone.”
Little Raccoon wanted to bring home some crayfish. So he picked up a stone and headed back to the pond.
“Maybe He has already left!” said Little Racoon to himself. “No, He hasn’t left!”
He was sitting in the pond.
Little Raccoon didn’t show a hint of being scared.
He lifted the stone high.
The one who was sitting in the pond also lifted the stone high.
Oh, what a big stone that was!
Little Raccoon was brave, but he was small. He ran with all his might. He kept running and running without stopping until he saw Old Porcupine.
“What’s going on? What’s going on?” asked the Old Porcupine.
Little Raccoon told him about the one who sits in the pond.
“He’s got a stone too!” said Little Racoon. “A really big stone.”
“Well, then take a stick with you,” said Old Porcupine, “come back and show him that you have a big stick.”
Little Raccoon wanted to bring home some crayfish. So he picked up a stick and headed back to the pond.
“Maybe he managed to leave,” said Little Racoon to himself.
No, he hasn’t left!
He was still sitting in the pond.
Little Raccoon didn’t wait. He raised his big stick and waved it threateningly.
But Togo also had a stick in the pond. A really big stick! And he waved that stick at Little Raccoon.
Little Raccoon dropped his stick and ran away.
He ran and ran.
Past the Fat Rabbit,
Past the Big Skunk,
Past the Old Porcupine
Without stopping, all the way home.
Little Raccoon told his mom all about the one who sits in the pond.
“Oh, Mom,” he said, “I really wanted to go alone to catch some crayfish! I was so eager to bring them home for dinner!”
— And you will bring it back! — said Mama Raccoon. — Here’s what I’ll tell you, Little Raccoon. Go back, but this time…
Don’t make a face,
Don’t take a stone with you,
Don’t take sticks with you!
“What am I supposed to do?” asked Little Racoon.
“Just smile!” said Mama Raccoon. “Go and smile at the one sitting in the pond.”
“Is that all?” asked Little Racoon. “Are you sure?”
“That’s it,” said Mom. “I’m sure.”
Little Raccoon was brave, and his mom was sure of it.
And he went back to the pond.
“Maybe he finally left!” said Little Racoon to himself.
No, I haven’t left!
He was still sitting in the pond.
Little Raccoon made himself stop.
Then he forced himself to look into the water.
Then he forced himself to smile at the one sitting in the pond.
And the one who was sitting in the pond smiled back!
Little Raccoon was so happy that he started to laugh. It seemed to him that the one sitting in the pond was laughing just like raccoons do when they are having fun.
— He wants to be friends with me! — said Little Racoon to himself. — And now I can cross to the other side.
And he ran up the tree.
There, by the bank of the swift stream, Little Raccoon began to catch crayfish.
Soon he collected as many crayfish as he could carry.
He ran back along the tree across the pond.
This time, Little Raccoon waved to Tom, who was sitting in the pond.
And Tot waved back at him.
Little Raccoon was rushing home as fast as he could, tightly holding onto his crayfish.
Yes! Neither he nor his mom have ever eaten such delicious crayfish. That’s what Mama Enotikha said.
“I can go there all by myself now, whenever I want!” said Little Racoon. “I’m no longer afraid of the one who sits in the pond.”
“I know,” said Mama Raccoon.
“He’s not bad at all, the one sitting in the pond!” said Little Racoon.
“I know,” said Mama Raccoon. Little Raccoon looked at his mom.
“Tell me,” he said. “Who is sitting in the pond?”
Mama Raccoon laughed.
And then she told him… What do you think mom said to him?