Story

 

Once upon a time, there lived a boy named Nan. He had only one dream: to have many wonderful, true friends. So he left his family home in search of friendship. He wandered through forests, meadows, and mountains until he reached a town where everyone lived in harmony and friendship.

"Here I'll surely find friends," Nan thought.

His heart beating fast, he watched the people complimenting each other and helping each other in need.

"This is a wonderful place!" the boy exclaimed.

He reached the market square. He soon felt hungry and tired. The supplies he had brought from home when he set out had long since run out. He also had no money. So he decided to ask an elderly woman walking toward him for help.

"Excuse me, I see you're carrying bread in your basket. Could you share some with me? I'm very hungry.

" The woman smiled.

"Of course, I'll share it with you, but what will I get in return?"

Nan was surprised to hear the woman's words. He had nothing to give for a piece of bread.

"I have nothing to give you in return. I thought you'd give me a piece of bread."

The old woman glared at Nan and walked away.

The stunned boy stood in the market square. He couldn't believe what had just happened.

Suddenly, a tall man approached him. He reeked of alcohol. "

Let me tell you something, son, in today's world, nothing is free. You have to pay for everything. Remember: something in return.

" "But I see that man is helping the old woman across the road. He's doing this because he expects something in return?"

Nan pointed to a stout, balding man helping the hunched old woman across the road.

"Of course he expects payment. He'll probably want her to watch the children for him while he's away. We can see for ourselves if you like,"

the stranger said, grabbing Nan by the hand and leading him near the stout man and the old woman.

"So, what's it going to be like, Mrs. Bronia? Will you come and watch Sewerynek and Olga?" I just helped the lady across the road…

This was too much for poor Nan. He broke free from the stranger and began to run. He heard a mocking voice behind him, shouting,

"Remember! Nothing's for free! This is the way of the world today!"

The tearful boy fled town. He decided to return home.

As he passed through the forest, he heard whimpering. He saw a wolf, which, upon noticing the boy, began to howl desperately.

"Help me. Please help," the wolf wailed. "It hurts so much."

Nan approached and only then noticed that the animal's left hind leg was trapped in a hunting trap. The boy found a branch and, with its help, opened the trap. The wolf was free! He licked his wounded paw. Nan took off the scarf he wore around his neck and wrapped it around the wound.

"Thank you," said the wolf. "Thanks to you, I can return to my home and not become prey to the hunters .

" He was about to leave, but Nan thought:

"Since nothing comes for free and since everything has to be paid for, then I must be rewarded for my deed."

"Wait! And what will I get in return?" he asked the wolf.

The wolf bared his sharp fangs.

"You will have my undying gratitude and friendship. And when you need

help, I will certainly give it to you," the wolf assured him and disappeared into the undergrowth.

"I knew it! Friendship can be bought too!" Nan rejoiced and continued on his way.

As he passed through the meadows, he heard a wail. He looked around and noticed a hare crying profusely.

"What happened to the hare?" asked Nan.

"Oh, what a disaster! My son is lost somewhere in this tall grass, and I can't find him. I've been looking for him for hours. I'm afraid he's fallen into a snake's den."

"Don't worry, hare. I'll find your son," said Nan, and began his search.

Indeed, it was difficult to spot the little hare in the tall grass. Soon the boy noticed a hole in the ground. He peered into it and saw a crouched hare, its whiskers twitching restlessly.

"Help me. I've fallen in here and can't get out. My father must be worried about me.

" Nan pulled the animal out of the hole and carried it to the hare.

"Here, here's your son. Now tell me, what will I get in return?"

"You will have my undying gratitude and friendship. And when you need help, I will certainly give it to you," assured the hare, and he and his son disappeared into the grass.

Nan continued his journey. He reached a large mountain. He had to climb it to get home. He began the arduous climb. He was already very high when he slipped and would have fallen if he hadn't grabbed a piece of rock. He held on with all his strength. Suddenly, he noticed a wolf walking along one of the rocky ledges.

"Wolf! Wolf!" the boy called out. "Help me, or I'll fall!"

The animal stopped and looked intently at Nan.

"Unfortunately, I can't help you. I have to cross this mountain quickly. I'm going to the other side to see my cousin the dog, and I want to be there before sunset," the wolf said, and jumped onto another ledge. Soon, he disappeared from Nan's sight.

The helpless boy thought,

"Nice. This is how he repays me for my help."

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement nearby. It was the hare and its son.

"Hare! Hare!" he called out

. "Help me, or I'll fall!" The hare looked at him and said,

"I would help you, but I can't risk my son's life. We're going to the other side to see my cousin the rabbit, and we want to get there in one piece."

And he and the little hare quickly disappeared from Nan's sight.

The boy began to lose his strength. He was also losing hope of survival. Suddenly he noticed the marmot watching him intently.

"I'll help you," the marmot said.

"And what will you want in return?" Nan asked.

"What?" the marmot asked in surprise. "I won't want anything. But we can be friends when this is all over.

" Nan felt a surge of anger.

"There's no friendship! There isn't! And you can't even buy it! I don't believe you'd want to be my friend! I've already convinced myself that there's no such thing as friendship!"

The marmot looked at Nan sadly.

"Don't say that. I want to be your friend and I won't want anything in return. Just let me help you.

" "No!" the boy screamed, and at that moment, he lost all strength.

He let go of the rock and fell into the abyss.

The wolf heard his desperate cry, and the hare heard it too, but they preferred to pretend they didn't hear it.

The marmot, who, like Nan, was seeking friendship, heard it too. And he wept bitter tears. And he sat there and wept until he finally turned into a rock…

And he still sits there and weeps, and he will sit there and weep for his lost friend until the end of time