Bella
1. In her forest.
I called her Bella and we became friends since I came and began to live in her forest near the rest home for some years.
First, she met me unfriendly: swore hard, frightened me, and stole my products…
Some time later, she humbled herself, in other words we “ate a humble pie”. Really, it was not “a pie” there were ring- shaped (crackers). Bella felt in love with my rings- shaped and my cedar nuts. Soon we became friends.
Bella stole rings- shaped from my table, hung them on the twigs of the nearest tree, put them under the mat and under the pillow in my bed. It was winter reservation of food.
2. A boy- friend.
My squirrel had a very ordinary and even niceless appearance but her “boy- friend” was a good- looking guy, such a “play-boy”, and a “lady- killer”. He was young, keen, big, in smart dark- brown fur. Such a “macho”.
But Bella didn’t pay attention to his beauty, she was proud and unapproachable. She behaved herself as she did with me: swore, it looked like she called names to him, terrorized and sometimes beat him. “The boy- friend” knew “the women’s hearts were not like pieces of ice” they would smell one day, he stood and wait, I believed he was right.
Eventually the “Lovers” came to my place together side by side:”Come in, dear guests, - I greeted them a smile, - Help yourselves!” I gave good refreshment. Bella took cedar nuts and began to crack, but her “boy- friend” proudly turned from “the table”, a real man could get food by himself!
But that nice romantic period of tender courting did not last that long. Soon their interests went by separate ways. He wanted to have a good time: to jump from branch to branch, to play with Bella, to bask in the sun and to have no problems.
Handsome boy-friends have analogous thoughts. Are you going to become a mother? It’ your own business! Don’t worry, be happy, good- bye! That is the naked truth, the home truth. Oh, what am I grumbling about?
Bella urgently began to build a nest for her expected undergrowths. First, she tried to occupy empty coop and provoke great brawl with starlings. They gathered in a big flick and drove away one squirrel. It looked like fair public organized a protest demonstration and made imputed oligarch to return another’s property back.
Bella had to find other place but that variant was dangerous, too. She built a nest carrying everything suitable: great cotton of old mattress, red tow, last year moss, my wool moss bright- blue colored, stolen from my table.
Thanks to one accident I could see Bella’s nest. There were running repairs in neighbour cottage where three men worked. One day I heard a noise and found such a situation: adult men stood bewilderment and confused. They just took the roof slate off, saw a heap of trash, one of them reached out his hand and wanted to throw it out. That moment Bella furiously sprang at the men. Oh, God! I didn’t envy them! There were five tiny, ugly, hairless, and loudly whining mother’s kids in the nest.
She took one of them in her mouth and run away, I followed her with the “home” and the “rest company” in my hands. We stopped only in my attic; I carefully put the nest on the floor and hurried out. Evacuation from the area of disaster was carried out perfectly.
3. Education. Young generation grew up and Bella began to educate them how to become a real squirrel, how to jump from branch to branch easily, gracefully and naturally. What a severe teacher she was! Bella showed her kids a lesson, running there and back, left the room to one of them and demand to repeat the exercise sharply. A poor little trembling child was sitting on a pine with great terror in his eyes clinging with his short claws on the trunk. His strict mother took him by his neck, pushed him on the high branch, he slowly crawled along and if he stopped, Bella sourly pushed and even bit him. Wretched son had to reach the end of the branch; his efforts looked like dangerous acrobatic trick on the height of the second floor, without any insurance. If you think Bella left him alone, you are mistaken! She made him go back! It was very strange but he returned more confidently.
Do you know that practically each squirrel could break her bones several times? Squirrels have enemies: a marten and a man. The last one is the most dangerous and the most terrible. In the last century, squirrel pelts were sent in China by thousands. To make a nice fur “cap with ears” one needs… How many? What do you think? 19-20 pelts of squirrels! Could you count how many ones do you need for one fur coat?
4.Children. Bella brought her nest to the shed put it under the roof. Soon kids stopped whining they grew rather quickly becoming more curious, noisy, and naughty. It was dull for them to sit in the nest in old shed; the Big World attracted them. I hammered all the shed holes, but it was useless. Everyone gnawed through the personal hole in the old boards and protruded outside. They began to watch a film called ”Life” in free cinemas. Moreover, they began to reconnoitre. One scout made a ramble, run on the grass than hurried back.
Oh, that young generation, they don’t obey to the adults! They are independent, brave, and worthwhile; self supporting and don’t even think that it may not be so!
One morning my favorite cat Tim saw a small squirrel jumping jolly on the ground and it was the last moment of the poor thing…
Tim killed him immediately; the cat perplexity looked at his motionless victim than fastidiously shook off his paws and run home.
Tim was an intellectual, spoilt, caressed pet. All my neighbours doted, fed and patted on his back. Tim had no necessity to hunt but he did it because of his predatory nature. Two other small squirrels got into dogs’ teeth and my Bella got only with two kids left.
The first daughter, Sonya was as nice as her father and as clever as her mother. The other, named Jasha, was careless like his father and unhandsome like his mother.
It reminds me of our human life. Isn’t it so? Are you surprised if you see a family where there is a good girl and a reckless son? Alternatively, a nice hardworking wife and mother but a lazy inebriates husband and father. Sometimes it takes place.
Both Sonya and Jasha became adult squirrels but with different temper. The girl was confident, full, and calm; she had built her nest long before winter frosts. The boy, lop-sided, lop-eared and clumsy didn’t prepare for winter at all. In the morning, he got up rather late, stretched, and yawned luxuriously and after a while he was ready to visit a trough. Oh, let me live in such a way!
Every morning that rack is fulfilled by me. All the forest birds know about it so well, attack on my way, not allow coming to the trough. Usually I give in, strew millet on my palm and meal begins, nut-hatches, tomtits, woodpeckers and who not! They cry, push each other; touch me with their winds. What a strange thing: the smaller bird the more impudent it is! However, as for woodpecker, it is very modest and even shy. It stands aside and waits for his turn then it pecks the flat board of the trough with the rests of millets or bread- crumbs but gets nothing into its strong and long beak. It never says die! It lies on the millet and begins to lick the treatment with its long and big tongue. Other birds were greatly indignant arranging big hubbub and crush. The woodpecker loses countenance and flies away. He could take only several food grains and nothing more. Do you remember a fable “A Fox and a Crane”? It looks alike.
Winter began in the forest in time. Snowstorm and frost commenced as on schedule. Our Jasha was taken unawares. No house, no food, no mother only he by himself! Soon Jasha found empty starling-house, brought cotton and tow inside, made a cozy nest, thrusted moss into the entrance and began to live enjoying.
In human families sometimes parents don’t believe in their children:”You won’t make anything good- says Mother to her Son- you can only play football with your foolish friends in the yard.” “You won’t make anything good- says Father to his Daughter- you can only overdress and twist round the mirror”. They both are mistaken.
Jasha lived without problems; he got up very late, run a little, jumped one or two times, had breakfast in the trough, returned to his sweet house, put his nose out and was watching the forest life for hours. He was inquiring.
I loved squirrel Jasha very much. He was very kind, trustful and very merry. When he was meeting me in the forest or simply anywhere, he would dashed to, climbed up my valenok, trousers and sank into my pocket. He new my pocket was never empty. After cracking all the nuts, he went to my bosom to warm him. Oh, what cold paws! What did Nature think about? So warm fur-coat and bare paws!
Jasha never expected any danger in his life; he was too kind for that. He disappeared in first Sunday of summer when a stream of citizens poured in our place.
I often compare animals, people life, and find a lot of similarity. Trustful people get into trouble very easy and we help them because we love kind and merry people with their faults and strangers. Why don’t we love ideal people?
Frenchman
1. Meeting. This wonderful story took place far along, more than 40 years ago. My uncle was an officer, my Granny was about 50, a cousin and a brother were boys of six, noisy and naughty. I was the youngest and the smallest girl of four, kind and charm. We all lived together with neighbors as friends and as members of the family at the same time. Food was natural, air- fresh, water – pure. We prospered in a very small village, it was a military station where officers and called up soldiers served. This place, called Kindas, had one street of well-made wooden houses with big plots enclosed by fence. Taiga with its inhabitants stretched on all the sides and people had no power on it.
It was early spring, soldiers went to the forest, and suddenly they saw a female-bear with two very small cubs. She had just left her den and was disoriented a bit. Soldiers saw ”the family” and made a real “psychical attack” to bears. They began crying, stamping, clapping and shooting into the air. Mother- bear was frightened, she ran quickly into the thicket but “kids” fell behind. Young men reached and caught them. Rumor about two nice “babies” flew round our small place like wind. Women, children, officers and soldiers run together to have a look at bears. Everybody tried to hold the babies in the arms, surprising at their long fans and claws. A feeding bottle was found practically in each house.
2. Name. One bear died next day, he felt from swing, stroke himself against a sharp stone by his temple. This misfortune occurred because of children. They wanted to swing the bear’ cup.
My story is about the second one. He was nice, dark-brown with black eyes- bead and kind muzzle. Lieutenant Sergeev took him in hands, carried home and let him out on the floor. The little bear slowly smelled air and sneezed. The young man mixed caw with condensed milk and gave it to the “baby”. It was tasty. Then this scamp climbed on the bed, tore a pillow with claws, and threw hen’s feathers up and charm followed how plumelets whirled falling. Telling the truth lieutenant’s wife didn’t expect such “tableau vivant” when she returned from work. Poor woman was greatly surprised. She scolded her husband, then shook little bear off, took him in the arms and dandled him. The “baby” looked at her with joyful eyes and licked her hand. Next morning, Sergeev brought the little cub to the soldiers’ barracks and told everything about his deals last evening. The soldiers decided to call this “pretty thing” Frenchman.
In that small village, griped by hills from one side and by the river from another nobody would have kissed a lady’s hand but Frenchman because of subordination. One and only Frenchman, without a rival!
3. Free- style wrestling. We all loved our bear very much. Children outrun, organized competitions of climbing up a tree, who would be the quickest? However, my turn came later; I took Frenchman when he felt asleep, how heavy he was!
No babies like merry romp and our bear was not an exception, he adored it. When my uncle returned home, from service, he called the cup on the lawn behind our house and the competition began. We followed them as “true fans” to cry chairing and laughing: “Frenchman, stay on!” Young man clasped the bear in his arms and they began funny swaying from side to side. More than once Frenchman turned out on the grass. He was too killing! This “sport competition” did not last very long. My uncle put both hands up, laughed and cried: “I surrender at discretion!” “True fans” ran, jumped, and tumbled making much noise around them. However, I was a champion on screaming.
Bear Frenchman grew up very quickly. Now when he stood on his hind paws he was higher and much stronger than a man, merry romp became impossible. The bear trampled his rival down. My uncle could do nothing but keep himself far from dangerous claws.
4 Swimming. The citizens of our village knew very well Frenchman swimming was worth seeing. Soldiers, free from duty, went to the river together with the bear. Suddenly on the bank, he turned back, not going diving. Everybody induced him: “Frenchman! Come on! The water is warm!” No use!
Then they fastened a collar on his neck, hitched a chain and pull “poor thing” into the water. One or two soldiers pushed him in his back. He bellowed refusing with four paws. At last, the bear turned out in water. His mood changed sharply. Oh, what a contented muzzle! He splashed, beat with forepaws on the water, tumbled on the shallow or simply set to the neck in the water satisfied and happy. “Frenchman! That’ll do! Climb out»! called fellows. But “poor thing” didn’t care a rap. The situation returned, they put the bear on the chain and pulled him out of water. He didn’t want to leave the river, growling, bellowing and refusing. The spectators laughed and gave names: “Frenchman! You are not a Bear! You are a Donkey! Obstinate Donkey”!
5Adult. Our bear grew very quickly and became dangerous. He could go anywhere and made practically everything he wanted. One day he came to the extreme house and looked inside. The old woman (baba) Shura looked at him from the living- room through the same window. She shook her fist; he wanted to do alike but didn’t account his forces and broke the glass. Loud sound was heard. The “playful” stood stock- still as if hearing a beautiful symphony. That day such “music” rang in the village…
Once our darling pet came into inner porch of open house and found home- made raspberry jam on the floor. He broke a glass pot, sank his paw into soft pulp with red syrupy and licked it. It was so tasty he couldn’t tear himself off and finished everything. He was a sweet tooth.
Frenchman noiselessly came to a group of peaceable pecking hens, grabbed an armful of them together with grass and road dust, threw them up and clapped with forepaws. When this heap fell on the earth, one or two hens had already been dead. Twisting hens’ plumelets remind his childhood.
Do you think anybody suggested to get rid of our bear? The answer was- no! The broken glass was set, the rest jam was put away, the hens were rounded up to the background by owns.
6.General. That winter was mild and humid, there were no severe frosts, we often enjoyed with heavy snowfalls. Frenchman ran in the street on the new snow, he looked full and was not going to fell into hibernation like other bears. He felt well, played with fellows. The soldier who took him first, Ivan fed and tamed a little his wild pet. Sometimes Frenchman lolled in Ivan’s bed.
That winter a General visited our station to examine discipline and military maintenance. The General was strict and principle. Nobody made him having meal together with soldiers, but he did. Nobody made him sleeping in common barracks, but he did. He paid for it dearly. I don’t know how to explain the fact “authorities” elected exactly that bed! He lay still and suddenly saw a bear running straight to him. It had happened before all the people could control him. Frenchman reached and beat General’s chest with his paw, blood splashed. The bear was taken away immediately, sufferer caught hold on revolver. Soldiers closed up in front of the bear without any command. Ivan stood ahead clenching fists. The General took the barrel away. The medical attendant was sent and she ran in five minutes out of breathe with ablaze face, she looked worried. Dressing a wound, she “twittered”: “Oh, he’s domestic, eats out of hands. He is good with no strangers. Don’t take offence!” The General left in the morning pale and angry. Soon succeed an order. The commander was punished because of the animal together with defenders of Motherland and other infringement of regulations statutes. Our Frenchman was sent to the Zoo in Moscow.
Buru.
Our forest life in military station was full of interesting events, taiga attracted us very much, but my Granny didn’t let me go far from my house. Sometimes I asked her to go for a walk together, once she showed me chipmunks and we looked after them.
They say chipmunks are squirrels cousins, but they live on the ground. However, the ties of blood don’t prevent them from petty larceny. Chipmunks trail after squirrels, dig out their cedar nuts, they hide and steal every single nut into another hole.
Squirrels- cousins don’t notice and never suspect any harm. Chipmunks have honest muzzles pretty and serious, nice and fluffy tails, they often sit on their hind paws stretching bodies and necks up. They dart on the paths, naughtily whistle to each other, warm themselves on the stumps. I was fond of them. What a fun it was to watch how they carried stolen food! One crams his cheeks, filling so hard that eyes become narrow and look like two big balloons aside. One could take a funny picture of that!
Granny told me a tale and my interest was warmed up.
Earlier all small chipmunks were yellow; there were not dark strips on it.
However, once that story has taken place in our Taiga.
The owner of a Taiga the grandfather - bear lay in the autumn in the warm den, he turned cozier, put a paw in a mouth and strong fallen asleep.
Half-year has passed, and for a bear - as if à day has flown.
He has woken up, when the spring sun has warmed, when the first streamlets have rung out. His stomach has already become empty and his paw is not full.
The bear meal has not got ready yet. It is far up to berries, up to nuts.
There is a bear on a wood, every stump sniffs, whether there is a present there. Suddenly he hears: there is somebody under the big stub rustle. The bear wants to unscrew the stub with a paw. It does not give in.
The bear has tried with two paws. It is not enough force at a hungry bear. Then he becomes angry, hammers on a stub with a paw and has cried:
- Hey! Who lives there? Leave!
A yellow chipmunk has jumped out and speaks:
- Hi, the grandfather-bear!
- Who are you? - Growls a bear. What do you do there?
- I am a chipmunk I live here. It is my house, - he answers
The bear speaks:
- I have overslept all the long winter. And now has woken up - there is nothing to eat.
The chipmunk speaks:
I have overslept the hole long winter, too. However, before fall in hibernation, I have prepared supplies prior to hibernation. There are sweet roots; tasty nourishing nuts in my pantry. I sit and eat and burning. I do not grieve! The bear speaks:
- You are a good little beasts, chipmunk! Just allow me to try your tasty roots and cedar nuts.
The chipmunk speaks:
- Now, the grandfather, I shall bring.
He darts under a stub pulls out sweet roots and gives them to the bear.
- Be treated, the grandfather!
The bear eats and praises:
- Oh, as it is tasty! Allow me some more, please!
The chipmunk has brought more. The bear has gorged on, has become kinder. Also speaks:
- Thanks you, lovely chipmunk.
You are a small one but kind, have complied with the old man.
The bear has stroked the chipmunk on his back with a paw, has cautiously stroked, tenderly, and on a little back from the bear claws five strips have appeared.
The chipmunk was proud of the strips. If it happened, to be asked:
- What do you have at your back?
The chipmunk answered:
The grandfather-bear has stroked me.
Since that time, all the chipmunks have five strips on their backs.
One day I came to my uncle and asked him: “May I have a chipmunk?” he nodded and brought it next day.
The chipmunk was nice, brown with five dark strips on his back and light-brown stomach with tiny forepaws that ended with black long and thin fingers. The tail was not as fluffy as “cousin” had but enough to cover himself. The chipmunk was mine and I called him Buru. He had black round and very curios eyes. We were happy, my brother brought a small cage, opened it, I put bedding, a warm old duster and Buru began his new but short life. The cage was always opened and Buru could go anywhere he liked. He ate nuts, dry bread, biscuits, it seemed he felt well.
My elder brother found a big and thick encyclopedia, found the head “Chipmunks”. He read loudly stumbling and stretching the words, he shook his lag, fidgeted on his chair. We didn’t listen him attentively, there was nobody who could explain difficult abstracts, and so we understood nothing. Many years later, I found the similar information in Internet and read it again. I am ready to sign under each word.
Chipmunks are not afraid of people. They are nice, bright, amusing and touchingly tiny. Some people consider these animals ideal for the room maintenance and for children's nature corners.
He quickly gets used to hands becomes manual and doesn’t bite that much.
He is clean and does not smell, as against the overwhelming majority of rodents.
It is active at that day time when owners can play with him.
You ask how to tame him? Rather easily. It is necessary to be tender and attentive. It is not necessary to hurry events and often show persistence. Rather soon, he starts to take forage from hands. In addition, here, it is possible to play on weaknesses. Our Buru liked sugar.
This animal is surprising. The basic purpose of chipmunk life is constantly saving stocks of provisions. Bears perfectly know about it and consequently constantly use underground pantries where can be up to several kegs of nuts.
My Buru was a communicative trustful and thrifty gay. He took nuts, rusks and hid them everywhere at home. We found such “ammunition dump” in unexpected places. I wanted to put my valenok on, but there were biscuits there. My Granny tried her old coat on and found dry bread in its sleeves. My brother became an owner of one- handful cedar nuts he saw in his jacket pocket.
Tim is a big long-woolen Siberian cat. One day he met my chipmunk with bad and threatening spitting. We all took Buru’s side, Tim was won, he ran and hid himself under the bed. Buru was upheld. I thought he was brave but I was mistaken.
Granny was con:”There is no occasion when a wild animal and a man live together. Let it run to the forest! I appeal to your better feelings!” Three children and one young man only laughed at her words. However, she was right.
We didn’t allow Buru to jump onto the kitchen table, but once my Granny saw our pet standing in forbidden place in front of two vases. One of them was with salt another was full of sugar pieces. Buru went straight to the second vase and took one piece. Granny coughed, Buru shuddered, lost his sugar, stood still for a moment, his hind legs slid apart, and then he ran, blocked up under the duster in his cage and calmed down. He refused from food and water; he didn’t leave the cage for two days and eventually died.
Granny became very angry with us. She said she was not guilty, Buru was not either but we were. I understood and agreed. If I adopt an animal, I change its Fortune and its Life.