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Eva Demoore

A SNOWMAN AND A HARE or A PERSON WHO HAD NO EDUCATION

A snowman lives in a small hut in the forest. There is only one room in his hut. But there are three big windows. So, he can watch through his windows the forest and the snowfalls and everybody who passes by. The snowman likes the snowfalls, the edge of the forest, and his hut, where he lives.

But most of all, he likes his winter forest. So, he goes there every day.

The snowman has a friend, a white hare.

The hare lives in a hut too. There is only one room. It is both a kitchen and a bedroom. But it is very comfortable. There is a bed, a sofa, a fireplace, a round table, some shelves, and a carpet.

The hare’s hut is situated not far from a forest spring. And the spring is not far from the edge of the forest where the snowman lives.

The snowman likes to visit his friend. He visits the white hare every day. The hare is glad to see the snowman.

“How are you getting on?” the snowman asks, entering the hut.

“I am fine,” answers the hare. “I am happy to see you.”

“How wonderful,” the snowman says smiling. And he goes to the sofa and sits down.

“A cup of tea?” asks the hare.

“That’s great,” answers the snowman.

White hare takes two cups from the shelf. He gives one cup to his friend. Then he puts the other cup on the fireplace. He likes hot tea. But his friend the snowman drinks only tea with ice. So, he never gives hot tea to the snowman.

White hare brings tea in a tea-pot. He also brings some jam and ice.

“Here is your tea,” he says. “It’s fresh.” And he puts some ice into the snowman’s cup.

“It’s marvelous,” says the snowman. “It looks attractive.”

“It is very nice,” says the hare. “And the jam is very nice too.”

“Excellent,” smiles the snowman and starts drinking his tea.

The hare drinks tea too. He likes it and enjoys it every day.

“It may snow,” he says.

“That’s great,” says the snowman.

“I don’t agree with you,” the hare says. “We have a lot of snow this winter. There is too much snow in the forest this winter.”

“That’s great,” smiles the snowman. “I like snow. It looks beautiful.”

“I agree with you,” agrees the hare. “Snow always looks beautiful. But it is difficult to walk in snow.”

“Because you are so little,” the snowman explains. “So, you should use skis. It is not difficult to ski.”

“I can’t use skis,” says the hare. “I don’t know how to use them. All hares in our family usually walk. Sometimes we run. But we never ski. I don’t know much about skis.”

The snowman looks at his friend, “I am so sorry, I have no education. So, I can’t explain to you about skis.”

“And your brothers?” asks the white hare. “Do they have education?”

“No,” says the snowman without a smile. “They don’t have an education either.”

Then, he looks around the room and continues, “But we must have an education. I mean, I must have an education.” He thinks a little and adds, “I must have a good education, probably, the best one.”

The hare looks at his friend with regret, “I am sorry there is no education in my hut,” he says. “I would like to give you some. You want it so much. But I know there is no education here. I have only jam and some butter.”

“Education is not food,” explains the snowman. He has his tea and speaks again, “Education is better than any food.”

“Better than vegetables?” the hare asks with surprise.

“Oh, dear,” answers the snowman. “Education is much better than any vegetable.”

“Is it better than fruit?” the white hare asks.

“I think education is better than any fruit,” answers the snowman.

“Is it better than fast food?” asks the hare again.

“Of course, it is better than fast food,” the snowman says dreamily.

“My parents never speak about education with me,” the white hare says, “Neither do my brothers. They never speak about education either,” he continues.

“By the way, how are your parents?” asks the snowman.

“They are OK,” the hare smiles.

“That’s great,” says the snowman.” And how are your brothers?”

“They are fine too,” the hare answers and continues to drink his tea.

The snowman finishes drinking tea. He yarns. Then he eats some jam and butter. After that, he thanks the hare.

“It’s time to go home,” he says.

“It is evening,” says the hare.

“It’s marvelous,” says the snowman. “I must sleep. I like to sleep at night. See you soon.” And the snowman leaves.

The hare stays in his hut. He drinks his tea and thinks. “Education must be something nice. I want to give education to my friend.”

“What a pity, there is no education in my hut,” he says and looks around. “So, I should go and look for it.”

He stops drinking his tea, washes the cups, and puts them on the shelf. Then he goes out. He thinks, “Maybe my brothers have it, though they never mention it.”

Then he says loudly, “It’s true, they never speak about education. But they may have it.”

So, he runs to his brothers. But his brothers are not at home. They walk in the forest. They play with other hares.

The next day he goes to his grandmother.

“Could I ask a question?” he asks.

His grandmother looks at him.

“You must have education,” says the hare.

“That’s right,” answers the grandmother. “I have an education.”

“You must have a good education,” says the hare.

“That’s right,” answers the grandmother. “I have a very good education. The best education.”

“Really?” asks the hare. “Couldn’t you give some to me?”

“Then, sit down!” says the grandmother. “I want to show you my books.”

“Where are your books?” asks the hare. “I see no books in your hut.”

“Please, listen to me,” says the grandmother. “And don’t interrupt. I’d like to talk with you.”

“How wonderful,” says the hare. “I’d like to talk with you too.”

“Please, don’t interrupt,” says the granny. “I’d like to tell you about modern means of communication.”

“About what?” asks the hare smiling.

“About modern means of communication,” repeats the granny. And she looks at the hare.

“I guess I know something about modern means of communication,” the hare says. And he looks at the shelf with food.

“Are you hungry?” asks grandmother.

“Yes, very hungry,” the hare answers happily. “I think I’d like to taste some modern means of communication.”

“Oh, dear!” says the granny. “There is no means of communication on the shelf with food.”

“Then where are they?” asks the hare.

“They are here,” answers the granny. “But you are hungry. You must have lunch first.”

“Please, don’t forget to give me some modern means of communication for lunch,” the hare says.

“Oh, dear! I’m afraid you don’t follow me. You can’t eat means of communication.”

“Don’t worry! I can eat any food,” the hare says.

“But means of communication are not food.” The granny walks gracefully about the house. “There are lots of means of communication in the modern world.”

“How wonderful,” says the hare. “I am glad to hear it.”

“Please, don’t interrupt,” interrupts the granny. “Don’t forget I want to explain to you all about modern means of communication.” And she walks about the house again.

“You know I have a present for you.”

The granny wants to give the present.

“Where is your present?” the hare jumps up and starts looking for it, but he can’t find it.

“You seem to be acting really unnatural,” grandma remarks. “Like an ill-bread guy.”

“I’m just curious,” the hare replies. “And then I’m only a kid.”

“It’s a mere lack of education,” granny says quietly. “A big disadvantage, so to say.”

“I don’t quite catch what you say,” the hare looks under the bed and behind the curtains. “You like to hide it in weird places.” But he doesn’t see the gift. “Where can it be?”

“Now I remember,” he says after a while. “You prefer to keep awesome gifts for the family in the most mystifying locations.”

“It isn’t awesome,” granny says. “So, it can’t be in the most mystifying locations.”

The hare moves his ears. “Oh, I see. Your gift is not awesome.”

“It’s casual,” admits the granny. “It’s in my bag.”

“Well, where is your bag, then?” the hare asks.

He walks timidly about the house. He looks for the bag. He looks for it in different places. He looks for it in various areas of the house. “I have no idea where your bag can be,” the hare sits down on the armchair astonished. “Where is it?” he wonders.

“I always put it on the cushion near the sofa,” grandmother explains.

“But it is not there,” the hare moves his ears again.

“Oh, dear!” granny says in a moment. “You told me you are hungry.”

“Yes, I am,” the hare nods. “But I am busy right now. I am looking for your bag, that is, my present.”

“What shall we do?” smiles the granny.

“I don’t know,” answers the hare. “Perhaps, I should eat a bit. I am really hungry”

“A cup of tea?” the granny asks.

“Yes, please.”

“Here it is,” granny says and puts a cup of hot tea on the table near the hare. “Drink your tea.”

“But I am hungry,” says the hare. “I would like some meals.”

“Don’t worry. Drink your tea first,” says the granny. “I can give you some rice with carrots after tea.”

“I want rice with carrots now,” the hare says.

“Don’t forget it is not summer. It is winter. So, hot tea is more important now. In winter tea is much more important than rice with carrots,” explains the granny.

“I agree with you,” says the hare.

“I am glad to hear it,” says the granny. “In winter hot tea looks especially attractive.”

“I think it’s always attractive,” says the hare. “I like to drink hot tea in summer too.”

And he drinks his tea.

“It makes no sense to me when you speak about hot tea in summer,” says the granny. “Cold tea is more advisable. But I think cold water is even better.”

“Really?” asks the hare. “Tell me, why.”

“Oh, dear! You want to know too much! And I can’t tell you everything now.”

The hare looks at the granny.

“I am too busy now,” the granny explains. “I am looking for my bag.” And the granny starts walking about the house.

“Don’t forget about rice with carrots,” the hare reminds her.

“Don’t worry, I won’t,” the granny says, walking about the kitchen.

“Listen,” says the hare in a minute. “My cup is already without tea. But where is my rice with carrots?”

“Here it is,” answers the granny and gives a big plate with rice to the hare.

“Thanks a lot,” the hare says, “rice is my favorite food.”

“You are welcome,” says the granny. “Don’t forget to eat the carrots too!”

“I won’t,” promises the hare. “How can I forget? Carrots are my favorite food too,” he explains.

The hare finishes his meal. “Where is your bag?” he asks. “Where can it be?” And he walks about the house too.

“Oh, dear!” says the granny. “Now I remember! My bag is at your uncle’s house. You can go there and bring it to me.”

“Uncle lives in the other forest. And it’s difficult to go there in the snow,” explains the hare.

“I don’t agree with you,” smiles the granny. “It’s nice to walk in snow.”

“I am glad to hear it,” says the hare. “But I don’t agree with you.”

“No wonder,” the granny says. “You should master your skills. Therefore, you should stay here and listen to me.”

“It won’t help me to develop my walking skill,” the hare says.

“Then, I may tell you about modern means of communication,” the granny suggests. “There are also other topics for our discussion.”

“Let me remind you about the present,” the hare interrupts.

“How wonderful!” exclaims the granny. “You remember about the present. And I don’t.”

“You don’t remember about my present?” the hare asks with surprise.

“I do, I do! I was kidding,” answers the granny. “But there are other pleasant things which deserve attention. Presents are only a part of miracles in life.”

The granny gets a few objects from a trunk. “It’s a map,” she says. She points out at some place. “Our forest,” she informs.

The hare looks through the window. “It is there,” he points his finger.

“It’s kinda complicated for you,” the granny says. Then she puts the map back into the trunk.

She closes the trunk. “I’ve got so many treasures here. There are various books and manuscripts and similar precious things,” the granny informs. “When I look at them, I totally forget about your present.”

“Do you forget about it now?” the hare asks.

“No worries,” answers the granny. “If I forget, you can remember and remind me.” She sits down on the trunk. “Shall we talk about miracles or treasures now?”

“How about my present?” asks the hare. “Isn’t it better to talk about my present?”

The granny ignores his question and says, “Miracles happen every single moment.”

“May I interrupt you?” the hare smiles.

But the granny doesn’t answer. She looks at her paws. Then she jumps down and comes up to the grandson.

“We are miracles too,” she says. “Have a glance at your fluffy little paws.”

The hare turns to her. “Your knitted mittens are as perfect as fluffy little paws,” he observes.

But the granny doesn’t reply. She opens the trunk again. She looks for something inside it. Then she gets a pair of fluffy mittens and examines them thoroughly. “Our paws are more perfect,” she states.

“Why do you always prepare rice with carrots?” the hare interrupts her suddenly.

“Why do you ask about it?” asks the granny. “You don’t enjoy this meal anymore?”

“I always enjoy it. I am ready to eat it again and again.”

“Then why do you ask?”

“I would like some more,” the hare says.

“Sure,” the granny nods and she gives some more rice.

“How is the uncle?” the hare asks after the meal.

“He is fine,” answers the granny.

“I am happy to know it,” says the hare. “And how is your neighbor?”

“He is fine too.”

“I am delighted to hear it,” the hare says.

“We haven’t spoken about miracles,” the granny reminds. The hare looks at his granny with curiosity. “I am not ready to talk about miracles,” he says.

The granny gets a few natural stones from the shelf. “Then, we’ll deal with the Earth treasures. We can talk about minerals and crystals,” she suggests. “I certainly want to discuss different miracles more,” she says with expectation.

“No way,” the hare licks the plate. “We have discussed that already.” He looks at his paws.

“There are other miracles in the world,” the granny observes. “Not only your cute fluffy white paws.”

The hare looks at the objects suspiciously.

“Fortunately, there are various treasures that may cause your curiosity,” the granny demonstrates some of the natural stones.

“No way,” says the hare rushing to the window.

The granny puts her collection back. “Then we’ll talk about less important things.” She goes to the opposite shelf. “I’ll show you some modern devices.”

“What are you looking for?” the hare asks sniffing around pot flowers.

“I am looking for one less important thing,” answers the granny.

“What do you mean?” asks the hare.

“A keyboard,” says the granny, “One of the computer devices.” And she looks at the hare.

“We can’t use a computer without a keyboard,” the granny explains.

“But we don’t use skis and stuff like that in our family,” the hare stares at the granny.

“I’m not talking about skis,” the granny stares back. “I talk about less important matters. I mean computer facilities.”

“It makes no sense to me,” the hare confesses.

“I use a computer,” grandmother goes on, ignoring the reaction. “I am very good at it.”

“I think you are very good at rice with carrots,” the hare says.

“Don’t be focused only on meals,” the granny says. “It’s cool to use a computer.”

“Then I must use it too, even though I don’t guess what you mean,” says the hare.

“How can you use a computer if you even don’t know how it looks?” the granny asks. And she glances at the white hare. “You can’t use a computer,” she says. “No way. You don’t have any knowledge about it.”

“That’s true,” says the hare. “I don’t have any knowledge about your so-called devices. But then I do have a present.” And he looks at his granny with expectation. “So, I think I should go and take it,” he continues in a minute.

“I want to tell you about modern means of communication,” the granny reminds. “And it’s necessary to speak about other matters.”

“I think I want a present first,” the hare says.

“OK,” the granny carries the key-board back. “Then you have to walk in snow to your uncle and bring me my bag.”

“The snowman says it’s nice to ski,” the hare says.

“We don’t ski in our family,” the granny remarks.

“It’s simple,” the hare explains. Then he remembers that he doesn’t know much about skis. So, he says, “It may snow again.”

“Never mind,” the granny says. “It always snows in winter.”

“I think I can’t bring you the bag today,” the hare says. “I prefer to go home with your present.”

“OK,” the granny hugs the hare. “Then bring the bag tomorrow.”

“Well, if you show me some devices you mentioned,” the hare says unexpectedly for himself.

“Come tomorrow,” grandmother laughs. “See you soon,” she says, opening the door.