Masha and The Bear

Once upon a time there lived an old woman and an old man.  They had a granddaughter, named Masha.

One day Masha’s friends were going to the forest berry picking.  They asked if Masha wanted to come with them.

- Go, - insisted Masha’s grandmother and grandfather, - but watch out, keep up with your friends, stay with the people.

So, Masha got ready and went with her friends.

There were lots of berries in the forest.  The deeper in the forest they went, the richer were the berry bushes, the juicier were the berries.  Preoccupied with the berry picking, Masha didn’t realize how she wondered off and got left behind.  Lost and scared, she hallooed, but no one was responding.  Masha turned around and went in the direction she thought could lead her home.

Suddenly, The Bear appears in front of her.  He picked her up and carried away, while Masha was cried, frightened.

***

Masha’s friends returned to the village.  They told Masha’s grandparents the story about losing the sight of their granddaughter, about trying to find her to no avail. 

The following day the old woman and the old man went to the forest to look for their granddaughter.  They searched high and low.  They looked under each bush and searched in every burrow.  There were no signs of Masha. 

Every day for weeks Masha’s grandparents were returning to the forest.  They left no stone unturned, trying to find her, but came home empty-handed every day.  Eventually, they decided that Masha was gone forever.  Anguished and sorry, they stopped searching.

***

Meanwhile, The Bear brought Masha to his cottage in the deepest part of the forest. 

- Stop crying, I won’t eat you, – he assured the girl. – It’s lonely out here.  I need a company.

Crying won’t help, so Masha accepted the fact that she had to stay with The Bear, but she started thinking of a plan to escape.

The Bear was delighted to have Masha.  He brought her berries, honey, and snow peas from the forest, but the girl wasn’t happy.

- Why are unhappy, – The Bear asked her.

- What is there for me to be happy about? How can I not be sad?  My grandparents must think that I was eaten by a bear.  Would you take some pies to them from me, so they know I’m still alive?

The Bear agreed.  He brought a large bucket of flour for Masha to bake some pies.  Masha was working all day, baking and cooking, making the whole cottage smell delicious.  When she was done, there was a tub full of pies.  The Bear found the biggest basket backpack, so all the baked goodies would fit nicely.

Before The Bear hit the road Masha sat him down and instructed,

- As you carry these pies to my grandma and grandpa, you must not eat them yourself.  All of these pies need to reach my grandparents.  No looksie, no touchie.  Understand?  I will be watching you from the hills, so I’ll know if you try to sneak some.

She asked The Bear go check if it’s raining outside.  While he was out, the girls jumped in his basket backpack and closed the lid.  The Bear put the backpack on and set off.

It was a long walk to the village.  The road went through the birch trees, by the pine trees; it came down hill, and then went back up.  The Bear was getting tired.  So, he said,

- What a heavy load I carry!  Sitting down on this stump, I should get myself some snack.

Masha heard him right from the basket, so she yelled,

- I see, I see what you are trying to do. No sitting on a stump, no eating my grandparents snack.  Bring these pies to my grandma.  Bring them to my grandpa.

The Bear growled, but got up and kept moving, noting to himself,

- What a vision! She is sitting high, she is seeing far.

It was still a long walk ahead to get to the village. The road went through the birch trees, by the pine trees; it came down hill, and then went back up.  The Bear was getting tired.  So, he said,

- What a heavy load I carry!  Sitting down on this stump, I should get myself some snack.

Having heard these words, Masha yelled loudly,

- I see, I see what you are trying to do. No sitting on a stump, no eating my grandparents snack.  Bring these pies to my grandma.  Bring them to my grandpa.

The Bear growled, but got up and kept moving, noting to himself,

- What a vision! She is sitting high, she is seeing far.

Here was the village.  The Bear came to Masha’s grandparents’ house and knocked on the door.  Their dog started barking with its all might.  The neighbors’ dogs heard the noise and also started barking.

As soon as the door opened, The Bear threw the basked down and took off running.  The dogs came after him.  He barely made it to the forest safely.

The old woman and the old man came closer to the basket, wondering what it could be.  Masha opened the lid and came out, alive and healthy.  The elders couldn’t believe their eyes.  They gave her hugs and kisses. 

Reunited at last, they lived happily ever after.

THE END