The Rolling Pumpkin
A Perilous Journey
Once upon a time, in a village at the edge of a perilous forest, lived an old woman. She lived alone and missed her daughter, who lived with her husband on the other side of the forest.
One day, the old woman couldn't bear it any longer and decided to visit her daughter. Her friends and the other villagers tried to stop her.
— How will you manage to cross this dangerous forest all by yourself? The forest is full of wild animals and predators. — Well, animals sense our intentions better than people do. If they sense fear, they will attack, but if they sense strength and love, not even the most dangerous creatures will attack, because they too have feelings, much like humans in this regard. — Isn't it clear that you'll be afraid in the forest? — Oh, the forest gives us everything we need: wood for fire, water from the river, rain for our crops. It's the friendliest place in the world. What is there to be afraid of? I will simply talk to the animals there. — Talk to the animals? That's very strange. — As I said, perhaps animals cannot understand words, but they will understand the feelings in my heart and will respond in kind. — But every predator has to eat. — They will leave me in peace if I interpret their feelings correctly. As I said, they are similar to humans. They have the same strengths and weaknesses. Don't worry, I will return safely. — Shall we come with you? — Thank you very much, but I will surely manage on my own.
The Encounter with Wild Animals
So, the next morning, the old woman left the village for her daughter's house. She ventured into the forest and after less than an hour, she heard a wolf howling. Before she could figure out what was happening, she found herself face to face with a fierce and hungry wolf.
— Old woman, I am very hungry. I must eat you. — My dear wolf, I am very sorry to hear you are hungry. But look at me. I am skinny and full of bones, just an old woman. How could I satisfy the hunger of a big and strong hunter like you? — Mmm. Yes, but I must eat you regardless of how you taste. — Why don't you wait a week for me? I am going to my daughter's house. She will feed me so many good things that I will surely get fatter. Then you can eat me. Now please, let me pass. Until then, you, the great wolf, the master hunter of the forest, can easily hunt other animals, but in a week, when you hunt me, I will be plumper and tastier. — That doesn't sound bad at all. All right, I will let you pass.
So, the wolf let the old woman pass. A few hours later, the woman heard a tiger growling. She smiled as the tiger appeared before her.
— Old woman, I am very hungry. I must eat you. — My dear tiger, I am very sorry to hear you are hungry. But look at me. I am skinny and full of bones, just an old woman. How could I satisfy the hunger of the great tiger? Why, not even a wolf, who is far beneath you, would eat me? — Not even a wolf would eat you? — You know the wolf lives further down from here. Wouldn't he have seen me first? Go and ask him. Even he thought I was too bony, and you, who are much bigger and stronger than him, will eat me? You deserve a much better feast, don't you think? Why don't you wait a week for me? I am going to my daughter's house. She will feed me so many good things that I will surely get fatter. And I will be much plumper and tastier. You can eat me before the wolf. Now let me pass. — That doesn't sound bad at all. All right, I will let you pass. I certainly deserve a better meal.
The old woman hurried to pass more quickly, when suddenly she heard the roar of a lion. The lion appeared in her path from the bushes.
— Old woman, I am very hungry. I must eat you. — My dear lion, I am very sorry to hear you are hungry, but I am not worthy of being eaten. Not even by the miserable wolf or the tiger. When not even they ate me, how can you, the great lion, the king of the jungle, think of eating me? — Seriously? Even the tiger and that wolf let you pass without eating you? — I am alive right before your eyes, aren't I? And I know where the tiger and the wolf live. Of course, they found me too skinny and bony for their appetite. Why don't you wait a week for me? I am going to my daughter's house. She will feed me so many good things that in a week, when you hunt me, I will be much plumper and tastier. — That doesn't sound bad at all. All right, I will let you pass. I certainly deserve a better meal.
The Saving Pumpkin
So, the old woman arrived at her daughter's house. Her daughter was very happy to see her. The old woman stayed with her for a week, and then it was time to return.
— Mother, why are you packing so early? — Dear, I must go back home. — Mother, stay a few more days! — I miss home now, dear. Do me a favor before I leave, please. — Anything you want, Mother. — Get me a very large pumpkin.
The daughter found a very large pumpkin. They hollowed it out together, and the old woman got inside. The daughter rolled the pumpkin towards the forest. The pumpkin rolled past the lion.
— Hey, rolling pumpkin! Are you coming from the village? — Yes, that's right! — Did you see an old woman there? She should be returning today. — What a stupid question, coming from the king of the jungle! Do you think an old woman could roll inside a pumpkin? Wait for her here. — Ahaha, I was just joking. I know an old woman couldn't roll inside a pumpkin. Roll on. Oh, forgive me, keep rolling, pumpkin!
The pumpkin and the old woman continued to roll through the forest, until the tiger stopped them.
— Hey, rolling pumpkin! Are you coming from the village somehow? — Yes, that's right! — Did you see an old woman there? She should be returning today. — What a stupid question, coming from the tiger! Do you think an old woman could roll inside a pumpkin? And do you think if she could, the mighty lion would let her roll? You are very silly. — Ahaha, of course, I was just joking. Keep rolling, pumpkin!
And now, the rolling pumpkin entered the wolf's territory.
— Hey, rolling pumpkin! Are you coming from the village somehow? — Yes, that's right! — Did you see an old woman there? She should be returning today. — What a stupid question, coming from the wolf! Do you think an old woman could roll inside a pumpkin? And even if she could, would the lion and the tiger let her roll? You are very silly. — Ahaha, I was just joking. Roll on! Hmm. Hey, wait a minute! Since when do pumpkins talk? I know that voice! Old woman, you really are rolling! Come out, or I'll poke a hole in it!
The Old Woman's Wisdom
— So, you caught on! You are very clever. More clever than the mighty tiger and even than the king of the jungle himself, the lion. — I am clever, aren't I? — But, but who will live to tell the story of your cleverness and wisdom? — What do you mean? — Well, since you caught me and you're going to eat me, I will die. So who will tell the story of how wise you are? Do you think the tiger and the lion will believe you? — Ah, no, I will have to let you escape alive for that. — And if you let me go, I will go to my village and tell everyone that the wolf is the cleverest and wisest creature in the world. More clever and wiser than the mighty tiger and even than the king of the jungle himself, the lion. Then the story will be passed on, and soon the whole world will know how clever you are. — Everyone will know that I, the wolf, am cleverer than the tiger and the lion! Oh, go, old woman, go! Go to your village and tell everyone! Tell them I am the wisest creature in the whole world! Yes!
Conclusion
In this way, the old woman saved her life and arrived home safely. When her friends and neighbors asked her how she managed among the wild animals on the road, the old woman simply told them: Being too boastful and giving in to pride is a bad thing for everyone, both for people and for animals. She's absolutely right, isn't she?
