Mamushi the Rabbit

This is a story about the search for a true friend, and its hero is a cute rabbit named Mamushi. One morning, Mamushi goes out into the forest carrying three red balloons. While humming a short tune to himself, he meets a hedgehog who asks Mamushi for a balloon and offers to be his friend in return. Mamushi gives the hedgehog a balloon, but it pops after a short time, and the hedgehog goes away. Mamushi continues on his way and meets a gecko, who also asks for a balloon and offers friendship in return. Mamushi gives her one of his two balloons, and when it pops, the gecko goes away. Now Mamushi has only one balloon left, and he hands it to a turtle he meets along the way. Of course, the third balloon pops too, and the turtle, like his predecessors, is unwilling to be Mamushi`s friend. Mamushi sits down by the side of the path. Suddenly a blue butterfly appears and smiles at him. Mamushi tells him that he has no balloons left. To his surprise, the butterfly answers that he doesn’t like balloons, but he does like Mamushi and wants to be his friend.

Mamushi and his new friend go back home, and Mother Rabbit blows up a balloon and hands it to the butterfly. The butterfly repeats that he doesn`t like balloons, and flutters about and settles on Mamushi`s ear. When Mamushi hums a happy tune, the butterfly sings along – not aloud, but to himself.