Fairy Tales, Stories & Games for Kids Fairy Tales, Stories & Games for Kids
The Fearful Round Ball
Once there was a Round Ball, and it was terribly timid. That’s why it always rolled and rolled along, hoping no one would notice it.
A Meeting with the Fist
One day, as the Round Ball was rolling, a strong Fist appeared before it. The Fist was fierce and angry.
“Hey, Round Ball, where are you going? Aren’t you afraid that someone might smash you flat on the road?” asked the Fist.
“I am afraid! But I must go. Beyond the round rocks, a girl named Qumru is waiting for me. She has knitted soft socks and made a round bag for me, which she will send to a brave young man in Upper Yurd.”
Gathering of Friends
“If that’s so, then let me go with you,” said the Fist. And so the two set off together.
Soon they met a rabbit — also round.
“Round Ball, Round Fist, where are you going? Aren’t you afraid the wolf will tear you apart?” asked the rabbit.
“Let Him Fear Us”
The Round Fist grew angry, clenched harder, and frowned.
“Why should we fear the wolf? Let him fear us!”
The rabbit saw how strong and fearless the Round Fist was and said:
“Then let me come with you, too!”
The Round Fist was delighted, but in his excitement almost burst open.
“Careful! If you burst, who will roll you back into a ball?” scolded the Round Ball. “Better not jump around too much.”
Encounter with the Bear
They went on their way until they met a massive, frightening Round Ball — so large that even the Round Fist was startled. The giant ball stopped and unrolled — it was a bear, who had tumbled down the mountain.
“Round Ball, Round Fist, Round Rabbit, where are you going? Aren’t you afraid the wolf will block your way and tear you apart?” asked the bear.
The Clever Plan
The Round Rabbit spoke up first:
“Why should we fear the wolf? Let him fear us!”
The bear thought for a moment and said:
“Then let me come with you.” — “Very well!” they agreed.
So they marched together: the bear in front, the rabbit behind him, the Round Ball in the middle, and the Round Fist guarding the rear.
From afar, a wolf spotted them, but the sight of the bear kept him away. Other wolves gathered and prowled, searching for the Round Ball and his friends.
At last they reached the round rocks where Qumru lived. As Qumru placed the Round Ball in her bag and worked on the socks, the wolf arrived. The friends quickly warned each other.
“Let them come, I’ll smash them all!” shouted the Round Fist.
“Seems like their end has come,” growled the bear.
But the Round Rabbit trembled and said:
“Friends, they are many, we are few. I have an idea: let’s all curl up and lie still among the round rocks. That way, we’ll look just like the stones, and they won’t find us.”
The plan pleased them all. They rolled up tight and lay among the rocks. The wolves searched everywhere but could not find them. In the end, the wolves quarreled and tore each other apart.
