Era vreme frumoas\u0103. Era var\u0103, holdele erau galbene, ov\u0103zul verde, f\u00e2nul era cl\u0103dit \u00een c\u0103pi\u0163e \u015fi cocost\u00e2rcul se plimba pe c\u00e2mp cu picioarele lui lungi \u015fi ro\u015fii \u015fi cl\u0103mp\u0103nea pe egiptene\u015fte, fiindc\u0103 limba asta o \u00eenv\u0103\u0163ase de la maic\u0103-sa.<\/p>\n
De jur \u00eemprejurul ogoarelor \u015fi al p\u0103\u015funilor erau p\u0103duri mari \u015fi \u00een mijlocul p\u0103durilor hele\u015fteie ad\u00e2nci. Ce frumos era pretutindeni! Pe locurile acestea era un conac vechi, \u00eenconjurat de \u015fan\u0163uri ad\u00e2nci; de la ziduri p\u00e2n\u0103 la ap\u0103 g\u0103seai tot b\u0103l\u0103rii, a\u015fa de \u00eenalte, \u00eenc\u00e2t unui copil, st\u00e2nd \u00een picioare printre ele, nu i s-ar fi v\u0103zut capul. \u015ei erau a\u015fa de dese \u015fi de \u00eenc\u00e2lcite, c\u0103 te puteai r\u0103t\u0103ci prin ele ca-n p\u0103dure. \u00cen b\u0103l\u0103riile acestea \u015fedea o ra\u0163\u0103 \u00een cuibar \u015fi clocea; p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 ias\u0103 puii, ra\u0163a se plictisea grozav; nimeni nu venea s\u0103 vad\u0103 ce mai face; celelalte ra\u0163e mai bine se plimbau pe ap\u0103 dec\u00e2t s\u0103 vie p\u00e2n\u0103 aici sus, s\u0103 se a\u015feze sub un brusture \u015fi s\u0103 stea de vorb\u0103 cu d\u00e2nsa.<\/p>\n
\u00cen sf\u00e2r\u015fit a cr\u0103pat un ou \u015fi dup\u0103 aceea altul \u015fi \u00eenc\u0103 unul, p\u00e2n\u0103 au cr\u0103pat toate. Chiu-chiu! s-auzea din toate p\u0103r\u0163ile; g\u0103lbenu\u015furile prinseser\u0103 via\u0163\u0103 \u015fi r\u0103\u0163u\u015ftele scoteau capul din g\u0103oace.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mac-mac! a spus ra\u0163a \u015fi atunci toate au \u00eenceput s\u0103 m\u0103c\u0103iasc\u0103 \u015fi ele cum puteau mai bine \u015fi se uitau \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile, printre buruienile verzi, \u015fi mama lor le l\u0103sa s\u0103 se uite c\u00e2t voiau, fiindc\u0103 verdele e bun pentru ochi.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce mare-i lumea! ziceau puii.<\/p>\n
Cred \u015fi eu, fiindc\u0103 acuma aveau mai mult loc dec\u00e2t avuseser\u0103 \u00eenainte c\u00e2nd st\u0103teau \u00een ou.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Crede\u0163i voi c\u0103 asta e toat\u0103 lumea? a spus mama. Lumea se \u00eentinde \u015fi mai departe, dincolo de gr\u0103din\u0103, p\u00e2n\u0103 la ogoarele preotului, dar p\u00e2n\u0103 acolo n-am fost nici eu. Sunte\u0163i toate? a \u00eentrebat ea \u015fi s-a ridicat din cuibar. Ba nu, uite c\u0103 nu-s toate, mai este un ou \u015fi-i cel mai mare. Dar oare c\u00e2t are s\u0103 mai \u0163ie? Am \u00eenceput s\u0103 m\u0103 cam satur!<\/p>\n
\u015ei s-a a\u015fezat iar \u00een cuibar.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ei, cum merge? a \u00eentrebat-o o ra\u0163\u0103 b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 care venise \u00een vizit\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mai am un ou, a r\u0103spuns ra\u0163a. Nu \u015ftiu ce-i cu el, c\u0103 nu mai crap\u0103; dar ia uit\u0103-te la celelalte, ce zici, nu-s cele mai frumoase r\u0103\u0163u\u015fte care s-au pomenit vreodat\u0103? Una nu-i care s\u0103 nu semene cu tat\u0103-s\u0103u; \u015fi tic\u0103losul nici nu vine m\u0103car s\u0103 vad\u0103 ce mai fac.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ia s\u0103 v\u0103d \u015fi eu oul acela care nu vrea s\u0103 crape, a spus b\u0103tr\u00e2na. Trebuie s\u0103 fie un ou de curc\u0103; am p\u0103\u0163it-o \u015fi eu odat\u0103 a\u015fa \u015fi am avut numai necazuri cu el, fiindc\u0103 puilor de curc\u0103 le e fric\u0103 de ap\u0103. Nu puteam s\u0103-l fac s\u0103 intre \u00een ap\u0103 cu nici un chip, m\u0103c\u0103iam c\u00e2t m\u0103 \u0163inea g\u00e2tlejul, dar tot degeaba. Ia s\u0103 v\u0103d oul. Da, e de curc\u0103. Mai bine las\u0103-l \u015fi \u00eenva\u0163\u0103-\u0163i copila\u015fii s\u0103 \u00eenoate.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Am s\u0103 mai \u015fed oleac\u0103, a zis ra\u0163a. Am \u015fezut at\u00e2ta c\u0103 mai pot s\u0103 \u015fed pu\u0163in.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Cum vrei, spuse ra\u0163a cea b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi a plecat.<\/p>\n
\u00cen sf\u00e2r\u015fit, oul cel mare a cr\u0103pat. Chiu, chiu, a spus puiul \u015fi a ie\u015fit din g\u0103oace; era mare \u015fi ur\u00e2t. Ra\u0163a s-a uitat lung la el. “Da\u2019 mare-i! Co\u015fcogeamite r\u0103\u0163oi!”, zise ea. Nu seam\u0103n\u0103 cu celelalte; s\u0103 fie totu\u015fi un pui de curc\u0103? Am s\u0103 v\u0103d eu; am s\u0103-l bag \u00een ap\u0103, chiar dac\u0103 o trebui s\u0103-l \u00eemping cu de-a sila.”<\/p>\n
A doua zi era vreme frumoas\u0103. Toate buruienile cele verzi str\u0103luceau la soare. Ra\u0163a s-a dus cu toat\u0103 familia la ap\u0103. Zicea mac-mac \u015fi una c\u00e2te una r\u0103\u0163u\u015ftele se b\u0103gau \u00een ap\u0103; apa le venea p\u00e2n\u0103 peste cap, dar ele repede ie\u015feau deasupra \u015fi \u00eenotau de minune; picioarele se puneau singure \u00een mi\u015fcare \u015fi toate erau acuma \u00een ap\u0103, chiar \u015fi puiul cel ur\u00e2t \u015fi cenu\u015fiu.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu, nu-i de curc\u0103, spuse ra\u0163a; uite ce bine d\u0103 din picioare \u015fi ce drept se \u0163ine, e copilul meu. \u015ei, la urma-urmei, dac\u0103 te ui\u0163i mai bine la el, e chiar dr\u0103gu\u0163. Mac-mac! Haide\u0163i dup\u0103 mine s\u0103 vede\u0163i \u015fi voi lumea \u015fi s\u0103 v\u0103 duc \u00een curtea ra\u0163elor, numai s\u0103 v\u0103 \u0163ine\u0163i de mine, s\u0103 nu v\u0103 calce careva, \u015fi feri\u0163i-v\u0103 de m\u00e2\u0163e.<\/p>\n
\u015ei a\u015fa au ajuns \u00een curtea ra\u0163elor. Acolo era o zarv\u0103 cumplit\u0103, fiindc\u0103 \u00een curte erau dou\u0103 familii care acuma se luaser\u0103 la ceart\u0103 pentru un cap de scrumbie; dar s-au potolit repede, fiindc\u0103 a venit o m\u00e2\u0163\u0103 \u015fi a \u00een\u015ff\u0103cat ea capul.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Iaca, vede\u0163i, a\u015fa merg lucrurile pe lume! a spus ra\u0163a \u015fi \u00ee\u015fi ascu\u0163i ciocul, fiindc\u0103 \u015fi ea ar fi vrut s\u0103 \u00een\u015fface capul de scrumbie. \u0162ine\u0163i-v\u0103 bine pe picioare, mai spuse ea. Vede\u0163i pe ra\u0163a aceea b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103? M\u0103c\u0103i\u0163i cum se cuvine, duce\u0163i-v\u0103 la ea \u015fi pleca\u0163i-v\u0103 g\u00e2tul \u00een fa\u0163a ei; ea e cea mai simandicoas\u0103 din toate c\u00e2te sunt aici. E de neam spaniol, de aceea e a\u015fa de gras\u0103; \u015fi la picior are o panglic\u0103 ro\u015fie. Asta-i ceva nemaipomenit de frumos \u015fi-i cea mai mare cinste pe care o poate c\u0103p\u0103ta o ra\u0163\u0103. Asta \u00eenseamn\u0103 c\u0103 nu trebuie s\u0103 se piard\u0103 \u015fi trebuie s\u0103 fie cunoscut\u0103 de toat\u0103 lumea, dobitoace \u015fi oameni. M\u0103c\u0103i\u0163i! Nu v\u0103 \u0163ine\u0163i picioarele \u00een\u0103untru. O r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 bine crescut\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi r\u0103\u015fchireaz\u0103 tare picioarele, a\u015fa cum fac tata \u015fi mama: uite a\u015fa! Acuma pleca\u0163i-v\u0103 g\u00e2tul \u015fi spune\u0163i mac.<\/p>\n
R\u0103\u0163u\u015ftele au f\u0103cut cum le-a \u00eenv\u0103\u0163at mama. Celelalte ra\u0163e s-au uitat lung la ele \u015fi spuser\u0103 cu glas tare:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ei, poftim! Nu eram destule aici, au mai trebuit s\u0103 vie \u015fi astea! \u015ei uite una ce ur\u00e2t\u0103-i! Nu! nu se poate, e prea din cale-afar\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u015ei o ra\u0163\u0103 s-a repezit \u015fi a ciupit-o pe r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 de ceaf\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Las-o \u00een pace! a spus mama. Ce \u0163i-a f\u0103cut?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu ne-a f\u0103cut nimic, da-i a\u015fa de mare \u015fi de neobi\u015fnuit\u0103, c\u0103 trebuie numaidec\u00e2t s\u0103 o lu\u0103m la b\u0103taie.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Frumo\u015fi copii, a zis ra\u0163a cu panglic\u0103 la picior. To\u0163i sunt frumo\u015fi, numai unul n-a ie\u015fit cum trebuie. Ar trebui f\u0103cut din nou.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Asta nu se mai poate, cucoan\u0103 mare, a spus ra\u0163a-mam\u0103. E drept c\u0103 nu-i frumoas\u0103 r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca, dar e pl\u0103cut\u0103 la fire \u015fi \u00eenoat\u0103 tot a\u015fa de bine ca \u015fi celelalte, ba chiar mai bine. Eu cred c\u0103 are s\u0103 creasc\u0103 frumos \u015fi cu vremea are s\u0103 se fac\u0103 mai mic\u0103; a stat prea mult \u00een ou \u015fi de asta n-a c\u0103p\u0103tat \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015farea care trebuie.<\/p>\n
\u015ei ra\u0163a a m\u00e2ng\u00e2iat-o u\u015furel pe r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 \u015fi i-a netezit penele.<\/p>\n
\u2013 De altfel, spuse ea, e r\u0103\u0163oi, a\u015fa c\u0103 n-are prea mare \u00eensemn\u0103tate dac\u0103-i ur\u00e2t. Eu cred c\u0103 are s\u0103 se fac\u0103 zdrav\u0103n, se vede de pe acuma.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Celelalte sunt dr\u0103gu\u0163e, zise b\u0103tr\u00e2na. Acuma, fi\u0163i ca la voi acas\u0103 \u015fi dac\u0103 g\u0103si\u0163i un cap de pe\u015fte, pute\u0163i s\u0103 mi-l aduce\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u015ei a\u015fa au r\u0103mas aici ca la ele acas\u0103. Pe biata r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 \u00eens\u0103, aceea care ie\u015fise din ou cea din urm\u0103 \u015fi era a\u015fa de ur\u00e2t\u0103, toate ra\u0163ele celelalte o ciupeau, o \u00eenghionteau \u015fi o luau peste picior; \u015fi nu numai ra\u0163ele, dar \u015fi g\u0103inile. “E prea mare”, ziceau toate or\u0103t\u0103niile din curte, iar curcanul care venise pe lume cu pinteni, \u015fi de aceea credea c\u0103 e \u00eemp\u0103rat, se umfla ca o corabie cu toate p\u00e2nzele sus, se repezea la r\u0103\u0163u\u015fte, tu\u015fea de c\u00e2teva ori m\u00e2nios \u015fi i se \u00eenro\u015fea tot capul. S\u0103raca r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 nu mai \u015ftia unde s\u0103 se duc\u0103 \u015fi ce s\u0103 fac\u0103! Era m\u00e2hnit\u0103 din pricin\u0103 c\u0103 era a\u015fa de ur\u00e2t\u0103 \u015fi toate p\u0103s\u0103rile din curte r\u00e2deau de ea.<\/p>\n
Astfel a trecut ziua cea dint\u00e2i \u015fi dup\u0103 aceea a fost din ce \u00een ce mai r\u0103u. Pe r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 to\u0163i o alungau \u015fi chiar \u015fi surorile ei o oc\u0103rau \u015fi spuneau: “De te-ar prinde o dat\u0103 m\u00e2\u0163a, ur\u00e2cioas\u0103 ce e\u015fti!” \u015ei mam\u0103-sa zicea \u015fi ea: “Bine-ar fi s\u0103 pleci \u015fi s\u0103 nu te mai v\u0103d!” Ra\u0163ele o ciupeau \u015fi g\u0103inile o b\u0103teau \u015fi o fat\u0103 care se \u00eengrijea de p\u0103s\u0103ri a dat \u00een ea cu piciorul. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca n-a mai putut r\u0103bda \u015fi a s\u0103rit peste gard. P\u0103s\u0103rile de prin stufi\u015furi au zburat care \u00eencotro, speriate.<\/p>\n
“Fug de mine fiindc\u0103 sunt a\u015fa de ur\u00e2t\u0103”, s-a g\u00e2ndit r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca \u015fi a \u00eenchis ochii, dar n-a stat pe loc \u015fi a plecat mai departe. \u015ei a\u015fa, a ajuns la balta cea mare pe unde-s ra\u0163ele s\u0103lbatice. Aici a stat toat\u0103 noaptea, ostenit\u0103 \u015fi am\u0103r\u00e2t\u0103.<\/p>\n
Diminea\u0163a, ra\u0163ele s\u0103lbatice s-au \u00een\u0103l\u0163at din stuf \u015fi s-au preg\u0103tit s\u0103 zboare; c\u00e2nd au v\u0103zut pe tovar\u0103\u015fa lor cea nou\u0103, s-au uitat lung la ea.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce fel de pas\u0103re e\u015fti tu? au \u00eentrebat ele \u015fi r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca se \u00eentorcea \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile \u015fi saluta c\u00e2t putea mai frumos.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Grozav e\u015fti de ur\u00e2t\u0103! au spus ra\u0163ele s\u0103lbatice. Dar, \u00een sf\u00e2r\u015fit, nou\u0103 pu\u0163in ne pas\u0103 de asta, numai s\u0103 nu te m\u0103ri\u0163i cu careva din neamul nostru.<\/p>\n
Biata r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 nu se g\u00e2ndea s\u0103 se c\u0103s\u0103toreasc\u0103; doar at\u00e2ta voia, s\u0103 stea \u015fi ea \u00een stuf \u015fi s\u0103 bea pu\u0163intic\u0103 ap\u0103 de balt\u0103. A stat ea acolo dou\u0103 zile. Dup\u0103 aceea au venit dou\u0103 g\u00e2\u015fte s\u0103lbatice, sau mai bine zis doi g\u00e2nsaci s\u0103lbatici; nu era mult de c\u00e2nd ie\u015fiser\u0103 din ou \u015fi de aceea erau a\u015fa de \u00eendr\u0103zne\u0163i.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ascult\u0103, f\u00e2rtate, au spus ei; e\u015fti a\u015fa de ur\u00e2t \u00eenc\u00e2t e\u015fti chiar pe placul nostru. Vrei s\u0103 vii cu noi \u015fi s\u0103 fii pas\u0103re c\u0103l\u0103toare? Aici, al\u0103turi, \u00een alt\u0103 mla\u015ftin\u0103, sunt c\u00e2teva g\u00e2\u015fte s\u0103lbatice foarte dr\u0103gu\u0163e, toate domni\u015foare \u015fi toate pot s\u0103 spun\u0103 ga-ga-ga. A\u015fa c\u0103 po\u0163i s\u0103-\u0163i g\u0103se\u015fti norocul, chiar a\u015fa ur\u00e2t cum e\u015fti!<\/p>\n
Deodat\u0103 s-a auzit poc! poc! \u015fi cei doi g\u00e2nsaci au c\u0103zut mor\u0163i \u00een stuf \u015fi apa \u00eemprejur s-a f\u0103cut ro\u015fie. Poc! Poc! s-a auzit iar \u015fi c\u00e2rduri \u00eentregi de g\u00e2\u015fte s\u0103lbatice s-au ridicat din stuf \u015fi iar s-au auzit pocnete. Era v\u00e2n\u0103toare mare. V\u00e2n\u0103torii st\u0103teau de jur \u00eemprejurul p\u0103puri\u015fului \u015fi unii \u015fedeau chiar pe ramurile copacilor care se \u00eentindeau deasupra stufului. Fumul albastru al prafului de pu\u015fc\u0103 plutea ca un nor peste copacii \u00eentuneca\u0163i \u015fi se \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftia pe ape. C\u00e2inii au venit p\u00e2n\u0103 la balt\u0103. Trosc, trosc, se auzea din toate p\u0103r\u0163ile cum trosne\u015fte papura. S\u0103raca r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 nu mai putea de spaim\u0103. \u00ce\u015fi \u00eentorcea capul, ca s\u0103 \u015fi-l ascund\u0103 sub ap\u0103, \u015fi chiar \u00een clipa aceea un c\u00e2ine mare \u015fi fioros a r\u0103s\u0103rit l\u00e2ng\u0103 ea. Limba \u00eei sp\u00e2nzura din gur\u0103 \u015fi ochii \u00eei luceau groaznic; \u015fi-a \u00eentins botul spre r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103, \u015fi-a r\u00e2njit din\u0163ii \u015fi a plecat de-acolo f\u0103r\u0103 s-o \u00een\u015fface.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Mul\u0163umescu-\u0163i, Doamne! a oftat r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca; sunt a\u015fa de ur\u00e2t\u0103 \u00eenc\u00e2t nici c\u00e2inii nu vor s\u0103 m\u0103 mu\u015fte.<\/p>\n
R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a stat pitit\u0103 \u00een timp ce grindina de alice c\u0103dea peste p\u0103puri\u015f. Abia mai t\u00e2rziu s-a f\u0103cut lini\u015fte. Biata r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 tot nu \u00eendr\u0103znea s\u0103 se mi\u015fte. A mai a\u015fteptat c\u00e2teva ceasuri p\u00e2n\u0103 s\u0103 se urneasc\u0103. A ie\u015fit din balt\u0103 \u015fi a plecat c\u00e2t a putut de repede, lu\u00e2nd-o peste c\u00e2mp. Numai c\u0103 mergea cam greu, din pricin\u0103 c\u0103 se st\u00e2rnise furtun\u0103 \u015fi v\u00e2ntul v\u00e2j\u00e2ia. Spre sear\u0103 a ajuns la un bordei, care era a\u015fa de d\u0103r\u0103p\u0103nat \u00eenc\u00e2t nici el singur nu \u015ftia \u00een care parte o s\u0103 se r\u0103stoarne \u015fi de aceea, deocamdat\u0103, r\u0103m\u00e2nea tot \u00een picioare.<\/p>\n
A\u015fa de tare b\u0103tea v\u00e2ntul, \u00eenc\u00e2t r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a trebuit s\u0103 se ghemuiasc\u0103 jos l\u00e2ng\u0103 bordei \u015fi s\u0103 se sprijine de el ca s\u0103 nu cad\u0103. Vijelia se \u00eente\u0163ea. Deodat\u0103 r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a v\u0103zut c\u0103 u\u015fa de la bordei ie\u015fise dintr-o \u0163\u00e2\u0163\u00e2n\u0103 \u015fi at\u00e2rna str\u00e2mb\u0103, a\u015fa c\u0103 prin deschiz\u0103tur\u0103 puteai s\u0103 p\u0103trunzi \u00een\u0103untru. Ca s\u0103 scape de v\u00e2nt, r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a intrat \u00een bordei.<\/p>\n
\u00cen colib\u0103 st\u0103tea o bab\u0103 cu un motan \u015fi o g\u0103in\u0103. Motanul \u015ftia s\u0103 se alinte, s\u0103 toarc\u0103 \u015fi \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftia chiar \u015fi sc\u00e2ntei c\u00e2nd \u00eel frecai pe spate. G\u0103ina avea picioare mici \u015fi scurte \u015fi f\u0103cea ou\u0103 \u015fi baba o iubea ca pe copilul ei. Diminea\u0163a, to\u0163i au dat cu ochii de r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 \u015fi motanul a \u00eenceput s\u0103 toarc\u0103 \u015fi g\u0103ina s\u0103 cotcod\u0103ceasc\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce e\u015fti? a \u00eentrebat baba \u015fi s-a uitat prin cas\u0103, dar cum nu prea vedea bine, i s-a p\u0103rut c\u0103 r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca era o ra\u0163\u0103 mare \u015fi gras\u0103 care s-a r\u0103t\u0103cit.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Chiar \u00eemi pare bine! a spus ea. Acuma o s\u0103 am ou\u0103 de ra\u0163\u0103. Numai de n-ar fi r\u0103\u0163oi! Trebuie s\u0103 o punem la \u00eencercare.<\/p>\n
\u015ei r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a fost pus\u0103 la \u00eencercare timp de trei s\u0103pt\u0103m\u00e2ni, dar ou\u0103 nu a f\u0103cut. \u015ei motanul era st\u0103p\u00e2nul casei, \u015fi g\u0103ina st\u0103p\u00e2na, \u015fi mereu ziceau: “Noi \u015fi lumea”, fiindc\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi \u00eenchipuiau c\u0103 jum\u0103tate din lume erau ei \u015fi bine\u00een\u0163eles jum\u0103tatea cea mai fain\u0103. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca spunea c\u0103 \u00een privin\u0163a asta mai puteau fi \u015fi alte p\u0103reri, dar g\u0103ina nici nu voia s\u0103 stea de vorb\u0103.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Po\u0163i s\u0103 faci ou\u0103? \u00eentreba ea.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Atunci \u0163ine-\u0163i gura.<\/p>\n
\u015ei motanul spunea:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Po\u0163i s\u0103 te alin\u0163i, s\u0103 torci \u015fi s\u0103 sco\u0163i sc\u00e2ntei?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Atunci n-ai voie s\u0103 ai o p\u0103rere c\u00e2nd vorbesc al\u0163ii mai \u00een\u0163elep\u0163i ca tine.<\/p>\n
R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca \u015fedea \u00eentr-un col\u0163 \u015fi era f\u0103r\u0103 chef. Deodat\u0103 \u015fi-a adus aminte de aerul curat de-afar\u0103 \u015fi de lumina soarelui. \u015ei a cuprins-o dorul de ap\u0103 \u015fi o poft\u0103 grozav\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eenoate; nu s-a putut opri \u015fi i-a spus \u015fi g\u0103inii.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce te-a apucat? a zis g\u0103ina. N-ai nici o treab\u0103 \u015fi de asta-\u0163i trec prin cap tot felul de prostii. F\u0103 ou\u0103 sau toarce \u015fi ai s\u0103 vezi c\u0103 nu te mai g\u00e2nde\u015fti la fleacuri.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Dar e a\u015fa de frumos s\u0103 plute\u015fti pe ap\u0103! a spus r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca. E a\u015fa de pl\u0103cut s\u0103 te bagi cu capul \u00een ap\u0103 \u015fi s\u0103 te dai la fund!<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ce mai pl\u0103cere \u015fi asta! a spus g\u0103ina. Ai \u00eennebunit! Ia \u00eentreab\u0103 pe motan, care-i cel mai \u00een\u0163elept din to\u0163i motanii, dac\u0103 lui \u00eei place s\u0103 \u00eenoate sau s\u0103 se scufunde \u00een ap\u0103! Despre mine nici nu mai vorbesc. \u00centreab-o \u015fi pe st\u0103p\u00e2na noastr\u0103 cea b\u0103tr\u00e2n\u0103, care-i mai \u00een\u0163eleapt\u0103 dec\u00e2t to\u0163i pe lume! Crezi tu c\u0103 ea are poft\u0103 s\u0103 \u00eenoate \u015fi s\u0103 se bage cu capul \u00een ap\u0103?<\/p>\n
\u2013 Voi nu m\u0103 \u00een\u0163elege\u0163i! r\u0103spunse r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Nu te \u00een\u0163elegem? Atunci cine te-o fi \u00een\u0163eleg\u00e2nd? Doar n-\u0103i fi vr\u00e2nd s\u0103 fii tu mai de\u015fteapt\u0103 dec\u00e2t motanul \u015fi dec\u00e2t baba, ca s\u0103 nu mai pomenesc \u015fi de mine! Nu-\u0163i \u00eempuia capul cu prostii, copil\u0103, \u015fi mul\u0163ume\u015fte bunului Dumnezeu de norocul pe care \u0163i l-a dat. Nu e\u015fti mul\u0163umit\u0103 c\u0103 stai \u00een cas\u0103 la c\u0103ldur\u0103 \u015fi c\u0103 ai de la cine s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163i lucruri folositoare? Dar tu e\u015fti numai o moftangioaic\u0103 \u015fi cu tine nu-i chip de stat de vorb\u0103. Eu \u00ee\u0163i vreau binele, \u00ee\u0163i spun lucruri care poate nu-\u0163i plac, dar s\u0103 \u015ftii c\u0103 numai prietenii adev\u0103ra\u0163i vorbesc a\u015fa! Eu zic s\u0103 \u00eenve\u0163i s\u0103 faci ou\u0103 sau s\u0103 torci \u015fi s\u0103 sco\u0163i sc\u00e2ntei.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Ba eu cred c\u0103 am s\u0103 plec \u00een lumea larg\u0103, a spus r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Atunci pleac\u0103, a spus g\u0103ina.<\/p>\n
\u015ei r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a plecat. A \u00eenotat, s-a scufundat \u00een ap\u0103, dar nici o vietate nu se uita la ea, a\u015fa era de ur\u00e2t\u0103!<\/p>\n
A venit toamna, frunzele p\u0103durii s-au \u00eeng\u0103lbenit \u015fi s-au uscat; v\u00e2ntul le smulgea \u015fi le \u00eempr\u0103\u015ftia. Era frig. Norii at\u00e2rnau grei \u015fi albi de z\u0103pad\u0103. Pe gard st\u0103tea un corb \u015fi f\u0103cea crr-crr de frig. Te prindea frigul numai c\u00e2nd \u00eel auzeai. Biata r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 n-o ducea deloc bine.<\/p>\n
\u00centr-o sear\u0103, c\u00e2nd tocmai asfin\u0163ea frumos soarele, a venit un c\u00e2rd de p\u0103s\u0103ri mari \u015fi minunate. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca nu mai v\u0103zuse niciodat\u0103 p\u0103s\u0103ri a\u015fa de frumoase. Erau albe ca z\u0103pada \u015fi aveau ni\u015fte g\u00e2turi lungi \u015fi ml\u0103dioase. Erau lebede. Glasul lor avea un sunet cu totul deosebit. Au stat pu\u0163in, apoi \u015fi-au \u00eentins aripile largi \u015fi m\u0103re\u0163e \u015fi au plecat mai departe \u00een \u0163\u0103rile calde cu lacuri albastre. S-au \u00een\u0103l\u0163at sus de tot \u015fi pe r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca cea ur\u00e2t\u0103 a cuprins-o o nelini\u015fte ciudat\u0103; nu mai putea sta locului, se tot \u00eenv\u00e2rtea \u00een ap\u0103 ca titirezul, \u00ee\u015fi tot lungea g\u00e2tul \u00een sus c\u0103tre lebede \u015fi scotea ni\u015fte \u0163ipete a\u015fa de ascu\u0163ite \u015fi de neobi\u015fnuite, \u00eenc\u00e2t se speria \u015fi ea. Nu putea s\u0103 uite p\u0103s\u0103rile acelea frumoase \u015fi fericite \u015fi c\u00e2nd nu le-a mai z\u0103rit s-a dat cu capul la fund \u00een ap\u0103 \u015fi c\u00e2nd s-a ridicat iar la fa\u0163a apei parc\u0103 \u00ee\u015fi ie\u015fise din fire. Nu \u015ftia cum le cheam\u0103 pe p\u0103s\u0103ri, nu \u015ftia \u00eencotro au plecat, dar \u00eei erau dragi cum nu-i mai fusese nimeni drag vreodat\u0103. Nu le pizmuia. Cum s-ar fi putut ea g\u00e2ndi s\u0103 doreasc\u0103 o asemenea frumuse\u0163e? Biata r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 ur\u00e2t\u0103 ar fi fost foarte mul\u0163umit\u0103 dac\u0103 m\u0103car ra\u0163ele ar fi primit-o printre ele \u015fi n-ar fi alungat-o.<\/p>\n
Iarna era tot mai grea. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca trebuia s\u0103 \u00eenoate toat\u0103 vremea \u00eencolo \u015fi \u00eencoace, ca s\u0103 nu lase apa s\u0103 \u00eenghe\u0163e cu totul; noaptea \u00eens\u0103 copca \u00een care st\u0103tea ea se f\u0103cuse tot mai \u00eengust\u0103; era ger \u015fi ghea\u0163a pe lac trosnea. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca trebuia s\u0103 dea mereu din picioare ca s\u0103 nu \u00eenghe\u0163e apa, dar, de la o vreme, a ostenit, nu s-a mai putut mi\u015fca \u015fi a prins-o ghea\u0163a.<\/p>\n
Diminea\u0163a a trecut pe acolo un \u0163\u0103ran \u015fi a v\u0103zut-o. \u0162\u0103ranul a dat cu piciorul \u00een ghea\u0163\u0103 \u015fi a sf\u0103r\u00e2mat-o, a luat r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca \u015fi a dus-o acas\u0103 la nevast\u0103-sa. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca \u015fi-a revenit \u00een fire. Copiii au vrut s\u0103 se joace cu d\u00e2nsa, dar ea a crezut c\u0103 vor s-o bat\u0103 \u015fi de fric\u0103 a s\u0103rit drept \u00een oala cu lapte \u015fi laptele a \u0163\u00e2\u015fnit \u00een toate p\u0103r\u0163ile. Femeia a dat un strig\u0103t \u015fi a pocnit din palme \u015fi atunci r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca s-a speriat \u015fi mai tare \u015fi a s\u0103rit \u00een putineiul cu unt, pe urm\u0103 \u00eentr-o c\u0103ldare cu lapte \u015fi de acolo a zburat iar. \u015ei avea o \u00eenf\u0103\u0163i\u015fare!<\/p>\n
Femeia s-a luat cu v\u0103traiul dup\u0103 ea, copiii alergau \u015fi ei s-o prind\u0103, r\u00e2z\u00e2nd \u015fi \u0163ip\u00e2nd. Noroc c\u0103 s-a deschis u\u015fa \u015fi r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a reu\u015fit s\u0103 se furi\u015feze afar\u0103 \u015fi s-a a\u015fezat vl\u0103guit\u0103 \u00een z\u0103pada care tocmai c\u0103zuse.<\/p>\n
Ar fi prea trist s\u0103 povestim ce-a \u00eendurat \u015fi prin c\u00e2te a trecut r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca \u00een iarna aceea. C\u00e2nd s-a f\u0103cut iar cald \u015fi soare, ea st\u0103tea \u00een p\u0103puri\u015ful b\u0103l\u0163ii. C\u00e2ntau cioc\u00e2rliile, venise iar prim\u0103vara.<\/p>\n
\u015ei deodat\u0103 r\u0103\u0163u\u015fca a v\u0103zut c\u0103 poate s\u0103-\u015fi \u00eentind\u0103 larg aripile \u015fi c\u0103 are \u00een aripi o putere mai mare dec\u00e2t p\u00e2n\u0103 atunci. \u015ei-a luat deodat\u0103 zborul \u015fi nici n-a \u015ftiut c\u00e2nd a ajuns \u00eentr-o gr\u0103din\u0103 mare, \u00een care erau meri \u00eenflori\u0163i \u015fi tufe de liliac mirositor; cre\u015fteau chiar pe marginea lacului. Ce frumos era aici! Dintre trestii ie\u015fir\u0103 trei lebede plutind domol pe luciul apei. R\u0103\u0163u\u015fca \u015ftia ce p\u0103s\u0103ri sunt \u015fi deodat\u0103 o cuprinse o m\u00e2hnire ciudat\u0103.<\/p>\n
“Am s\u0103 m\u0103 duc la p\u0103s\u0103rile acelea frumoase \u015fi ele au s\u0103 m\u0103 bat\u0103 \u015fi au s\u0103 m\u0103 omoare fiindc\u0103 sunt a\u015fa de ur\u00e2t\u0103 \u015fi \u00eendr\u0103znesc s\u0103 m\u0103 apropii de d\u00e2nsele. Dar nu-mi pas\u0103! Mai bine s\u0103 m\u0103 omoare ele dec\u00e2t s\u0103 m\u0103 ciupeasc\u0103 ra\u0163ele, s\u0103 m\u0103 bat\u0103 g\u0103inile, s\u0103-mi dea cu piciorul fata care \u00eengrije\u015fte or\u0103t\u0103niile \u015fi dec\u00e2t s\u0103 suf\u0103r de frig \u015fi de foame toat\u0103 iarna.”<\/p>\n
\u015ei s-a ridicat \u015fi \u015fi-a luat zborul c\u0103tre lebede. Lebedele, c\u00e2nd au v\u0103zut-o, au \u00eenceput s\u0103 dea din aripi \u015fi s-au \u00eendreptat spre ea.<\/p>\n
\u2013 Omor\u00e2\u0163i-m\u0103! a spus biata pas\u0103re \u015fi \u015fi-a plecat capul pe luciul apei, a\u015ftept\u00e2nd moartea.<\/p>\n
Dar c\u00e2nd colo, ce s\u0103 vad\u0103 \u00een ap\u0103? Chiar pe ea \u00eens\u0103\u015fi oglindit\u0103, dar acuma nu mai era o pas\u0103re greoaie, cenu\u015fie \u015fi ur\u00e2t\u0103, era \u015fi ea leb\u0103d\u0103. Nu-i nimic dac\u0103 te na\u015fti printre ra\u0163e, numai s\u0103 ie\u015fi dintr-un ou de leb\u0103d\u0103! P\u0103s\u0103rii nu-i p\u0103rea r\u0103u c\u0103 \u00eendurase at\u00e2tea necazuri; se putea bucura acuma \u015fi mai mult de fericirea ei. Lebedele cele mari au venit la ea \u015fi au dezmierdat-o cu pliscurile. \u00cen gr\u0103din\u0103 au venit c\u00e2\u0163iva copii. Au aruncat pe ap\u0103 p\u00e2ine \u015fi gr\u0103un\u0163e. Deodat\u0103, cel mic a strigat:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Uite c\u0103 a mai venit una! \u015ei ceilal\u0163i au chiuit de bucurie \u015fi au strigat \u015fi ei:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Da, a mai venit una! Au b\u0103tut din palme \u015fi s\u0103rind \u00eentr-un picior s-au dus repede s\u0103 spuie tatii \u015fi mamei.<\/p>\n
Apoi au venit iar \u015fi au aruncat pe ap\u0103 p\u00e2ine \u015fi cozonac \u015fi to\u0163i spuneau:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Asta care a venit acuma este cea mai frumoas\u0103!<\/p>\n
\u015ei lebedele cele b\u0103tr\u00e2ne se plecau \u00een fa\u0163a ei. Leb\u0103da cea t\u00e2n\u0103r\u0103 s-a ru\u015finat \u015fi \u015fi-a ascuns capul \u00een aripi; nu \u015ftia ce s\u0103 fac\u0103; era foarte fericit\u0103, dar nu se m\u00e2ndrea deloc; fiindc\u0103 o inim\u0103 bun\u0103 nu-i niciodat\u0103 m\u00e2ndr\u0103. Se g\u00e2ndea cum fusese ea de prigonit\u0103 \u015fi de batjocorit\u0103 \u015fi acuma to\u0163i spuneau c\u0103 e cea mai frumoas\u0103 dintre toate p\u0103s\u0103rile. Chiar \u015fi liliacul se apleca spre ea cu crengile \u00een ap\u0103 \u015fi soarele str\u0103lucea c\u0103ldu\u0163 \u015fi domol. \u015ei leb\u0103da \u015fi-a \u00eentins aripile, \u015fi-a \u00een\u0103l\u0163at g\u00e2tul \u015fi a spus din toat\u0103 inima:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Pe vremea c\u00e2nd eram o r\u0103\u0163u\u015fc\u0103 ur\u00e2t\u0103 nici \u00een vis nu m-a\u015f fi g\u00e2ndit la at\u00e2ta fericire!<\/p>\n
Era vreme frumoas\u0103. Era var\u0103, holdele erau galbene, ov\u0103zul verde, f\u00e2nul era cl\u0103dit \u00een c\u0103pi\u0163e \u015fi cocost\u00e2rcul se plimba pe c\u00e2mp cu picioarele lui lungi \u015fi ro\u015fii \u015fi cl\u0103mp\u0103nea pe … <\/p>\n