Eva Demoore
A SNOWMAN AND A HARE or A PERSON WHO HAD NO EDUCATION
A snowman lives in a small hut in the forest. There is only one room in his hut. But there are three big windows. So, he can watch through his windows the forest and the snowfalls and everybody who passes by. The snowman likes the snowfalls, the edge of the forest, and his hut, where he lives.
But most of all, he likes his winter forest. So, he goes there every day.
The snowman has a friend, a white hare.
The hare lives in a hut too. There is only one room. It is both a kitchen and a bedroom. But it is very comfortable. There is a bed, a sofa, a fireplace, a round table, some shelves, and a carpet.
The hare’s hut is situated not far from a forest spring. And the spring is not far from the edge of the forest where the snowman lives.
The snowman likes to visit his friend. He visits the white hare every day. The hare is glad to see the snowman.
“How are you getting on?” the snowman asks, entering the hut.
“I am fine,” answers the hare. “I am happy to see you.”
“How wonderful,” the snowman says smiling. And he goes to the sofa and sits down.
“A cup of tea?” asks the hare.
“That’s great,” answers the snowman.
White hare takes two cups from the shelf. He gives one cup to his friend. Then he puts the other cup on the fireplace. He likes hot tea. But his friend the snowman drinks only tea with ice. So, he never gives hot tea to the snowman.
White hare brings tea in a tea-pot. He also brings some jam and ice.
“Here is your tea,” he says. “It’s fresh.” And he puts some ice into the snowman’s cup.
“It’s marvelous,” says the snowman. “It looks attractive.”
“It is very nice,” says the hare. “And the jam is very nice too.”
“Excellent,” smiles the snowman and starts drinking his tea.
The hare drinks tea too. He likes it and enjoys it every day.
“It may snow,” he says.
“That’s great,” says the snowman.
“I don’t agree with you,” the hare says. “We have a lot of snow this winter. There is too much snow in the forest this winter.”
“That’s great,” smiles the snowman. “I like snow. It looks beautiful.”
“I agree with you,” agrees the hare. “Snow always looks beautiful. But it is difficult to walk in snow.”
“Because you are so little,” the snowman explains. “So, you should use skis. It is not difficult to ski.”
“I can’t use skis,” says the hare. “I don’t know how to use them. All hares in our family usually walk. Sometimes we run. But we never ski. I don’t know much about skis.”
The snowman looks at his friend, “I am so sorry, I have no education. So, I can’t explain to you about skis.”
“And your brothers?” asks the white hare. “Do they have education?”
“No,” says the snowman without a smile. “They don’t have an education either.”
Then, he looks around the room and continues, “But we must have an education. I mean, I must have an education.” He thinks a little and adds, “I must have a good education, probably, the best one.”
The hare looks at his friend with regret, “I am sorry there is no education in my hut,” he says. “I would like to give you some. You want it so much. But I know there is no education here. I have only jam and some butter.”
“Education is not food,” explains the snowman. He has his tea and speaks again, “Education is better than any food.”
“Better than vegetables?” the hare asks with surprise.
“Oh, dear,” answers the snowman. “Education is much better than any vegetable.”
“Is it better than fruit?” the white hare asks.
“I think education is better than any fruit,” answers the snowman.
“Is it better than fast food?” asks the hare again.
“Of course, it is better than fast food,” the snowman says dreamily.
“My parents never speak about education with me,” the white hare says, “Neither do my brothers. They never speak about education either,” he continues.
“By the way, how are your parents?” asks the snowman.
“They are OK,” the hare smiles.
“That’s great,” says the snowman.” And how are your brothers?”
“They are fine too,” the hare answers and continues to drink his tea.
The snowman finishes drinking tea. He yarns. Then he eats some jam and butter. After that, he thanks the hare.
“It’s time to go home,” he says.
“It is evening,” says the hare.
“It’s marvelous,” says the snowman. “I must sleep. I like to sleep at night. See you soon.” And the snowman leaves.
The hare stays in his hut. He drinks his tea and thinks. “Education must be something nice. I want to give education to my friend.”
“What a pity, there is no education in my hut,” he says and looks around. “So, I should go and look for it.”
He stops drinking his tea, washes the cups, and puts them on the shelf. Then he goes out. He thinks, “Maybe my brothers have it, though they never mention it.”
Then he says loudly, “It’s true, they never speak about education. But they may have it.”
So, he runs to his brothers. But his brothers are not at home. They walk in the forest. They play with other hares.
The next day he goes to his grandmother.
“Could I ask a question?” he asks.
