Kolobok – The Doughnut Fellow

Once upon a time there live an old man and an old woman.

They lived very poor and lonely life. 

One day the old man asked the old woman,

-          Bake me, my dear, some donuts.

-          And how in the world would I do that? – Wondered the old woman grumpily. – We haven’t had flower in months!

-          Oh my, oh my, dear!  Why don’t you sweep up the granary and brush off the counters – you sure may have enough to make at least one.

So the old woman did just that – she swept up the granary and she brushed off the counters.  She gathered two palms of flower. She mixed the doughnut batter with all the flower and sour cream she had.  She then made the most round and plump doughnut, baked it and set it on the window sill to rest and cool off a bit.

The doughnut fellow got tired of lying around – he jumped off the window sill to get down on the chair.  He jumped off the chair to get down on the floor.  He rolled to the door and jumped into the hall.  From the hall he jumped onto the steps, from the steps – onto the yard ground, behind the fence and off he went far, far away.

While Kolobok was rolling down the road a hare spotted him.

-          Kolobok, Kolobok, I will eat you for breakfast!

-          No.  Please don’t eat me, Mr. Hare.  Instead listen to the song I’ll sing you.

The hare lifted his floppy ears and listened while Kolobok opened up:

-          I am the doughnut fellow!

I’m gentle, kind and mellow.

Made from snow-white flower

And some cream that’s sour,

Set to rest on the window sill,

I ran away from old folks’ mill.

And as for you, my floppy friend,

I’m taking off, good buy. The end!

With these words Kolobok rolled away faster than fast, before the hare realized what had happened.

While Kolobok was rolling down the forest trail a wolf approached him.

-          Kolobok, Kolobok, I will eat you for brunch!

-          No.  Please don’t eat me, Mr. Wolf.  Instead listen to the song I’ll sing you. 

And Kolobok began:

-          I am the doughnut fellow!

I’m gentle, kind and mellow.

Made from snow-white flower

And some cream that’s sour,

Set to rest on the window sill,

I ran away from old folks’ mill.

I ran away from Mr. Hare.

Now it’s your turn.

So, see ya! There!

With these words Kolobok rolled away faster than fast, before the wolf realized what had happened.

Kolobok rolled further and further.  The forest got thicker and darker.  From the wild there came the bear.  He stumbled through the thick forest, braking the shrubs, bending the trees.  Once the bear saw Kolobok, he growled:

-          Kolobok, Kolobok, I will eat you for lunch!

-          No.  Please don’t eat me, Mr. Bear.  Instead listen to the song I’ll sing you. 

The bear opened up his ears as wide as he could while Kolobok started:

-          I am the doughnut fellow!

I’m gentle, kind and mellow.

Made from snow-white flower

And some cream that’s sour,

Set to rest on the window sill,

I ran away from old folks’ mill.

I ran away from Mr. Hare.

I ran away from Mr. Wolf.

Now look, what is it over there?

Oops, got you too, till later, poof!

With these words Kolobok rolled away faster than fast, before the bear realized what had happened.

After Kolobok ran away from the bear, he headed to the corn field.  The dinner was approaching and field was free of workers.  There, heading toward the village was the fox.

-          Well, hello, you, handsome fellow!  What a beautiful crust you have! – Said the fox.

Kolobok was so fluttered and happy that he started singing his song.  The fox listened and moved closer.

-          I am the doughnut fellow!

I’m gentle, kind and mellow.

Made from snow-white flower

And some cream that’s sour,

Set to rest on the window sill,

I ran away from old folks’ mill.

I ran away from Mr. Hare.

I ran away from Mr. Wolf.

I ran away from Mr. Bear.

With you I see there’s no big deal

I won’t become somebody’s meal.

Before the song was over, the fox came so close to Kolobok that he smelled the honey on her breath.

-          I’m sorry, rosy-cheeked fellow, I couldn’t hear all the words from your song.  I think, I’m getting old and my hearing is not as good as it used to be.  Would you come, sit on my nose and sing that wonderful song of yours again?

Kolobok was so excited that his song was so liked.  His pride clouded his judgment.  He jumped up on the fox’s nose and started to sing louder than before,

-          I am the doughnut fellow!..

That’s all he was able to sing before the fox swallowed him all in one piece.

THE END