Friend Ship

Once upon a time there where two friends .They lived in the same village. They visited each other almost everyday . They went bathing together. They worked together. Their families also knew of their friendship.

One day they decided to go to distant village. This village lay on the other side of the forest. They wanted to get some seed paddy from that village . They set off in the morning . They carried their lunch with them. The lunch was wrapped in a banana leaf.They carried some water too. One had it in a bottle,the other had it in a small pot. The bottle as well as the pot could be slung on their shoulders or on their hips. It was noon by the time they reached the village. They had got the seed paddy they wanted. It was of very good quality. They were tired, but happy. They stopped under a tree and their lunch . By the time they started their return journey it was late evening.

They were hurrying home. It was late evening when they were crossing  the forest . suddenly they saw a bear ahead of them . They were frightened .One of the friends could climb a tree. He put down his sack and climbed the closed tree . The other had no escape. In a minute he will be mauled by the bear .He lay down and pretended be dead . The bear ambled up to the man and sniffed him. The man held his breath ; the bear thought he was dead and went away . He lay for a little longer till the bear was gone.

The friend climbed down the tree .” What did the bear say to you?” asked the friend who had climbed the tree.”he told me a secret.” “A secret? what was It?” “ He told me to beware of friends who don’t stand with me in difficulties.”