The Goat Who Counted to Ten
Once upon a time, there lived a little kid who learned to count to ten. One day he came to a small lake and suddenly saw his reflection in the water.
He stopped and looked at himself for a long time.
"One!" said the Kid.
The Calf heard.
What are you doing there? asked the Calf.
I counted myself, answered the Kid. Do you want me to count you too?
If it doesn’t hurt, then count! said the Calf.
It doesn’t hurt at all. Just don’t move, or I can’t count.
Oh, what are you saying! I’m very scared.And my mother probably won’t let me, said the Calf, backing away.
But the Kid jumped up after him and said:
I’m one, you’re two. One, two! M-e-e-e!
M-e-e-e! the Calf cried.
Then the Cow with a bell on her neck ran up to him.
- Mmm! What are you bawling about?
- The Kid is counting on me! - complained the Calf.
- What is this? - moaned the Cow angrily.
- I have learned to count to ten, - said the Kid. - Listen: one is me, two is the Calf, three is the Cow. One, two, three!
- Oh, now he has counted you too! - roared the Calf.
The Cow became very angry:
- I will show you how to make fun of us! Come on, Calf․
And the Cow and the Calf ran after the Kid. He was frightened, jumped up and ran skipping across the lawn.And after him - the Cow and the Calf.
Not far away, the Bull was walking. Seeing the Kid, the Calf and the Cow, the Bull moved towards them.
Why are you chasing that bobtailed little fellow? asked the Bull.
He's counting us! roared the Calf.
But we'll catch him, said the Cow.
One is me, two is the Calf, three is the Cow, four is the Bull. One, two, three, four! said the Kid.
Oh, now he's counted you too! whined the Calf.
Well, he'll pay for this, roared the Bull and, together with the others, ran after the Kid.
They ran out onto a wide dusty road and galloped. Meanwhile, a Horse was leisurely strolling along the side of the road, chewing grass. Seeing them running, he shouted from afar:
“What’s the rush?”
“We’re chasing the Kid,” answered the Cow, out of breath from running so fast.
“He’s counting us,” said the Calf.
“But no one gave him that right. Phew!” roared the Bull.
“How does he do it?” asked the Horse, catching up with the others
"Very simple," said the Kid. "Just like that! One is me, two is the Calf, three is the Cow, four is the Bull, and five is the Horse. One, two, three, four, five!"
"Oh, now he's counted you too!" said the Calf.
"Oh, You wait!" neighed the Horse, galloping even faster after the Kid.
And right by the road, a big, fat Pig was sleeping. The clatter of hooves woke her up.
- Oink-oink-oink! Where are you all going? - asked the curious Pig. She immediately broke through the fence and ran after the others. - We're chasing the Kid, - answered the Cow, barely breathing.
- He's counting us, - said the Calf plaintively.
-And he... ugh-f... no one gave him that right! - roared the Bull.
- But we'll show him! - neighed the Horse, almost touching the Calf with his hoof.
-And how does he count? - asked the Pig, barely keeping up with everyone.
- Very simple! - exclaimed the Kid. - One is me, two is the Calf, three is the Cow, four is the Bull, five is the Horse, and six is the Pig. One, two, three, four, five, six.
- Oh! Now he's counted you too, - the Calf cried.
- Well, he'll pay for this! - the Pig squealed. - Now I'll get him!..
They ran very fast, not looking where they were going, and reached the river.
And at the pier stood a small sailboat. On board the sailboat they saw a Rooster, a Dog, a Ram and a Cat. The Rooster was the captain, the Dog was the pilot, the Ram was the cabin boy, and the Cat was the ship's cook.
- Stop! - shouted the Rooster, seeing the animals rushing along, not feeling their feet under them.
But it was too late. The kid pushed off from the pier with his hooves and jumped on board of the sailboat.All the others rushed after him. The sailboat rocked, slid across the water, and was carried to the deepest part of the river. Oh, how scared the Rooster was!
Cock-a-doodle-doo! Help! he shouted in a voice that wasn’t his own. The sailboat is sinking!
Everyone was shaking with fear.And the Rooster cried out again, very loudly:
Who among you can count?
I can, said the Kid.
Then count us all quickly! The sailboat can only hold ten passengers.
Count quickly! everyone shouted in chorus.
And the Kid began to count:
One is me, two is the Calf, three is the Cow, four is the Bull, five is the Horse, six is the Pig, seven is the Cat, eight is the Dog, nine is nine is the Sheep, and ten is the Rooster.
- Hurray for the Kid! Hurray-a-a! - everyone shouted in one voice.
Then the passengers crossed the river and went ashore.And the Kid has remained on the sailboat ever since. Now he works there as a controller.And every time the Rooster puts animals on his sailboat, the Kid stands at the pier and counts the passengers.