The Bubble, the Straw, and the Lapot

Once upon a time, there were three good friends: Bubble, who was light; Straw, who was flexible; and Lapot, a sturdy traditional shoe woven from tree-bark…

Once upon a time, there were three good friends: Bubble, who was light; Straw, who was flexible; and Lapot, a sturdy traditional shoe woven from tree-bark fibers. One clear morning, they decided to go to the forest to gather dry twigs for the fire at home. Bubble rolled along and made a soft ringing sound, Straw swayed in the breeze, and Lapot moved confidently down the path. The friends agreed to stay together and help whenever one of them ran into difficulty.

Soon the path led them to a wide stream. The water was clear, but the current was swift, so the friends did not try to jump into it. Lapot suggested inspecting both banks first. Bubble noticed some suitable stones rising above the water, and Straw said, “I can stretch between them like a bridge.” All three discussed the plan carefully and decided to test the bridge without rushing.

Straw stretched from one flat stone to another. To make it easier for Straw, Lapot placed a thin twig under the middle, while Bubble held one end steady at the bank. The result was a narrow but carefully built bridge. First the friends pressed it lightly from different sides and made sure the support would hold. “Now we’ll cross one at a time,” said Lapot.

Lapot stepped onto the bridge and moved forward slowly. In the middle, Straw bent a little but did not break: the twig supported Straw from below, and Bubble helped Lapot keep steady. Lapot did not rush and soon reached the other bank. Lapot held Straw’s other end firmly, and Bubble rolled easily across the bridge behind him.

That was how all three crossed the stream safely and remained unharmed. They took the bridge apart so the current could flow freely again, thanked one another, and continued on their way. In the forest, the friends gathered only dry twigs that had already fallen. By evening, they returned home along the same safe route. From then on, they knew that if they thought first, tested the support, and worked together, even a difficult crossing could be managed calmly.