The Bear and the Two Travelers
Two good friends, Tong and Manop, set off together to explore the forest. They chatted and laughed all the way, promising to help each other no matter what happened.
Suddenly, a big bear stepped out from the bushes ahead. Tong was so startled that he scrambled up a tall tree, leaving Manop alone in the middle of the path without a second thought.
Manop had no time to climb, so he quickly lay down on the ground and held his breath, perfectly still. He had once heard that bears leave alone anyone who looks like they are asleep or not moving at all.
The bear walked over and sniffed around Manop for a while. Seeing that he did not move at all, it decided there was nothing interesting there, and lumbered slowly away into the deep forest.
Once the bear was far away, Tong climbed down and asked eagerly, "What did the bear whisper in your ear?" Manop smiled and answered, "It told me never to travel with a friend who runs off and leaves you in danger." From that day on, the two friends understood what true friendship really meant.
Moral of the story
A true friend is someone who never leaves you behind in trouble.
The original plot is in the public domain. Copyright is reserved in the Hoot Tales retelling, translation, illustrations, and presentation.
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