Once there was a little raccoon named Timko. He had a fluffy striped coat and clever little paws.
One morning, Timko saw a red apple at the top of a very tall oak tree. It shone in the sun!
"Oh, I want that apple!" Timko whispered.
He started to climb. Up to the first branch. Then the second. Then the third. But the oak tree was very, very tall.
Halfway up, Timko stopped and looked down. Oh, it was so high! His paws began to shake. He held on tight to the bark.
"Help…" he mumbled softly. So softly that no one heard.
A squirrel named Orysia ran by.
"Good morning, Timko!" she called, and ran on.
Timko said nothing. He was too embarrassed to say he was stuck.
Then a woodpecker named Stukalo flew past.
"Hi, Timko! Nice day!" he tapped with his beak.
Again, Timko stayed quiet. He thought he could manage by himself.
An hour passed. Timko's paws were very tired. The sun rose high and it got hot.
Suddenly, down below, a big bear named Myron appeared. He was big and kind.
"Hey, who's up in that tree?" Myron rumbled.
Timko took a deep breath.
"Myron! It's me, Timko! I'm stuck — I can't go up or down! Please help!"
"Coming!" Myron called back.
The bear walked up to the oak and wrapped his strong arms around the trunk. He shook it — once! He shook it — twice!
The apple fell right into Timko's paws. And a long, strong branch fell too — like a sturdy ladder.
"Come down along the branch, like a bridge!" Myron advised.
Timko carefully crawled onto the branch and scurried all the way down.
"Thank you!" he cheered happily, and shared the apple with the bear.
They sat under the tree and had breakfast together. The apple was sweet and juicy. And it tasted even better because they shared it.
Squirrel Orysia came back with nuts, and woodpecker Stukalo brought berries. They all had a little feast under the old oak.
When the sun began to set, Timko sat among his friends and smiled. His fluffy tail wagged happily.
That night, as he fell asleep in his cozy den, the raccoon thought about how good it was that he didn't stay silent.