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The Importance of Having Friends

Once upon a time, a lonely hawk lived on a tree by the riverside. He was young and handsome but he had no friends.

One day, he saw a beautiful she-hawk sitting on a tree and wanted to marry her but the she-hawk refused to marry him, as he had no friends.

“Will you marry me if I make three friends?” – he asked. She said that she definitely would.

The hawk then went looking for friends. While flying on the other bank of the river, he saw a huge tortoise. The hawk flew down to him and said, “Dear tortoise, will you be my friend and help me in my hour of need?” The tortoise agreed to become his friend and said, “Call me whenever you need me and I shall come to your side.”

The hawk also promised him his help at any time and then flew in search of the second friend. Soon, he came upon an osprey. The hawk went to it and asked her if she would be his friend and help him in time of his need. The osprey very gladly accepted his friendship and offered her help whenever he needed it.

The hawk was glad that he had made two friends.

He went on searching for a third friend. He flew over the jungle and saw a tiger. Fearless as he was, he went near the tiger and requested him to be his friend. The tiger readily accepted his friendship and said, “From now onwards, I am your friend. Nobody will harm you. If anyone tries to harm you, call me and I will be there to help you.”

The hawk was very happy. He thanked the tiger, flew back to the she-hawk and said, “I have made three friends, a tortoise, an osprey and a tiger. Will you marry me now?”

The she-hawk agreed to marry him. Soon, their marriage took place. The three friends attended the hawk’s marriage.

After some-months, she-hawk gave birth to two baby hawks. The parent hawks were very happy to have cute little babies. They lived happily in their nest.

One day, two hunters came and sat under that tree. They were tired and hungry. They had not been able to hunt any animal. They decided to catch some fish. But, they couldn’t catch even a single fish.

It was getting dark and the hunters decided to spend the night under that tree. To keep themselves warm, they lit a fire. The fire soared high. The hawk-babies on the tree could not bear the heat and the smoke coming out of the fire. They started crying. The Hunters heard their cries. One of them said, ”There are birds on this tree. Let us catch them. We shall roast them on the fire and eat them.” The other one agreed.

The hawks heard them and were really worried about the safety of their babies. The she-hawk suggested that they seek help from their friends. The hawk went to the osprey and told her his problem. The osprey said, “Go home and protect your babies. I shall tackle with the hunters.”

The osprey dived into the river and then flew over the fire. The water from her wet feathers fell on the fire. She repeatedly dived into the river and flew over the fire. The water from her feathers put off the fire.

The hunters decided to light the fire again; however, as soon as they lit the fire, again the osprey put it off.

In the meantime, the hawk went to get help from the tortoise. When the tortoise heard about the hawk’s problem, he said to him, “Do not worry dear friend, I will be there in no time and tackle the hunters in my own way. Go and protect your family.”

The hawk flew to the tree and the tortoise reached the tree. He went quite close to where the hunters were sitting and trying to light the fire again. The hunters saw the tortoise and one of them said, “Look there is a huge tortoise. Let’s forget about the hawks and catch this tortoise.”

The other hunter agreed and said, “Let’s tear our shirts and make a rope. We shall tie its one end to the tortoise and other to our waists. Then we will pull the tortoise with all our strength.” The other hunter liked the idea. Soon, they make a rope out of their shirts. They tied one end of the rope to the tortoise’s legs. Then, trying the other end to their waist, they could not pull the tortoise. The tortoise’s strength was much greater than the two hunters were together.

The tortoise pulled the two men into the water. Once, inside the water, it was very easy for the tortoise to drag them. With great efforts, they cut the rope that was tied to their waist and swam back to the bank. They were now feeling very cold. They had lost their shirts. They thought of making a fire again.

Seeing them collecting leaves and twigs, the hawk was worried again. He flew to the forest and called his third friend, the tiger. He found the tiger at the edge of the forest. When the tiger heard the hawk’s problem, he immediately rushed towards the riverbank.

The hunter had now lighted the fire and one of them was preparing to climb the tree to get the hawk babies. Just then, the tiger reached the tree. Seeing the tiger, the hunters ran from there and never came back again.

The hawk thanked all his three friends for their kind and timely help. He also realized that it is very important to have at least a few friends. The female-hawk was very wise in advising the hawk to make friends before marrying him.

Author Unknown

{ 39 comments… add one }
  • Bob September 21, 2017, 1:41 pm

    Try “hatched” Birds don’t give birth

    • PJ Khan January 19, 2021, 10:25 am

      Lol

  • Muddaththir Abdullahi August 30, 2015, 4:12 pm

    I realy enjoy the story and that will the story am going to tell my students tomorrow. Thank you so much.

  • Noel December 31, 2014, 10:29 pm

    I am so inspired by this story. True friend indeed is like mother, father, brothers, sisters to us. They are concern and faithful in everything esp. In times of trouble… God bless and a Holy New Year.

  • Drexel sharoo triggz August 21, 2014, 3:59 pm

    I have never come across such an interesting story be4!

  • Ayzel Gabiola July 27, 2014, 8:03 am

    I wish I have a friend like that too.

  • Prasad July 13, 2014, 2:24 am

    It’s very loving story who is the author?

  • Lekha February 11, 2014, 6:24 am

    Very beautiful story on friendship… I really liked it..

  • Jackson January 25, 2014, 3:17 am

    It’s really good to have friends, friends may be good or bad but both will teach us, how to face the world with courage…

  • Malathi.M January 23, 2014, 12:41 am

    Very nice story…

  • Chandana January 19, 2014, 1:52 pm

    Of course it’s nice. But every friends are not so kind. Friends are always jealousy.

  • Caty January 12, 2014, 1:38 pm

    Yeah too bad I have only one friend. Smart.

  • Pooja January 11, 2014, 6:03 am

    Nice…

  • Ruth Pueblo January 11, 2014, 2:53 am

    Friends are very important… without a friend just like a YOUTUBE without VIDEOs & like a GOOGLE with no results

  • Arifa December 31, 2013, 8:15 pm

    Lovely story

    I really love this site coz for a hasty person like me heres lot to read within minutes … thanks to the Admin.

  • Rita Thacker December 14, 2013, 12:01 pm

    Very, very nice.

  • Himanish November 21, 2013, 11:28 am

    Friends indeed are friends in need.

  • Esther November 14, 2013, 10:03 am

    I love it!!!

  • Chuks November 11, 2013, 7:26 pm

    I love this site may God bless this editor for me!!

  • Gibson November 3, 2013, 4:22 pm

    Friends like no other

  • Hussein Darwish October 31, 2013, 6:17 am

    Here is the translation of the story if somebody likes to read it in Arabic
    أهمية أن يكون لك أصدقاء
    في يوم من الأيام, كان صقر وحيد يعيش في أعلى شجرة على ضفة النهر. كان ذلك الصقر شاباً وسيماً, ولكن لم يكن لديه أصدقاء.
    وذات يوم, رأى أنثى صقر تجلس على إحدى الشجرات. أراد الصقر أن يتزوجها واكنها رفضت لكونه دون أصدقاء.
    فسألها: “هل تقبلين الزواج بي إذا أصبح لدي ثلاثة أصدقاء؟” فأجابته بأنها موافقة بكل تأكيد.
    عندها, ذهب الصقر يبحث عن ثلاثة أصدقاء. وخلال تحليقه فوق الضفة الأخرى من النهر, رأى سلحفاة كبيرة فطار إليها وسألها: “عزيزتي السلحفاة, هل تقبلين أن تكوني صديقتي وتساعديني في وقت شِدَّتي؟” وافقت السلحفاة على طلبه قائلة: “اطلبني متى شئت وسأكون بجانبك”.
    وعدها الصقر أيضاً بمساعدتها في أي وقت, وانطلق مجدداً يبحث عن صديق ثانٍ. وسرعان ما صادف عقاباً, وسأله ما إذا كان يود أن يكون صديقه ويساعده في وقت شدّته. وبكل سرور, قبل العقاب صداقته وعرض عليه المساعدة في أي وقت يشاء.
    كان الصقر مسروراً بأن أصبح لديه صديقان.
    وأكمل رحلت البحث عن صديق ثالث. وأثناء تحليقه فوق الغابة, رأى نمراً. وبدون خوف, كما كان دائماً, اقترب منه وطلب أن يكون صديقه. قبل النمر هذه الصداقة قائلاً: “من الآن صاعداً, أنا صديقك. لن يقوم أي أحد بإيذائك. إذا حاول أحدهم فعل ذالك, اطلبني وسآتي لمساندتك”.
    كان الصقر سعيداً جداً. فشكر النمر, وطار عائداً إلى الأنثى قائلاً: “بات عندي ثلاثة اصدقاء, سلحفاة وعقاب ونمر. هل تقبلين الزواج بي الآن؟”
    عندها وافقت على الزواج. وسرعان ما تم ذلك بحضور الأصدقاء الثلاثة.
    بعد بضعة شهور, أنجبت أنثى الصقر طفلين. فكان الأب والأم مسروران كثيرا أن اصبح لديهما طفلان جميلان. وعاشا في سبات ونبات في عشّهما.
    وفي يوم من الأيام, قدم صيادان وجلسا أسفل الشجرة. كانا متعبان وجائعان, فهما لم يتمكنا من اصطياد أيٍّ من الحيوانات. لذا قرّرا ان يصطادا بعض الأسماك. ولكنهما لم يتمكّنا من اصطياد سمكة واحدة.
    كان يحل الظلام شيئاً فشيئاً, فقرر الصيادان أن يمضيا الليلة تحت تلك الشجرة. وأشعلا النار كي يبقيا دافئان. عَلَت ألسنة النيران فلم يحتملا صغار الصقور على تلك الشجرة شدة اللهيب والدخان المتصاعد من النيران, فبدآ في البكاء. عندها سمع الصيادان بكاءهما, وقال أحدهما: “يوجد طيور على هذه الشجرة, هيا بنا نلتقطهم. سنقوم بشوائهم على النار وأكلهم”. ووافق الآخر على ذلك.
    سمعهما الأب والأم وباتا قلقين جداً بشأن سلامة طفليهما. فاقترحت الأم طلب المساعدة من الأصدقاء. عندها, قصد الأب العقاب وأخبره بمشكلته. فقال العقاب: “إذهب إلى العش واحمي الأطفال, وأنا سأتكفّل بالصيادَين”.
    غاص العقاب في مياه النهر ومن ثم طار فوق النيران حتى سقط الماء الذي تبلل به جناحاه على النار. كرر العقاب هذه الطريقة مراراً حتى اطفأت مياه جناحيه النار.
    فقرر الصيادان اشعال النيران مجدداً, ولكن ما إن أضرما النيران حتى أخمدها العقاب من جديد.
    وفي هذه الأثناء, ذهب الصقر الأب لطلب المساعدة من السلحفاة. وعندما سمعت الأخيرة بمشكلته قالت له: “لا تقلق يا صديقي العزيز, سأكون هناك قريباً وسأتعامل مع الصيادان على طريقتي الخاصة. إذهب أنت واحمي عائلتك”.
    طار الصقر إلى الشجرة ولحقت به السلحفاة. إقتربت السلحفاة حيث كان يجلس الصيادان ويحاولان إضرام النيران مجدداً. عندها رآها الصيادان وقال أحدهما: “انظر هناك سلحفاة ضخمة”. إنسى أمر الصقور ودعنا نلتقط هذه السلحفاة”.
    وافق الصياد الثاني على فكرته قائلاً: “هيا بنا نمزّق قميصانا ونشكل حبلاً. علينا أن نربط أحد طرفيه بالسلحفاة والآخر بخاصرتنا, ثم نشدّها بكل ما أوتينا من قوّة”. أُعجب الصياد الآخر بالفكرة, وفي الحال, شكّلا من قميصاهما حبلا وربطا أحد طرفيه بقدم السلحفاة. ثم حاولا ربط الآخر بخصريهما ولكنهما لم يتمكنا من شد السلحفاة, فقوتها كانت أكبر من قوتهما مجتمعين.
    شدّت السلحفاة الرجلان الى الماء. وبشَدّة واحدة سحبتهما الى داخل الماء, وكان ذالك سهلا عليها. وبعد أن بذلا جهدا كبيرا, تمكّنا من قطع الحبل الذي كان مربوطاً بخصريهما وسبحا عائدين إلى ضفة النهر. وفي تلك الأثناء كانا يشعران ببرد شديد, فهما قد فقدا قميصاهما. وبالتالي فكرا بأن يعودا لإشعال النار مجدداً.
    وعندما شاهدهما الصقر يجمعان الأوراق والأغصان, بات قلقاً مرة أخرى. فطار إلى الغابة طلباً للمساعدة من صديقه الثالث, النمر. ووجده عن طرف الغابة. عندما سمع النمر بمشكلة الصقر, سارع على الفور نحو ضفة النهر.
    في هذا الوقت كان الصياد قد أشعل النار, وكان احدهم يتحضّر لتسلّق الشجرة لإحضار صغار الصقور. وفي تلك اللحظة, وصل النمر الى المكان. وعندما رآه الصيادان هربا مسرعين ولم يعودا مرة أخرى.
    شكر الصقر أصدقاءه الثلاثة على لطفهم وعلى تلبية المساعدة في الحال. وقد أدرك أنه من الهام جدّاً ان يكون لديه بعص الأصدقاء على الأقل. وكانت أنثى الصقر غاية في الحكمة حينما نصحت الصقر ان يُكَوِّن صداقات قبل زواجها.
    الكاتب مجهول الهوية
    ترجمة حسين درويش

  • Camilia October 30, 2013, 9:39 am

    You can’t live your life happily without A FRIEND !

  • Awuni October 30, 2013, 3:05 am

    Good but some friends are dangerous so watch out.

  • Madhoor October 29, 2013, 6:29 am

    Nice.

  • Ishaq October 28, 2013, 8:16 am

    I like it..

  • Dharani October 28, 2013, 2:02 am

    Good one Stephen….. friends will always be there to share their shoulders in time of worries and ready to give hi-fi’s in time of happiness….

  • Isha Vyawahare October 28, 2013, 1:09 am

    Thank you for this wonderful story. I met with an accident few months back and my friends were by my side all the time! I feel so blessed to have them! Cheers!

  • Prasurjya October 27, 2013, 9:53 pm

    It’s been a long time since I read such an allegory.. sweet and simple.. love it.. God Bless…

  • Sundar Thapa Magar October 27, 2013, 12:20 pm

    So nice and meaningful story. Thank you for forwarding it to me also.

  • Venky October 27, 2013, 10:54 am

    I wasted my time by reading this stupid moral story.

  • Abhishek jha October 27, 2013, 8:15 am

    Sweet and simple.

  • Rita October 27, 2013, 2:36 am

    The song of Diana Ross and friends says it all (That’s what friends are for). I have a friend Maria that she has been there for me and I do the same. One time I gave her a music box with this song of Diana Ross and she was so pleased and said, thank you for being my friend and I said I am lucky too. Our husbands and children are friends too. GOD BLESS.

  • The English Teacher October 27, 2013, 2:25 am

    Nice story. But you could have better written it with some hidden message or a surprising conclusion. If you do this, your readers will tend to find the story more remarkable and will not forget easily. What I want to say is that, a twist could have hit two targets, by both impressing the reader as well as making it an unforgettable story. One more thing is the the language used in the story. Story-telling in its true form is rare to find, and one such person to have mastered it is J.K. Rowling. There are many others also. Try to follow and emulate them so that you may write even better stories in the future.

  • Rasell Las Pinas October 27, 2013, 2:04 am

    Lucky if you have friends like these. Friends are special gifts from God. -Samantha

  • Wilson October 27, 2013, 1:39 am

    A real friend is who entering in your life when the rest of the world go out side.

  • Pari October 27, 2013, 12:51 am

    Nice story… Friends are more important in life….

  • Bharat Chhajed October 26, 2013, 9:30 pm

    Life without friends would be like
    A life with less life in it self

  • Seetha October 26, 2013, 8:20 pm

    Friendship isn’t a big thing – it’s a million little things. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

  • Myking October 26, 2013, 7:04 pm

    This is quite inspiring. It is indeed good to make friends. I am blesses.

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