Soft snow drifted down as an old man walked slowly through the forest. His boots made a quiet crunch with every step. He wore a thick coat, a warm hat, and soft woolen mittens to keep out the cold.
The wind brushed gently past him.
As he walked, one mitten slipped from his hand and fell into the snow.
He did not notice.
The mitten lay still, half-covered in white, soft and warm inside.
A tiny mouse came scurrying along the path. Her little nose twitched as she stopped.
“Ooooh… what is this?” she squeaked.
She touched the mitten and felt its warmth.
“It looks so cozy.”
The mouse slipped inside and curled up, her small body relaxing at once.
“Ahhh… this is just right.”
Not long after, a frog hopped through the snow, shivering.
“Hello,” he called. “Who is in this mitten?”
“I’m a mouse,” came a soft voice.
“I’m so cold,” said the frog. “May I come in?”
The mouse looked around the mitten.
“There is a little space,” she said kindly.
The frog hopped in beside her, and the two sat close together.
“It’s warm,” the frog said with a happy sigh.
Soon, a rabbit came bounding through the snow. His ears shook as he stopped.
“Who is in this mitten?” he asked.
“A mouse and a frog,” they replied.
“I’m freezing,” said the rabbit. “Please let me in.”
“It will be tight,” the mouse said gently.
“I will sit very still,” said the rabbit.
So they made space, and the rabbit squeezed in.
The mitten stretched a little.
“It’s getting snug,” the frog whispered.
“But we can make space,” the mouse said softly.
A fox walked by next, her tail wrapped around her feet for warmth.
“Who is in this mitten?” she asked.
“A mouse, a frog, and a rabbit,” they answered.
“I am so cold,” said the fox. “May I join you?”
The animals hesitated for a moment.
“It is already tight,” they said.
“I will be careful,” said the fox.
So they shifted a little, and the fox slipped inside.
The mitten stretched again.
Inside, it was warm, but very close.
“We can make space,” the mouse said again.
Soon, a wolf padded through the forest, his breath forming small clouds in the cold air.
“Who is in this mitten?” he asked.
“A mouse, a frog, a rabbit, and a fox,” they replied.
“Let me in,” said the wolf.
“There is hardly any room left,” they warned.
“I will not move,” said the wolf.
Slowly, he squeezed in.
The mitten stretched wider.
The animals pressed close together.
“It’s very tight now,” whispered the rabbit.
“But we can make space,” the mouse said, her voice small but kind.
Then came a wild boar, snorting as he pushed through the snow.
“Who is in this mitten?” he asked.
“A mouse, a frog, a rabbit, a fox, and a wolf!” they called.
“I need warmth too,” said the boar.
“There is almost no space left!” they cried.
But the boar gently pushed and squeezed inside.
The mitten stretched as far as it could.
The animals could hardly move.
Still, they stayed quiet and close.
At last, a big bear came lumbering through the forest. His heavy steps made the snow sink deep.
He bent down and looked at the mitten.
“Who is in this mitten?” he asked in a deep voice.
“A mouse, a frog, a rabbit, a fox, a wolf, and a boar!” they called.
“Move over,” said the bear. “I am coming in.”
“There is no space!” they squeaked.
But the bear began to squeeze in.
The mitten stretched…
and stretched…
and stretched…
The animals held their breath.
“It’s too much,” whispered the frog.
The mitten trembled.
Then it burst open with a loud pop.
All the animals tumbled out into the snow. They rolled, slipped, and scrambled away as fast as they could.
In a moment, the forest was quiet again.
Snow fell softly, covering the ground once more.
After some time, the old man returned, his boots crunching along the path.
He looked down and smiled.
“Ah, there it is.”
He picked up the mitten and brushed off the snow. It looked just the same as before.
He slipped it onto his hand and continued walking through the peaceful forest.
He never knew how many friends had shared its warmth.
