✅ The story teaches self-confidence and mutual help.
✅ Once upon a time there were two tractors in one town: a big red one and a little blue one.
A big tractor worked from the early morning till late at night, either the emergency service called to repair the water pipeline – to dig out the pipes, or the irrigation truck called to dig a hole. And once even a big barge called to the port to fix the sand embankment after a downpour. Everyone thought the red tractor was very wise and strong. And so it was. The blue tractor seldom left the garage. It was said to be too small and clumsy. That made him sad all the time. And when he did get asked to do a task, he was very nervous. So he was in a hurry, got confused, and when it did not work, upset even more. No wonder he was called to work less and less often.
– Don’t worry, – the red tractor instructed him, engine roaring tiredly after a hard day’s work, – You, too, can do important things. You just have to be more self-confident and stop rushing.
But time went on, and nothing changed. One winter, clearing the yard, the blue tractor went so fast that it broke the fence. Another time it blew away a lilac bush with a snowdrift. And the third time he buried himself in the snow: he really wanted to make a children’s slide, but did not calculate his strength. And when an older friend came to help, tractor was terribly ashamed of such a nonsense. Where has it been seen that the tractor got stuck in a snowdrift!
Spring came. The big tractor received tasks every day. And the little blue one had given up hope that he would ever be needed.
But one day something happened that the blue tractor could not have imagined. His older friend did not return to the garage in the evening. The little blue tractor was worried and barely fell asleep until morning. He was awakened by the sound of an unfamiliar klaxon. The little tractor looked outside and saw a big fire truck.
– Hello, blue tractor! – the machine hummed. – Your friend stayed at the machine shop yesterday. Something broke down, and the mechanic said it would take three days to fix. So now you are for him. Hurry up, there’s a fire in the woods outside of town! We need to dig a ditch to contain the fire, to save the animals and birds!
The tractor driver’s engine nearly stalled from surprise. He looked at the fire truck and could not believe his ears.
– What are you standing there for?! – The car exclaimed and turned on the siren. – The fire won’t wait!
The blue tractor took off. It could barely keep up with the shiny red truck and thought, “I just want to get it right! I wish I could help! Just so I can do it!”
When the fire truck arrived on the scene, it immediately set out to put out the fire. The little tractor-truck was no sooner even confused than a worried forester ran out to meet him.
– Dig from that tree over there, – the forester pointed to a tall oak tree, – and up to the brook. The hole half a meter deep. And over there you will move the earth that you can get. We’ll make a rampart so the fire won’t spread further. The firefighters are already working. Come on, tractor boy, help!
It turned out that someone had decided to have a picnic in the suburban forest. The weather was warm and sunny, and people had completely forgotten about the rules of outdoor recreation. They had not put out the fire and it burst into flames. The wind blew the sparks away and the dried trees burst into flames like matches.
The blue tractor got to work. He no longer thought about being inept or clumsy. He was worried about the animals in danger, and he worked with confidence with the bucket. Machines and men worked until the evening. The fire was successfully stopped. The blue tractor was very tired. It was about to go to the garage when the forester came up to it.
– Well done! We couldn’t have done it without you,” he said, and patted the tractor’s body thankfully.
The kid was happy. For the first time he had done the job right, and he was praised.
And in the morning the blue tractor had a new surprise. He woke up to a phone call.
– It’s the truck! – the caller introduced himself. – You need to come to the port. Summer is coming, it’s time to renovate the children’s sandboxes! You’ll load me up with sand, and then we’ll drive through and distribute it among the yards!
The joyful tractor went on the river with all its wheels. And in the evening all the kids were making crayons out of the clean yellow sand.
The blue tractor returned to the garage incredibly satisfied. A friend was waiting for him there.
– Oh…,” was all the kid said. He was glad to see the red tractor, but he was very sad that he was going to be unwanted again.
– The mechanic fixed me and now I’m back on track, – said the red tractor, – I heard the important things you did. You did a great job!
– Thank you, – the little tractor boy answered quietly, – I really wanted to be strong and agile like you.
– You did it! You have mastered the excitement and now you can help me! I don’t always get things done in time – there’s a lot of work in town. We’ll make a great team!
– Do you think I’ll be remembered? I’m so small, – the blue tractor asked apprehensively.
– Of course not! – exclaimed his older comrade. – it does not matter that you are small. The main thing – you are responsible, diligent and hardworking! And experience – it will come.
In the morning, a small car drove up to the garage.
– Guys, get ready for work! Red tractor, there’s a trailer waiting for you. Yesterday the park was prepared for the summer season, sawing dry branches. Together you will take them out of town! she cheerfully shouted. – Tractor boy! You are needed at the the stadium. There was some gravel left after repairs. Load it into the truck, take it to the new construction site!
And the two faithful friends went off to do good deeds.
Prepared by:
Anita Vayakanti is a child and perinatal psychologist, art therapist, and master’s degree in health and developmental psychology.
