Bani and the Friendship Bridge

Bani and Red Panda spent the whole morning making a kite for the celebration on the Bridge of Friendship. Bani glued the yellow sun, Panda - red ribbons, but when the wind blew, both grabbed one spool. "My turn!" - Bani shouted. “You always decide first!” - Panda answered. The ribbons tightened, the kite fell into the grass, and the stone bridge became covered with cracks with a sad ringing sound.

Friends dispersed to different shores. A prickly cloud appeared above Bani, and a heavy rain cloud appeared above Panda. Bani wanted to prove he was right, but he noticed hot cheeks, a fast tail and clenched paws. “I’m angry and afraid that I wasn’t heard,” he said. When the feeling got a name, the cloud became a little smaller.

Near the old lantern, the friends sat so that they could see each other and took a few slow breaths. The clouds did not disappear on command, but they stopped throwing lightning. Panda admitted that she was offended and scared to be left out of line. Bani was surprised: behind his friend’s angry words hid the same fear that he had. Different feelings could be real at the same time.

They agreed to take turns speaking. While Panda was talking, Bani did not compose an objection, but listened to the end. Then he repeated: “Have you decided that your work and desire to fly are not important to me?” Panda nodded and listened to Bani just as carefully. From each correctly understood sentence, a soft light lit up in the cracks of the bridge.

Bani said, "I'm sorry I pulled the coil and screamed at you." He didn't add a tricky "but" that would have turned the apology into a new accusation. Panda apologized for the harsh words and for not asking either. Friends couldn't stop the fight, but they could take care of the pain it caused. The largest crack began to be covered with gold.

Now a new plan was needed. The friends repaired the tape and decided to change after each complete circle of the kite over the bridge; the second will help monitor the wind. They said the rule in advance so as not to guess at the most exciting moment. The snake rose, made a circle, and Bani honestly handed the reel to Panda. Tug of war became a shared adventure.

The bridge shone brighter than ever. Bani realized that making peace does not mean pretending that nothing happened. You need to calm down, name the feeling, listen, apologize and together figure out what to change. Sometimes friendship takes time, so the friends sat next to each other a little longer. Their clouds turned into two light stripes and melted.

They hung a small bell in the middle of the bridge. It rang when someone spoke honestly and listened carefully. In the evening, residents admired the snake and did not know that in the morning the bridge was broken. Only Bani and Panda understood: now it is not the stones alone that hold him back, but the ability to mend friendship together. They kept the reel in turns - and this made it twice as valuable.