The Bat, the Bramble and the Seagull
Long ago a bat, a thorny bush and a seagull became friends. The three friends decided to work together in sea trade. The bat borrowed a lot of money from the merchants. The seagull made a deal with a big copper trader. The bush brought fine and costly clothes to sell. Full of hope, they boarded the ship and sailed to far seas.
But in the middle of the sea a sudden, wild wind rose. The waves grew very high and their ship sank into deep water. They lost all their goods, but they barely saved their lives. After this disaster the life of all three friends changed completely. The seagull began to fly over the sea to find its copper. The bat began to go out only at night, away from its lenders.
The bush began to catch the clothes of travellers and look for its own. Since that day the seagull looks patiently at the bottom of the sea. The bat hides in dark caves by day and flies only at night. The thorny bush holds people's clothes and hopes to find its own. Because of one bad accident they all lost their happy old days. Great losses leave people unforgettable lessons and habits for a whole life. Once bitten, twice shy.