At the edge of a grain field lived Lourie with her children. One morning, before leaving to gather food, Lourie gave her little ones a careful instruction.
“Listen, children, pay attention to whatever the owner of this field says today, and tell me everything in the evening.”
When Lourie returned in the evening, the children said:
“Mom, the farmer was saying that now it’s time to harvest the crop. Please take us somewhere else.”
“Don’t worry,” Lourie reassured them. “You will remain safe.”
The next day, in the evening, the children again spoke:
“Mom, the farmer was saying he will call the neighbours to come and help with the harvest. Please take us away now.”
“Don’t worry,” Lourie replied calmly. “If he depends on neighbours, then even a month may pass without anything happening.”
A few days later the children complained again.
“Mom, today the farmer said that if the neighbours don’t come, he will call his relatives tomorrow.”
“Don’t worry,” Lourie answered. “Relatives never show up for such work.”
As Lourie had predicted, an entire week passed and still nobody came. The farmer grew restless and frustrated.
“Mom,” the children said one evening, “today the farmer was very angry. He told his wife that since no one has come, tomorrow the two of them will harvest the crop themselves.”
Lourie finally said, “Children, the farmer has now given up hope in others. That means tomorrow he will definitely harvest. Let us move to a safer place.”
