Story The Red Ogre (Read and Listen)

Story The Red Ogre: adaptation of the popular story from Japan.

Once upon a time there lived a red ogre who lived secluded in a huge red hut on the side of a mountain,

very close to a village. He was gigantic in size and instilled so much fear in everyone that no one wanted to deal with him. The people of the region thought that he was an evil being and a constant threat, especially to children.

How wrong they were! The ogre was a piece of bread and he was longing to have friends, but he couldn’t find a way to show it: as soon as he went outside, all the inhabitants of the town began to scream and fled to take refuge in their houses. In the end, the poor man had no choice but to stay locked in his cabin, sad, bored and with no other company than his own shadow.

Time passed and the giant could no longer endure so much loneliness. He thought about the matter a lot and it occurred to him to put a sign on the door of his house that read:

DON’T BE AFRAID OF ME.

I AM NOT DANGEROUS.

The idea was very good, but as soon as he put his foot outside to hang it on the doorknob, some children saw him and ran down the hill in terror.

In desperation, he tore up the sign, got into bed and began to cry bitterly.

– How unhappy I am! I just want to have friends and live a normal life! Why do they judge me by my appearance and don’t want to know me?…

In the room there was a huge window, as befitted an ogre of its size. A blue ogre who happened to be passing by heard moans and cries so sad that his heart broke. Since the window was open, he looked out.

– What’s up friend?

– Well, I am very sorry. I can’t find a way to make people stop being afraid of me. I just want to be friends with everyone! I would love to be able to walk around the town like the others, have someone to go fishing with, play hide-and-seek…

– Well, well, don’t worry, I’ll help you.

The red ogre wiped away his tears and a shy smile appeared on his face.

– Oh, yes?… And how will you do it?

– Let’s see what you think of the plan!: I will approach the town and start shouting. Logically, they will think that I am going to attack them. When everyone starts running, you will appear as if you were the great savior. We’ll fake a fight and you’ll hit me so they think I’m a bad ogre and you’re a good ogre who wants to defend them.

– But I don’t want to hit you! No, no, no way!

– You calm down and do what I tell you! It will be pure theater and you will see how it works!

The red ogre was not very convinced to do it, but the blue ogre insisted so much that in the end, he accepted.

So, just as they had spoken, the blue ogre went down to the town and stood on the main street making a bad face, raising his arms and shouting that made even the bald people’s hair stand on end. People ran in terror through the alleys looking for a hiding place to get to safety.

The red ogre, following the farce, descended the mountain at full speed and confronted his new friend. The fight was fake, but nobody knew it.

– Damn blue ogre! How dare you attack these good people? I’m going to give you a beating you won’t forget!

And trying not to hurt him, he started hitting him on the back and kicking him on the ankles. It was clear that they were both very good actors, because the men and women of the town took the bait. Those who witnessed the fight from their shelters were stunned and believed that the red ogre had come to protect them.

– Get out of here, damned blue ogre, and never come back or you’ll have to deal with me again! Scoundrel, you are a scoundrel!

The blue ogre winked at him and began to plead:

– Don’t hit me anymore, please! I’m leaving here and I swear I won’t come back!

He got up, made a face of pain, and ran away in leaps and bounds without looking back.

Seconds later, the square was filled and everyone began to applaud and cheer for the red ogre, who became a hero. From that day on, he was considered an exemplary citizen and admitted as one of the community.

His daily life couldn’t be cooler! He chatted happily with the shop owners, played cards with the men of the town, had fun telling stories to the children… It was clear that both adults and children loved and respected him deeply.

He was very happy, there was no doubt, but at night, when he lay in bed and silence reigned, he remembered the blue ogre, who had sacrificed so much for him.

– Oh, dear friend, what will become of you! Where will you go? Thanks to your help I now have a wonderful life and everyone loves me, but I can’t even thank you.

The red ogre couldn’t get that thought out of his head; He felt that he owed a debt to that stranger who one day decided to give him a hand selflessly, so one afternoon, he prepared a backpack with food and went on a trip ready to find him.

For hours he climbed mountains and crossed valleys scanning the horizon, until he saw in the distance a cabin very similar to his own but painted in indigo.

– That must be your house! I’ll go take a look!

He took a few strides and reached the entrance, but quickly realized that the house was abandoned. On the door, a note written with Chinese ink and a superlative handwriting, said:

Dear red ogre friend:

I knew that one day you would come to thank me for the help I gave you. I thank you very much. I no longer live here, but don’t worry, I’m very well.

I left because if anyone saw us together they would be afraid of you again, so the best thing is that, for your sake, I stay away from you. Remember that everyone thinks I’m a really bad ogre!

Continue with your new life and I will seek my happiness in other lands. Good luck and see you always.

Your friend who loves you and does not forget you:

The blue ogre.

The red ogre was speechless. For the first time in many years, emotion overwhelmed him and he understood the true meaning of friendship. The blue ogre had behaved generously, showing that there are always good beings on this planet whom we can trust.

With eyes full of tears, he returned the way he had come. He continued to be very happy, but he never forgot that he owed his happiness to the kind blue ogre who had done so much for him.