B1. The Musicians of Bremen

The Musicians of Bremen by Brothers Grimm

What happens to animals when no one wants them anymore?

Part 1

Once, an old donkey lived on a farm. He worked hard, but it wasn’t enough. His owner told him, "You're too old and slow to work here. Go away!"

Afraid and alone, the donkey thought, "Maybe I can find a new life in Bremen. I’ll become a musician!"

That evening, the donkey looked one last time at his home. Then he walked down the dark, lonely road to Bremen.

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He met a thin dog sitting by the road. The dog said, "I can’t run fast anymore, so my owner threw me out."

"Come with me," said the donkey. "We will go to Bremen and become musicians together."

Later, they met a small cat, crying. She said, "I am old and tired. I can't catch mice anymore, so they made me leave."

"Come along!" The donkey smiled. "Maybe they don’t want us, but Bremen will!"

"But how can I make music?" asked the cat.

“You have a voice,” said the donkey. “We all do.”

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Then, a rooster called from a lonely fence. "What's wrong, rooster?" asked the donkey.

“They want to make soup out of me!” the rooster cried. “I don’t want to die.”

"Don't worry," said the donkey. "Join us, and you'll sing for many more mornings."

The rooster joined them.

Soon, night came. The animals grew tired and hungry. Rain fell, and the wind was cold and strong.

They needed shelter to survive the night.

Then, lights appeared through the trees.

"A house!" said the donkey.

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"I smell cooking... but I also smell trouble," said the cat.

"Will the people inside welcome old animals like us?" said the dog, shivering.

The friends crept to the window and looked in.

Part 2

Inside, a fire burned bright. Warm food and gold covered the table. But something didn’t feel right. They heard men's voices — but not happy ones.

They looked closer. The men had dirty faces and hands. Their laughter was loud, and their eyes unkind. One man whispered, "No one will find us out here!" They had knives and seemed dangerous.

The cat stared with wide eyes. "I know them," she said. "They robbed my house."

"We must scare them away," said the donkey.

"I have a plan!" said the cat. She shared her idea.

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The donkey stood by the window. The dog quietly climbed onto his back. The cat jumped onto the dog, and the rooster flew to the top. They stood tall—one on the other, balancing carefully.

“Ready?” whispered the donkey.

The dog gave a nod.

“Let’s do it,” whispered the cat. “One... two... three...”

Then — "EE-AW! WOOF! MEOW! COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO!" A loud, terrible noise filled the night!

The men jumped up and screamed.

The animals kicked and scratched the walls as loudly as they could!

The men ran out of the house, shouting, "Run! Run! Evil is here! The devil is here!"

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The four friends stepped into their new home. They shared the food and slept by the warm fire.

Each one found a way to help.

The dog said, "I'll listen for danger. My ears still hear well."

The cat said, "I'll guard at night. I can see in the dark."

The rooster said, "I'll tell you when it’s time to wake up."

"I'll carry things for us," said the donkey. "My back is still strong."

They lived there for many years, and the men never returned.

The donkey smiled. He didn’t find the music in Bremen, but he found something better — a home. And that was the most beautiful music of all.