Once upon a time, in a big Russian village lived teenager Katya. Her parents were peasants. They had a big potato field not far from their house. All day they were on the field and worked hard, but Katya didnt help them because she didnt like to get up early and work until sunset. She liked to get up late when her mom comes home for lunch and cooks some griddlecakes to take to the field for her hardworking family. Mom would always leave some for Katya, who would get down from her big, soft and puffy-cloud bed, stretch her arms wide, yam, and would eat all the griddlecakes left on the table. After the breakfast Katya would pose by the mirror for hours, brushing her long blond hair, creating new hairdos, making funny faces, and trying on moms new outfits.
Once, Katya was doing her everyday chores by the mirror, she heard someone weeping. She looked around the room, but didnt see anybody. Then she heard it again. She looked in every corner of the room, and there it was on the floor by the big commode a mouse. Katya didnt scream. When she was reaching out for a broom, the gray mouse with a long nose and a skinny tail started squeaking:
Dont kill me, dear girl, I didnt come to scare you. I ran away from the field where your parents work. They are taking away everything we have to survive this winters early frost. I will not have enough food to give for my four small mousekins and my pregnant wife. Please, dear girl, give me some food, pleased the mouse, I will pay you the price youll like.
How much? asked Katya.
I will give you the ring I found in a rich womans palace just a few miles away. She drooped it and it went in the hole in the wooden floor my home. That lady was a witch. Her long nose looked bigger from the floor, and her thorny shoes stepped on my tiny tail so many times. I saw her using the ring to get whatever she wanted. I will teach you how to use it... Is it enough for few potatoes? asked the mouse.
Hmmm OK, said Katya, and got up to get him some potatoes.
The mouse knew that having the ring and using it for her advantages would not get Katya far. She would soon get tired of it, or would even regret she used it. But he didnt care. As long as it makes them both happy: Katya with her ring, and mice with their food for winter.
When the mouse brought her the ring, Katya put it in her pocket and decided not to tell anyone about it. She got up on her cozy-cloud-bed, and took a little nap.
Katya woke up when she heard her parents talking. She thought that all that happened was a dream, but when she looked in her aprons pocket, she was even more excited, she wanted to tell her parents, but then decided not to. She thought they would take it away and she might never get what she always dreamed about.
When her parents went back to the fields, Katya decided to try the ring out. She took it out of her pocket, kissed it, whispered her wishes, and put it on her finger. It worked. Katya was happy that finally all her wishes would come true. From this time on, she never made her bed, went to the well for the water, cleaned the house, washed her clothes, or poured milk - the ring did it all.
Many years later, when Katya became a tall, thin and beautiful young lady, with long blond hair, little nose, beautiful blue eyes, and a cute smile with two dimples, the only wish she wished for was to get married and live like a princess. But somehow there were not enough guys she could share her secret with. She didnt feel like sharing and giving her ring to use to anyone. Over the years, Katya didnt only become beautiful, but lazy, mean, and selfish.
Once, when he was left home alone. She was still lying in her bed, when she saw a man on a white horse walking towards her doorway. She quickly got her ring out, made her bed, and cooked some breakfast. The minute she was done, she heard a knock. She opened the door, and saw a handsome young man standing there and smiling.
Hi, said Katya, and didnt know what to do. She didnt expect such a guest in her house. She just stood there. He looked her down and up.
Hi, he said, and smiled. His smile made Katya shyer. Tall, rich and handsome, he was a guy Katya always dreamed about. From his all-shiny and luxurious clothes, Katya understood that he doesnt live in her village.
How may I help you? Katya asked, and finally smiled.
I just wanted to ask you for some water, my horse and I are really tired after such a long trip. said the guy, and gave her few golden coins.
I will be right back, I need to go to the well to get some cold water. said Katya, grabbed two buckets on the crossbeam and went outside.
She tried hard to get the water. She couldnt use her ring because she thought the guy was watching her, so she put it back in her aprons pocket. She bent over the well to get the bucket out, and her ring felt down. She didnt know what to do. When she gave up and was about to go back, the guy saw that and decided to help. He went to the well, got one bucket out, poured water into another, got some more water for his horse, and carried another bucket inside. Katya carried the crossbeam.
Thank you, said Katya.
No problem, said the guy.
Would you like to sit down?
Sure. said the guy, and sat on the chair by the table. Katya poured some milk in the cup, and put a plate of griddlecakes on the table.
You are probably hungry after a long trip. Here, have something to eat before you go. Said Katya and served some food.
Thank you Oh, Im sorry, I didnt even introduce myself. My name is Maxim, the third son of our King Victor. Whats your name?
Katya, said Katya, and blushed. She sat in front of him and asked: Are you a real prince?
Yes, but I dont live in a castle with my parents. Not anymore. My older brother is named a king now, and soon it will be my turn. He is going away to win his own kingdom by the Ukraine, my oldest brother is a king of Poland, and my dad wants me to have few villages in the neighborhood with all its farms, rivers and forests. I dont want it, and now Im planning on running away someplace safe and live as a peasant. said the prince. I plan to stay in your village, but dont tell anyone.
But why do you want to change your wealth to this poverty? asked Katya.
Its a lot of duty, and over all, its a really long story, said Prince Maxim, I will tell you next time. I need to get to my new home by the sunset. Thanks for the water and the dinner. I hope to see you soon. It was really nice to meet you.
Nice to meet you, too. said Katya. After the prince left, Katya started looking around to find the mouse that gave her the ring. She couldnt find him. She couldnt jump in a water-well either, because its too dark in there and she could drown. If I only had my ring, I would make Prince Maxim marry me, and we would live in a castle together. Where is that stupid mouse? Katya cried.
When Katyas parents came back, they saw a clean house, food on the table, and a sleepy Katya on the chair by the mirror.
Poor girl, said dad. She worked so hard cleaning, cooking, and washing then he kissed her in the cheek, and carried her to the cozy-cloud-bed.
When Katya woke up, she was really happy. Because she didnt have a ring in her pocket, she couldnt understand if all of it was just a dream, but even if it wasnt, she promised to herself that she would always be a diligent girl. In either way, she would have to work hard to get to her dreams.
Day after day, Katya became better and better. She went to the fields with her parents, cooked for them, and even had time to outside and play with her new secret friend. She wasnt sure if it was a dream or not, but just in case, she was leaving some potatoes on the fields. She didnt need the kissing ring anymore; she has a wedding ring now, and her husband is prince Maxim.
Katya never knew that the kissing ring was bewitched, and it wasnt accidentally dropped but lost on purpose. The mouse was the old witches husband. The old witch turned him into a mouse because he didnt let her to use the ring. The old witch became a mouse herself when she was mad at the ring and threw in on the floor. To turn into men again, the mice would have to find someone to do the trick with the ring on. Katya was their lucky victim. But unfortunately for the mice, Katya lost it, and there were no way to get it back. The mouse and his witched-wife will live in poverty forever.
After years of hardworking, and marrying Maxim, Katya understood why he didnt want to be a king. She realized that to become a king, he should marry a princess, but all the princess are lazy and never wok hard to get to their dreams. They only give commands, and then become lazy, mean, and selfish. Prince Maxim knew it, and thats why he married Katya. He never knew and will never know what Katya went through. They live in a house with a big field. They work all day as Katyas parents did. They plan to build their family and live as peasants all their life. Maxim never regretted that he quitclaimed the crown and married an ordinary girl like Katya, because he knows she is hardworking and would be happy to live with him for the rest of her life. Katya promised to herself to never be lazy, she will tell her story to her children and grandchildren, because she knows that only the diligent people have a better lives, a better education, a happier families, and a bigger future in front of them.