My first true friend

                I apologize for the poor translation of the text
                from Russian into English!


Preface





     This story happened to me in the distant eighties, when the decline of the Soviet (USSR) era was just beginning, but in the consciousness of children's perception - the feeling of global changes were not perceived — we were far from understanding political events and did not have the full ability to analyze them. And there is nothing wrong with that, because the child's perception of reality is different from the adult worldview, and there is nothing good in littering the young head with any policy of depriving children of a happy childhood.

     For the first time I tried to reflect my story at the beginning of the third grade; we were given the task at school to write an essay: "How I spent the summer." My story is laid on three sheets of notebook without much details. But school work on the composition, as I thought, was given to me by great difficulty. It was then that I realized for the first time how difficult it was to convey the main idea on paper; to what extent this was a difficult task for me! Still, I guess I overdid it...

     I remember that I received a slightly strained three for the composition; and I will never forget the teacher's critical statement about the stated thoughts and grammatical errors. In General, the teacher praised me for my literary approach to writing, and joked about it, saying that I would make a decent writer. His unambiguous smile, which was imprinted in my subconscious as an irritating factor, caused me unpleasant sensations. But most of all I was upset by my childish helplessness in the face of literary knowledge of the Russian language!

     I seem to have forgotten about this story with age, and all the unpleasant sensations, but nostalgic feelings brought me back to the memories of childhood. That matured me to describe my adventures and experiences in the full story, as the years gave me more confidence and determination, but in addition, over the years, we take a special experienced event in childhood – there is some hidden wisdom of life. As a child, we do not feel a sense of nostalgia, but with age memories are amplified with extraordinary force, and a simple school essay becomes a full story.






My first true friend



Part one





       At the age of eight, I knew nothing about the pioneer camps, because I had never been there, but out of the corner of my ear, I heard something from my friends in the yard. Many were there more than once, and everyone talked about it in different ways. Someone thought that this is the worst place they have met in their life, someone said that there is fun…

       I finished second grade... the mother happily reported that took a preferential trip to a camp site "the bear". She told me that it though is not close (in hundred kilometers from the house, or so), but there it will be possible to reach by train, she promised that will visit me regularly.

       My mother and I lived alone in a two-room apartment in the suburbs in the city of Zelenograd. Dad wasn't with us, mom always told me that he left us, but alimony pays properly. I hardly remember him, and could not understand why he never visited us or even me!

       When my mother told me about the trip to the pioneer camp, for some reason, I did not feel any joy, but the interest in me this news, after all, awakened. I have not had any adventures in my life, I thought that I could expect some interesting events. I seem to be happy, but in the soul lurking anxiety, what if I something no good?! I was afraid of waiting for something new! Fright, of course, was, but apparently boys true to form seek on its head adventures, especially, if adventures connected with the risk. So, I felt unusual feelings that did not give me peace. But to be honest, when something happens to you for the first time, you do not particularly perceive it with delight, although in your heart it beckons and beckons.



        So stop! Here I am writing this story, and thought that excessive frankness can damage the boy's reputation in front of the girls; here I think, how can I make it only for boys? How is that possible? The secrets of boys should not be revealed – that's so simple!

So, if the girl decides to read this story, I will ask the young lady to close this book! Just give me your word of honor... OK?



       So... where was I? Well, I'll be honest... No, stop... I will never believe that the girl — like this, listen, and close the book and will not continue to read! I don't mind, though... most importantly, we must be able to correctly understand in what situation is this or that character! I don't think it would be a big deal if the girls found out something new about the boys. I will try not to reveal the main secrets that are stored in each of us deep in the soul, and not so easy to get them out.



        Well, so: the inner world of boys is very rich, I can not say anything about the girls — because I have never been a girl. And now, for the life of me - can't imagine what they have going on there?! However, the same can be said about the girls — they hardly understand our world — they are unlikely to ever be able to feel it. And at the same time: in the future man, the most desperate dreams ripen; each of us feels special, sets difficult goals and objectives, considers himself stronger than everyone and is ready to move mountains, in other words, in every boy a knight Matures! But not always we're right sometimes we are wrong, and do something rash, maybe we can be different from girls. And if you look at the world as a whole, all the outstanding people, for the most part, are men. Well, maybe it just seems to me!

       So... and I have not even introduced myself yet... My name is Arseny, an ordinary boy, of ordinary height, with dark eyes, for the most part modest, sympathetic and excessively trusting!

        Summer vacation came, and as I said earlier, my mother got a ticket to the children's camp, I had to go there in two days. And, as I wrote: children's camp was not my dream! I didn't understand why they sent children there at all. But as the saying goes: "If you do not try something, do not feel on yourself, then you will never understand it! »



My first impressions before departure:



        There were two big buses on the platform near the Palace of "Children's creativity". They were marked "Caution children." At first, it seemed to me that we are at some bus station, but then, for some reason I was introduced to the market! Only in this "market" was conducted not trade, and the transfer of children in the hands of responsible people: they stood with signs on which there were numbers and letters, they denoted the group numbers, and the letter denoted the age category. There was such a fuss that the first time to make out what — what, it was impossible. But then, the whole crowd, to my surprise, somehow organized, only some guys, and especially girls, had tears streaming down her cheeks. I stood with the group at number 4. I Looked at my mother, she stood a few steps in front of me, and smiled; there were someone's parents next to her, some mothers had barely noticeable tears, but they did not cry, but as if they were happy - apparently they were worried about their children, and at the same time, felt joy for them - because they had an unforgettable vacation, and a month of independent life.

         Sounded team to take buses, all the children dutifully turned to the bus and accompanying adults shuffled to the front door. I was getting annoyed that some kids were pushing and acting like a bunch of rams; their bags and suitcases were clinging to other kids ' clothes, or pushing someone away with their Packed backpacks. The attendant, seeing the children clumsily get on the bus, began to say: "So the children... children... careful, no pushing... pass... pass... no pushing!!!".

         I found an empty seat near the window and sat on the soft seat, my backpack at my feet. I looked through the window at my mother, many parents had already said goodbye and sent kisses - we waved goodbye to each other for a long time, my mother had a happy smile on her face.

I felt someone sitting next to me — it was a boy, he looked at me and said:

-Hi! Is it okay if I sit here?



— Nothing... sit down!



— My name is Sergey!  -the boy introduced himself.



— Arseny!



         Then the boy was waving to his parents through the window, I order not to disturb him, clung to the back of the chair.

         The doors closed, and the attendant asked loudly:



— Are the kids all seated?



         When she was convinced that everything is in place, then gave the command to the driver to go. The bus started moving, it was so quietly and smoothly that I felt a pleasant sensation. There were signals of the police car, she went ahead of us for maintenance. Well, here we are on our way.



        My first feelings in the bus were like a void in my soul, but they quickly disappeared, because I was surrounded by a full bus of guys, and they were all in the exact same situation. I heard many people getting acquainted with each other, talking about something, asking: "who and where... where do you go?". In front of me sat a girl, and for some reason she was crying, but not much, I saw her wiping her tears, no one hurt her, I thought she just missed my mother!

           We left the city, and the bus began to pick up speed. I buried my face in the window, it was very interesting to watch the flickering pillars and trees, and the grass almost merged into one green strip, of course, if you look without moving your eyes, but the eyes were naughty — they themselves ran back and forth. When the bus passed over the bridges, it was very breathtaking – it seemed as if you fly like a bird over some river or over a deep ravine!

        I noticed how Sergei reached into his bag, he took out two magazines, it was two issues of children's magazine "Murzilka".

(The popular children's magazine "Murzilka" has been published since 1924 and is the leading children's magazine in the print press for children of different ages. In Soviet times, he made a huge contribution to educational activities, which was disproportionate to anything, and remains so to this day.)



— Want to see? — said Sergei, and handed me one magazine.



— Come on!



       I began to leaf through the magazine and look at the pictures, but I did not really like its content, or rather, I did not like to go into the details of the texts. Looking at Sergei, I realized that he did not particularly like to read. Then he suddenly asked me:



— And you... in what group you will be?



— Four "G" - I said.



 Me too!!! - he said happily.



       That's how we met Serega. In conversation he was plain but it had something mysterious, that aroused interest. During the short trip we learned a lot about each other. Yes, and the trip went quickly.



        Buses turned off the road, and on a dirt forest road we made our way quietly through the thicket of the forest. Suddenly we were faced with a huge gate and a small area. Above the gate was an arch with the inscription "Pioneer camp Mishutka." There was a huge forest around, the whole camp was immersed in the forest and it seemed that this is some kind of nature reserve, although in my life I have never seen with my own eyes such unique natural places, and so I had nothing to compare, but still, for some reason, the associations were just like that.

         Coming out of the bus, first of all, I felt an unusual smell of firs; somewhere in the depths of the picturesque forest colors, a woodpecker was tapping and its characteristic sound echoed throughout the forest space. Well, of course: the singing of birds; the rustle of tree branches in the wind; and the bright Sun piercing its rays through the trees blinded his eyes. I closed my eyes and felt an extraordinary happiness for a moment! "Well, you got up like a stump!" someone said discontentedly and pushed me away. Idyll eating enjoyment – a state of Nirvana stopped the nasty trick! Here "it" – the real-life unhappy, I thought, and this reality brought me back down to earth!

        The crowd began again, and the silence was broken by many children's voices and laughter. Only in a few minutes again children gathered in groups, lifting plates upwards with numbers and letters, and asked to approach closer to plates, so the crowd again itself was organized in groups.



        I do not remember all these details - I do not remember how we walked to the barracks, but we were waiting there, we were shown where we will sleep, relax, introduced to the pioneer. Of course, boys and girls were divided into separate wards. Showed wash-hand basins, changing rooms, lockers. They told us about the rules and the daily routine. Also, we were instructed to call his squad some Patriotic name and come up with a motto.



         We didn't know each other yet, and we didn't have much cohesion. Serega told me:



— Let's stick together! We don't know anyone here... We'll be friends with you!



— Come on! - I answered.



       Thus, our group broke into several small groups — clans. It then these groups broke up and formed new, were, so to speak defectors. I then realized that if someone swears to you in friendship, then you should not take this oath seriously, because true friendship is known, truly, only in trouble.

        The girls were given the task to creatively arrange a flower bed in front of the barracks. And in the evening, we went to the dining room, but not just wandered, who as he could, and marching in two rows, and even with a Patriotic song:



                Rise bonfires, blue night!

                We are pioneers — children of workers.

                The era of light years is coming.

                Pioneer's cry: "Always be ready! »



       The next day in the morning there was a solemn ruler on the occasion of the opening of the new season. The flag was solemnly raised to the beat of drums and sounds of pioneer horns. We were told that at the end of the shift, which will last a little less than a month, there will be a real Zarnitsa with the participation of the local military unit.

       One boy later said that he was at such an event last year, that he himself held a real weapon with his own hands and learned to disassemble a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

       Wow, this event I did not previously heard, and even had no idea, but I wanted to participate in it.

        The boy said that the main task is to find the hidden red flag first – and who will find the winner. On this record you can die or get wounded, well, of course not real: each participant lightning will have to be sewn by special shoulder straps that are appropriate for your group. One torn shoulder strap means wound, and two broken ring means that you're dead. For betrayal can shoot their own according to the law of war. In General, all as in a real war, but still pretend. Zarnitsa is carried out, as a rule, in the forest. Somewhere in the woods — in the conditional place of the hidden banner. All cards are issued with the designation of the conditional place and route, you need to calculate the correct route. During the route it is necessary to make marks on special checkpoints in conventional places. In General, it turns out a real March-throw, but we must also take into account the enemies — it's other units or guerrillas that can suddenly attack because of an ambush and disrupt the shoulder straps, and then, if you are considered conditionally killed, then you cannot continue to participate. If your unit at the checkpoints collect all the necessary marks, the last paragraph unit give the card, where the marked place with hidden flag. The task of the first to come and find the banner on the way to the sign are real soldiers who will shoot a real weapon, but blank cartridges. From the members of lightning requires: dexterity, endurance, speed and courage. The main thing – do not throw weapons, and this is a toy wooden machine, and do not be afraid of shots of machine-gun bursts of blank cartridges. The role of girls, as a rule, is to be a brave nurse, and if necessary, to help the wounded — to sew a torn shoulder strap.

          I this story the boys are really fascinated, and even at night I had a dream about summer lightning. That is certainly, I have not regretted that came to summer camp, I burned a great desire to try everything here, to discover something new, and be sure to participate on the summer lightning...

           Pioneer Vadim and Svetlana told us that after the lightning on the last night will be a collection of the camp at this pioneer campfire in the forest, it is an unforgettable sight, the fire will be so huge that its flame can reach ten meters high.

Well, in the meantime, the days went on without special events, it was even a little boring.

          I still could not get used to the daily routine: we were woken up at 07:00. He didn't really want to get up, but he was woken up as if the war had started, and someone still managed to get a little sleep, and even with such greed, as if these moments of sleep were the last in his life.

After lifting it was necessary to fill pastel and go to wash: it was the most disgusting minutes, this chaos reminded clumsy walking zombies who went back and forth as lost. From washbasins heard various screams or screeching — it someone-someone splashed cold water. Well, how about without mischief?! Serge I was also sprayed with water, it was unpleasant, but caused excitement, and I also wanted to frolic. So slowly melancholy turned into a real active water slaughter.

           After water treatments could be heard in the speakers: "Charging! Charging! Get ready for charging!".

On the lawn we were lined up in rows, and the pioneer leader conducted exercises with us. The fresh forest air was really invigorating, and sleep was taking off as a hand.

        At 08:00 there was a Breakfast, and, as usual, our group a marching step with a song went to a dining room. But in the dining room, after a patient organized step, all the children turned into tower dogs - as if hungry savages who had not eaten for a long time – attacked the food. The noise, which was standing at this time in the dining room, could be compared to an industrial giant chicken coop.

          I tried to behave as culturally as possible, but when you have from under the nose dragged a plate with a delicious dish and you have to choose something not quite edible, then you start to behave like everyone else, otherwise, you just stay hungry. As a rule, the tables are already set, but Breakfast is served different dishes: it can be boiled rice or pasta with a cutlet or scrambled eggs. There was porridge: Hercules or semolina. Compote, kefir, milk was also to choose from.

          Usually, after Breakfast, we went to improve our barracks and the surrounding area: wiped the dust, put things in order, cabinets and tables, washed the floors. On the street collected garbage and looked after beds where flowers and ornamental plants grew.

Then began the most fun and interesting games, most of the games were with the ball. The boys played football, and the girls played volleyball, but there were other games together, for example, bouncers.

        After lunch, the quiet hour began, and then everyone was doing their own thing, I liked to walk more.

       One day, Serge was walking through the woods, came to the border camp, there was a metal fence, but not high. Serge asked me to get over him and go out into the woods in search of adventure, but to me this idea seemed insane.



— You what... didn't hear what we were told? - I said. — All said that it is strictly forbidden to leave the territory of the pioneer camp!



- You're a coward! - he said.



— Not at all... I simply have no desire to walk in the deep forest! We've already gone too far... already here... I feel bad!!! - I said, looking around.



        From that moment on, I felt that Serega and I had some differences. It seemed to me that he's friends with me because he is no longer here with whom to be friends.



— Let's play partisans? — suddenly asked me Serge new venture.



— The two will somehow not interested! - I answered. — Here comes the lightning... you'll have enough of partisans.



        But Seryoga was restless, he jumped into the bushes and hid.



— Fire in the hole! - he shouted, and threw the stick. With him was, of course, interestingly... but then I shot him with a "machine gun" - picking up a snag, which lay nearby.



— I killed you! - I shouted.



      Seryoga fell.



      We heard voices of girls somewhere in the distance!



— Silently... - I said, and listened.



     Seryoga, too, listened, and even been happy about, and with somehow malice said:



— Let's sneak up and scare them.!



       I thought it was funny to scare girls, but I gave him another idea.:



— Let's just lay low and watch them, see what they're doing?!



— Come on!!! — exclaimed Sergei, almost jumping with joy. - Watch them!!! — with unusual excitement he said.



        (From the point of view of aesthetics and culture of behavior and the relationship between boys and girls — it does not look quite culturally and even a little vulgar, but the nature that created the boys, apparently, believes otherwise!)



         We crept as quietly as possible, almost crawling on the ground, we were hard to see, because we were hidden by a thick fern and thickets of forest. We crawled as close as possible, three girls squatting in a small clearing, which was very close to our barracks, doing something on three stumps. When I looked closely, I realized that they were playing Housewives: typing mushrooms, they cooked some dishes from them, one girl cut pieces from mushrooms with a stick, and the other cooked soup for fun. When we listened to their conversation, then barely restrained laughter, looking at them, we grinned. Suddenly the sting snapped wand, and the girls froze in fear.



- Someone's out there! - one of the girls said, they were looking in our direction, but they didn't see us.



         Suddenly one girl stood up to her full height, stretched out on tiptoe and peered into the thicket of the forest, on her face was a comic fear, it was impossible to keep the laughter, we laughed. It was obvious that her fear was replaced by surprise at the moment when her eyes focused directly on us.



- They're boys! - she cried out with obvious displeasure.



        We proudly came out of hiding, Sergei still laughed, and continued to make fun of them:



— Scared, silly girls? - he was laughing.



- You fools! — said the girl, who cut mushrooms.



- What do you want here? — continued dissatisfaction to tell the girl that we just laughed. — Go your way...



— Really, boys... we do not prevent you from playing your games! What are you doing here? — said the girl who was making fake soup.


      I do not remember well what happened at that moment, I do not remember all the details of this sudden meeting. But I remember clearly how this girl looked, who was sitting peacefully on her haunches and making a fake mushroom soup; I remember her turquoise dress with a gray tint, patterned flowers in red and white colors and a bright white collar. I remember the words she said to us, her voice was the voice of an angel, her light blue eyes the color of forget-me-nots, wavy blonde hair, all of this I remember. At some point I was confused and could not take my eyes off her for a long time.



      Seryoga was in his repertoire:



— What kind of mushrooms?



— None of your business! — said the girl with a wooden knife, which recently cut mushrooms, and covered his hand to Sergei could not see.



— Oh, I know its cheesecakes! "I know something about mushrooms," - he continued.



— Yes! And these? — the girl pointed to some mushrooms that lay on the ground near the stump.



- And this is boletus!



       Serge looked at me a sly glance, it's then I realized what that face meant that he wanted to pin on them. He went to the girl who was making the soup and said:



— You know... no need to cook these mushrooms! They can be eaten raw! That's why they're called cheesecakes!



— Really?! — mysteriously, with amazement, said the girl in a beautiful turquoise dress.



— Yes! — grinning, said Seryoga and looked at me.



     Apparently, he expected me to solidarity in this part — together to joke so over girls, but for some reason I felt no joy from it.



— If that's what you want, eat it yourself! - she said.



— Not... I don't like mushrooms very much! - joked Serge.



— A that, loosely? Or are you a coward? - she continued, — come on... show me you're not weak!



         Serega indignantly hesitated, but still dared to take the mushroom. He twisted it in his hand for a long time and looked at it disapprovingly. The girls were smiling.



— I don't really feel like it... No, I would certainly try... but...



— Also, me... hero! - the girl in the turquoise dress grinned.



        I saw Serge threw the mushroom. At this moment something clicked in my head and I was drawn to heroism, I did not even realize the degree of danger from the eaten raw mushroom. I went to the stump, where the girl had recently cooked soup, squatted down in front of her, took the mushroom and said:



— I can eat! and nothing will happen to me!



        From was nobody waiting for me that I seriously intend to eat a mushroom, but I could not be stopped. I brought it to my mouth and tasted it on my tongue, felt a burning sensation. Everyone froze in amazement. The girl I couldn't take her eyes off looked at me like I was crazy. (And, really, in that moment, I didn't distinguish heroism from stupidity). I was ready to chew it, but...



— Stop! — she cried in the same moment when I was going to put in the mouth of the unfortunate lady. The girl grabbed my hand, - don't eat!  -she sounded frightened.



        At the same moment I felt her little hand, her fingers gently squeezing my wrist. I have never experienced anything like this, for me these feelings were new. So close! I looked at every eyelash on her eyelids, every hair on her thin eyebrows; it took me a few seconds to remember every detail of her unearthly beauty. Our eyes met, and I saw her pupils, and every color of the patterns of the iris – it was space, I felt a shiver all over my body!

       I pulled the mushroom out of my mouth, my heart racing with unnatural speed. The girl let go of my hand, and said awkwardly:



— You what... You are an idiot! You what? really... eat?



— Yes! - I replied in the affirmative.



— What fools you are, boys!!! - she stood up and threw all the mushrooms away and looked at me for a long time... and then suddenly told, — and I know, as you name is!



— How?! - I asked in surprise.



— Arseny! - she said, embarrassed, and at the same time she and the girls ran off towards the barracks.



       Serge stared after them in astonishment said:



— So, they're in our group!



         After dinner, we usually went to our rooms to prepare for bed. We had a little more than two hours before lights out, and we played various games. Usually girls and boys did not bother each other, but there were moments when we visited each other on a visit. Often these adventures were always accompanied by noise and mess, strutting and screaming, all the pioneer leaders attempt to pacify us was in vain, the mischief prevailed and it drove us like crazy even more. Almost every evening there were fights on the pillows, the dust was a pillar, sometimes such pogroms were accompanied by songs, of course, comic. Here is a fragment of a remade song "Chase" from the movie "New adventures of the elusive Avengers»:



              ...The counselor comes in — the pillow flies,

                The second is the leader lies.

                And we have no rest, night or day...

                On beds, on beds, on beds

                Director with belt...



        But this evening was different, rather romantic! I don't remember who exactly suggested the idea of texting with girls, but it seemed to me, it was like a kind of "mass madness" - aroused in many interests similar to passions. All as usual began to write notes with different contents mainly on the topic: "Declarations of love!". But the girls did not hide their ardent interest in this topic; if not to say more — this hobby amused them more than us — as if it meant more to them than just entertainment! (That kind of stuff and reveal the essence of the attitude of boys and girls; their perception and the design of human nature. In childhood, these things do not pay attention. But perhaps only the boys are not inclined to a serious attitude to life, to its essence; on the mind only mischief, pranks, mischief, but the girls seem to think from birth about the family, about comfort, that they are future mothers! But for me, questions about the meaning of life often ask what the boys…)

        So, the evening was, of course, one of the most rewarding experiences; all of a sudden was fascinated by the writings amid giggles, shouts of advice of what to write. The whole situation was filled with some unnatural vanity. The trick was that the author of the note came up with a pseudonym and did not disclose his real name: if you get a note from his secret admirer or admirer, you will long puzzle over who is hiding under this fictional name. This gives the advantage that a person in love can reveal his Frank feelings without fear that he will be revealed, even if the note is publicly read. But there were those who still wrote his real name.

          As a rule, stand on our side were messengers who ran from house to house passing the so-called mail. Notes folded into a triangle and wrote on the outside of the recipient's name, if the letter was a response, and the author's name is unknown, then wrote his alias.

         To reveal your feelings in the eye is not so easy, correspondence was given the opportunity to openly confess his love and write anything.

        The content of our notes could envy even the most passionate lover-romantic.

         Sometimes, and so that some came notes from several fans or groupies, but there were those who remained unanswered.

         When you receive a note from a fan, and there you see a Declaration of love, then there are extraordinary feelings! You feel that someone likes you, that you care about you, that there is someone who thinks about you! And, of course, the question arises, and who is hiding behind these confessions?

         At that moment, when everyone was writing notes in the bustle, I was lying on the bed and thinking about something of my own, Serega ran up to me and asked:


— Will you write to someone?



- I am... I'm not in the mood...



          I said that because I thought the idea was crazy, and in my heart I was burning with a great desire to get acquainted with the girl who had sunk into my soul; in my eyes there was her image: a shining dress, her angelic voice. But the problem is, I didn't know her name!



— I learned the name of those girls, which we were watching you in the woods! — Seryoga happily told me.



— Not believe!!!



— En... Yes!!! — he boasted, - Tanya, Vera, Ksenia!



— And the one in the turquoise dress?



- Her? Tanya! you fell in love with her?



      I nodded my head in response.



— I liked her, too! — said Sergey. — What the two of us write it? - he asked.



- Write to her... let's see what she says!



— Îê... if she doesn't like me... you'll write to her later!



— Okay, that's settled!



       Serge sat on the bed and took a long up his love letter. The last words in his note he said aloud: "...I love you! until his death!".



— It's scary even think, that you there wrote! - I was surprised.



- Nothing much... he wrote that he was in love with her voice, her divine beauty! — Serega shared with me the content of the note.



— You're just a romantic! - I said. — Did you also notice that she has a nice voice?!



— Yes... — Seryoga nodded to me in reply.



         Strange, but at that moment I felt no jealousy or envy, I was even wondering what she will answer him. I looked around and, in the bustle, saw how all the boys were fascinated by the notes; someone had already read the notes from the girls and even laughed — all this turned into a kind of courage and fun entertainment. For a moment I thought the whole room was writing to Tanya! What a girl! - there were in my head similar images and thoughts.

       Serge sent a note, and we waited impatiently for the answer. But the answer did not come for a long time.



— Imagine, — I said, — this Tanya was covered with notes! She just doesn't know what to do with them!



       Serge was a bit annoyed. After a while, a "messenger" came up to us and held out his hand with a neatly folded note in a triangle. "Finally, the answer!"-Seryoga cried out. But the postman boy said:



- Arseny, this is for you!



        My heart flinched and began to beat like a madman, I took the note and saw my name written in a beautiful and neat handwriting. I looked at Seryoga, he was extremely surprised:



— Do you have a fan?! - he said enthusiastically.

       

        I squeezed the note in my hand, so much so that I almost crumpled it, I did not want to open it immediately and read it, I also did not want prying eyes.



— Oh, come on... let's see! — Seryoga spoke with passion, burning with impatience.



- Sorry, buddy... but it's personal.



        I lay down on the bed, and carefully unfolded the note: laconic, but meaningful... these words aroused in me exciting feelings and great curiosity. Never before in my life have I received letters from girls; it was impossible to describe it all — it was the first time – the first relationship with the girls, the first feelings, the first experiences!

   

         Contents of the note:



        "Hello! I noticed you on the bus, — wrote a strange girl, — I liked you at once! I looked at you the whole way... everyone was trying to understand what you were thinking then! I am a modest but sociable girl, but I will never be the first to meet. I hope you like it, so you have to find me and guess who's texting you? Tell me about yourself? What is your zodiac sign? What do you like about girls? Write. I "Virgo" — this is my zodiac sign!".



          At this moment Seryoga ran up to me, and importunately tried to find out:



— Well, what? Who writes?



— Sereg, you got me already! I don't know who wrote it?



         In me played out real feelings, and I curled up in tangle like a hedgehog, and tried to turn away to the wall to no one to see, but above all, - from annoying Seryoga. With some pleasure I squeezed the note in my hand as a talisman, as the dearest to my heart and pressed it to my chest. At this moment, the old world ceased to exist for me, there was a divine light in my soul, there was a new and most valuable meaning in my life!



— Well, what did they write you? - he continued to ask stubbornly, almost jumping on top of me to clearly snatch the letter.



— Well, I told you it was personal! Leave me alone! - I said with some anger.



— Well, you don't want to tell! — resentfully said Serge, and walked away.



       Who could it be? I immediately began to analyze the content of the letter: she was riding with me on the bus! She looked at me all the way! I was puzzled, but I do mind not come, — its sign of the zodiac "Virgo" — means the birthday of her summer!

      

       I tore a piece of paper from my notebook and took a pen, and began to write her answer:



       «Hi...»



        I couldn't write any more. I didn't even know how to start the letter? Surprisingly, it was not so easy to write a letter! I've been thinking what to write, lay on the bed and stared at the ceiling, but your thoughts did not come. Then there was an Epiphany and I started writing:



       "My zodiac sign "Scorpio", in girls I like beauty, in our group there is such, and probably, I am in love with it! And now I would like to know who writes to me?!»



         I folded the note into a triangle and wrote, "Virgo," handed the note to the messenger, and waited impatiently for an answer.

          The answer came immediately — the waiting lasted, I thought, forever. When I picked up another note, I felt a real thrill. I quit on the bed again and was eagerly unwrapping it:



        "I'm surprised you're in love with someone! Her name? If you do, I'll write my name!".

Answer:



       "No, first you write: what's your name?".



         Then I thought, I couldn't concentrate. I had to start a conversation somehow, or somehow get her to open up, and I decided to go for the trick:



       "Describe yourself: what is your hair, what color is it, what color are your eyes?".



        I re-folded the piece of paper with a triangle, and wrote her nickname, but decided not easy to give a leaflet to the messenger boy and talk to him:



— Look, do you know what kind of girl passes a note like this? - I showed him a note in her handwriting. - What does she look like?



— No, I can't tell you!



— Why?



— They won't let me in... in addition, they give notes immediately bunch, and gives me their same girl as me!



— The postman girl or something?! - I was surprised.



- You're the postman! - the boy snapped. — Want... you go and find out who writes to you!



— Okay, give me my note.



        I took the note and went to the girls ' room, my legs were like buckled, I kept saying to myself: "What am I doing... what am I doing?" I went to the door, but I didn't have the courage to open the door, but then I took a deep breath. "Ah, was — not was!" I said to myself, and opened the door. Immediately the girls screamed, I immediately closed the door back: "God, what am I doing?!"I hammered into my head again. I was ashamed. Suddenly, the door suddenly opened, and I saw a surprised face of a girl, she from surprise, then angrily said:



— What are you doing here? I ask???



- I do not know? 



        He showed her the note.



— Come here, — she snatched it out and closed the door.



       For me it was very unexpected, I did not even really understand anything...

       Then the door opened again, and the same girl handed me a stack of notes, and said,:



— Hold the letter and give it to your...



    In this way I could not find out who was writing to me.



    I handed out notes and saw that Seryoga lies on the bed and is sad. I approached him with a guilty face and asked him:



— What, Tanya never answered?



— No.  Who writes you? - he muttered.



- Just trying to find out...



- What did they write you? Show me!



— Nothing special, like, I saw you on the bus... zodiac sign her "Virgo!".



- That's it?



- That's it!



— She was born in August!



— Listen, write Tanya again, maybe she didn't get it your mail!



- You think?



— Well, it's not a torture!!!



     Serge a little happier — he had hoped that Tanya still answered him. And I've been waiting for a response from a mysterious "virgin" and minutes count down like a clock.



       And now, the long-awaited answer came:



       "I'm a brunette, brown eyes, figure is not very — a little chubby. My name is Zoe! Now you have to say, who are you in love with?".



        These lines I was stunned! In fact, I practically didn't know anyone of the girls... still trying to figure out who Zoe was?



       Suddenly Serega ran up to me and immediately said:



— Look what she said to me!!!



— What?

      

       He was nervously holding a crumpled piece of paper in his hand and shaking it, as if his life was over...



— I'm not her type!!! - he said irritably. - You know what I thought??? I think she's texting you!!! - there was a pause, his eyes bloodshot. — You, yes? – he repeated, but with some hatred.



— Not at all!!! What's wrong? here, look what she writes to me: "I am a brunette, brown eyes... and her name is Zoya! Besides, she's fat!



        The heat of the earrings had disappeared, vanished and curiosity, just disappeared and my interest in the conversation.

         But just before lights out I received another note, I was very surprised, and even more surprised that it was signed not Zoe, and still "Virgin"! I was not in a hurry to read the note, and noticed that Serega communicates with another company, I noticed how he looked at me suspiciously, together with him looked at me and the other boys from the gang. I didn't like it very much. I went to bed already to sleep, and before going to bed decided to read the note from mysterious "virgin»:



       "Why not write? You didn't keep your promise! He didn't say who he was in love with! And when I close my eyes... I see your eyes! I guess I'm in love too! Goodnight!".



        I folded the notes and put them in the nightstand. Then he turned to the wall, tossing and turning, and tried to fall asleep. I haunted, I was wondering how do I make this all digest? And how does she know what my eyes are? And in these reflections, I unconsciously fell asleep…



       The next day: Wake up, Breakfast... nothing out of the ordinary, except that notes disappeared from my nightstand. "What's that?!"— I grumbled. That not only thought but never been able to suspect, the only thing that was strange is that Serge with me today didn't even talk. I went outside and then headed towards the basketball court, I knew most of the guys were playing there.



        Passing, as if casually, by the playing children, I noticed among them the friend, Serega saw me too, but didn't approach, and told nothing — as if I in General ceased to exist for it. Of course, I felt a bad feeling somewhere deep in his soul, something like jealousy, but was completely indifferent to it so to say "betrayal". I did not think it was a monstrous act on his part, but at least come, explain, say: "they say, so and so..."could I?!


      I decided to take a walk alone and reflect, maybe I lost a friend? But was he my friend?

      At this time, I was approached by some little girl and asks:



- Boy, there're a few who are interested!



— Who?  I ask in surprise.



— They ask: "why didn't you answer the letter?".



        Girl apparently was shy and ran further, I not immediately understood, that this was, but, though it following, I here same understood, that this girl knows, who wrote me! I caught up with her, and with obvious curiosity I tried to find out from her:



— Stand... what girl asked you to say that?



— None!  she replied sarcastically.



— How? — I looked at her and "clapping" eyes, understanding nothing, — that you wrote to me?



— What are you doing? I'm not even in your group!!! Why are you so attached to me? Figure it out...



— Listen... what does she look like?



— Ah! She said if you ask me, I should tell you her name is Zoe!



— Clearly.



        After that strange conversation I decided to go to the pioneer and to find out about Zoe. This intrigue drove me out of balance, introduced me stop, made me some new to me ideas.



— Svetlana, — I asked the older woman pioneer, — in our group there's a girl Zoe?



— This is the name girls we have!  she said, surprised.  Why?



— I've heard that there is! Chubby one...



— No... no... chubby we only Julia! What kind of boys are you?! You've been at camp for over a week, and you haven't met the girls!



       I just shrugged...



         I decided to spend time on the Playground near our barracks on the swings, to move away, so to speak, from the thoughts that tugged at my head.

        Swinging on a swing, I saw how nearby, three girls approached the Playground — they were old friends, among them was Tanya. Their approach made my insides pound. They stood nearby and whispered about something, periodically looking at me. And suddenly it hit me, what if it's still dark here, Tanya?!

       I noticed how the swings are suitable guys, and Serge. I heard an unpleasant laugh, rather it was ominous. I heard them talking about something, discussing something, but I couldn't make out what it was.



- Hey, Romeo! - I thought.



        This appeal was clearly me... I stopped rocking and looked in their direction. This circumstance was unusual to me, and caused me anxiety, and doubt, and obvious distrust. It was like a gang meeting.



         Serge showed disrespect and disgusting behavior, singing deliberately humiliating me, but rather, this was not a song, but an attempt to embarrass me in front of the girls: "tili-Tili dough, the groom and the bride..."he did it demonstratively in front of Tanya and me, thus playing in public.

         And, this I heard from Sergei! Who just recently was my friend! I trusted him... I couldn't believe people could do that.



— Well, what? That you're not going to your lover? - asked, mocking, Serge, nodding his head towards Tanya.



       From guys periodic ally’s idiotic giggling.



— Are you talking about? - I asked in confusion.



— I don't know that you're in love with Tanya! — he said it so that everyone could hear.



         From the girls, and especially from Tanya could hear some dissatisfaction, she stood with the girls on the sidelines, but listened carefully, and seem to have been shocked.



- Or I don't know what you wrote to each other?! - he went on.



— How do you know I corresponded with her?



— I knows! - he said firmly.



— Yes, it almost all the boys were texting! — suddenly said one of boys.



— What makes you think she wrote to me? — again I continued to ask Seryoga.



— We'll check it out now! — he said and took out the notes - listen carefully! — and began to read loudly, so that heard Tanya — "... I noticed you on the bus, I liked you right away! I looked at you the whole way... everyone was trying to understand what you were thinking then! I am a modest but sociable girl, but I will never be the first to meet. I hope you like it, so you have to find me and guess who's texting you? Tell me about yourself? What is your zodiac sign? What do you like about girls? Write. I "Virgo" — this is my zodiac sign!".



         Reading the note, Sergei turned into a parody, listened to the ridiculous notes, everything began to boil in me, and for the first time I felt feelings of hatred.



- "Answer!" - he continued, — there's a girl in our group, E... I... in love with her!!!" - sarcastically stressed it, - Tanya! That is, you... - he shouted with a substitute for pride.



         Funny Sergei and his laugh were the most stupid, his antics caused me incredible anger. Tanya, I have already seen peripheral vision, and heard the distant phrases like: "Assholes!". She was leaving, I thought, so as not to embarrass herself. And I freaked out.

        In my head there was only one phrase: "Bastard!", and this so say, "pig", continued smirk:



— Wait, there are more answers... – shouted the sting in the trail.



         I didn't even realize how I'd lashed out at him with my fists, and a moment later we fell to the ground. But the guys who surrounded us, as if it amused them - caused some inhuman excitement…



         We were separated by a man who ran up shouting: "What are you doing?".

         Taking me and Seryoga by the scruff of the neck like puppies. The cries came running pioneer. We were taken to a room where a serious conversation took place.



        I remember how I was choking with lack of air, how my hands were shaking, I could not calm down. I thought it was unnatural, as the fight lasted only a few seconds, but the strength quickly dried up. Looking at Sergei, this guy I have not seen, but maybe it was just a dream, because during the conversation I observed his voice trembling and inconsistency in the speech.



— What are you doing? Do you know what it's called? — Svetlana spoke as if a thundercloud hanging over us. — If the Director of the pioneer camp finds out about it, then you will not be good, your parents will be informed, expelled from the group and sent home, I think — it will not be sweet! Who started the fight first?

 — Suddenly said Sergei, — he attacked me with his fists!



- Is that true? - she asked me.



       I felt guilty, and I couldn't say anything.



— Well, what do you say? - she continued to ask me in a stern voice. — Do you know what kind of fight you can put on the account in a children's room the police!



— Well, all right, Svetlana Mikhailovna, you're too bent! — begun conversation Vadim. — I'm sure they fought over the girls! I saw three girls hurrying away from the Playground just before the fight.



         Svetlana Mikhailovna walked up and down the ward, obviously nervous, and then suddenly said:



— As far as I know, you are friends with Seryozha? Is that what you do to your friends?



       Once again, I had nothing to say, just looked at Vadim, and he looked us in the eye; looked at the guy who broke us up, and he stood aside and silently watched. Svetlana Mikhailovna was waiting for a clear answer and explanation from me.



— Sergei, - began suddenly Vadim, - can you still go outside? We'll talk to Arseny.



      Sergei's out.



- What do you say? — continued Vadim. — You have to be responsible for your actions...



— He stole my notes! - I said.



- What notes? — continued to ask Vadim.



— Last night we had correspondence with the girls...



— Ah! I know... was, such... — said Vadim.



— These notes are very personal to me! And today he got all humiliated, he read them, laughing before all.



         Vadim, having heard this, shook his head. Svetlana Mikhailovna was indignant and went to call Sergei.



— Seryozha, — he went in house, — Arseny says, that you stole have him notes? — she asked him in a stern voice, — is it true?



- I didn't steal it, I took it! They were on the nightstand... - he excused himself.



— They were in the nightstand — in the drawer! - I was indignant.



— What right did you have to take someone else's thing?! — a stern voice, indignant, asked Svetlana, Sergei. — This is an outrageous act; the notes may have a personal content and to disclose very personal information to the heinous act, obscene and treacherous to your friend! Why did you do that? Were you jealous? You know that such an act is excluded from the pioneers!



       Sergey guiltily lowered his head, and mumbled:



— I took them to compare the handwriting. I didn't want to read them... I wanted them back... I don't know why I did it...

        The guy, having heard all of this, suddenly said:



— Well, all right, enough with the Comedy, who does not happen. They're children after all...



— Alexander Petrovich, they have to understand what is good and what is bad! And be responsible for your actions!



— I think they've figured it out. They're good boys, you know... themselves in childhood were the same.



— So... Sergey, — said the counselor, — bring notes Arseny. — Svetlana then turned to Alexander, you know that fighting is unacceptable in pioneer camps! Do you have any idea what will happen if it comes to the Director?

— The Director won't get it! And with Arseniy, I speak, — assured Alexander.



       Alexander Petrovich was in charge of the economic part of the pioneer camp. The guy he was cool, judicious and an interesting. He was attractive in his appearance, cheerful, joking - his face aroused confidence in him, and a neat mustache emphasized the typical male appearance and attractiveness. It was a great pleasure to talk to him!

         After this shake-up we walked with him along the alley leading to the pond, which was located on the territory of the pioneer camp. What did he tell me then? His words carried what I thought was mysterious wisdom.:



— Here you are, Arseny, for the first time felt what it was like the betrayal of a loved one!



— So, what is he close to me?! I barely know him!



- And, all the same... from what you've told me, you know him well enough. You slept together in the same room, went to the dining room together, learned a lot about each other, kept together in an unfamiliar environment...



— Yeah... so it is! But why would he do that?



— Most likely — jealousy! Perhaps, he too, to some extent, experienced some betrayal!



— Betrayal?! But I didn't betray him!



- So, it is... but according to him — he took your notes to compare your handwriting, and when he found out that you were secretly texting Tanya, without knowing it, he became a victim of his own envy and jealousy. Believe me, children your age often do rash and short-sighted things! This is typical of all children! Even anger, which arises spontaneously, suddenly — from resentment or injustice, is also inherent in human nature! But what makes us human is the power of wisdom, restraint and forgiveness!



         These words, I absorbed in themselves on entire his life, as the most valuable advice, as great wisdom. I wanted to know a lot in this life, I did not let him go, all asked and asked. I needed him, he seemed to know all the answers to all the questions. In part, perhaps, I lacked male companionship, lacked a father.



- And trust me, — he continued — in a beautiful woman a lot of treachery, ingratitude, greed! Beauty in a woman is not the most important thing... in General, when you grow up — you will understand! Although... come on... in General, I see, you're a smart guy, and so you understand everything, well, if you doubt, then listen to your heart, it will not deceive you! Importantly do not Harbor resentment and anger in your heart.  he spoke like a prophet, stroking my head. Then he offered me an interesting pastime, listen, do you want with me tomorrow to go fishing? Have you ever been fishing?



— No, I've never been! Can I?



— Of course, only a real fisherman gets up so early — a little light at dawn! If you find the strength to Wake up early, be sure to take a fishing trip!



— I really want to go fishing! Wake me up early, please!



— All right! I'll drip worms tonight, come teach you the craft of fishing!



       Alexander Petrovich told where the farm pioneer camp, as he told me that they live on the territory of animals: dogs, horses, cows, geese, there is even a pig and rabbits. I was very happy about all this, as I had never seen a horse, pigs, or rabbits. Just Alexander promised me that I can at any time come to him and help with the housework.

      I had a new desire to meet something new for me.

       Ahead, I was waiting for new Hobbies and adventures, but that's another story.

To be continued.

PS:
Please do not judge me strictly for inaccurate translation. I am Russian – and I know very little English. I really want to discuss various topics together, to communicate, and if You have the opportunity to correct my texts, I will be very grateful to You! You can send me letters by mail:

allexx-75@mail.ry
https://vk.com/id84397189

Thanks for participating!