MASHA
Morning came very quickly. Valentina, who only a few hours ago experienced a long and difficult birth, could not understand who was screaming so angrily. Valya tried to plug her ears, burrow deeper under the covers, cover herself with a pillow, but it was all to no avail. A thin, rattling voice, like a drill, bit into the very depths of the brain. Valya tried to get up and immediately collapsed onto the bed. The body and head ached unbearably. It took Valentina at least five minutes to figure out what was what. She remembered that she was in a maternity hospital, and in the cradle, or whatever they call a crib, her newborn daughter was lying. Her daughter! Valentina nevertheless gathered her strength and sat up on the bed to look at the girl.
The result did not please her. No, she did not feel hatred for the girl, but she did not develop much love either. Valya attended all the Future Mother courses from beginning to end, and she understood that if you don’t give the baby a breast, then these cries will never stop. Putting the baby to her chest, Valya waited with bated breath that right now, this very minute, she would suddenly have maternal feelings, and boundless love for the little girl would flare up. Tears still hung in the eyes of the crumbs. The baby smacked and, between greedy sips, sobbed. Finally, the little one ate and fell asleep. However, Valentina was in no hurry to put her back in the crib.
The girl was asleep, and her cries were still ringing in Valentina's ears. There was a feeling of fatigue and irritation. I wanted to fall asleep for a long, long time and not think about the future. She also wanted to cry. And Valya howled, mourning her failed family life, failed motherhood, and ruined youth. Valya was crying and could not stop. The baby woke up and cried too. Valentina threw the baby into the crib and stretched out on the bed. Tears flowed like a river, sobs shook my body and I really wanted the events of the last nine months to turn out to be a dream, only a dream. The baby was tearing herself up in the crib, but Valya was not up to her. Finally, the double orb reached the ears of the doctor, whose post was not far from the ward where Valechka lay.
The girl was calmed down quickly enough, the doctor had to tinker with her mother. Finally, silence fell in the ward, and mother and daughter fell asleep. Days passed, the time for discharge was approaching, and Valya still did not know what to do with the little girl, whom everyone around would now call her daughter. She could not return home with the child. The mother and father warned that they would not let her even on the threshold with the child. Valentina herself can return and live as if nothing had happened, since she had her own room, but there is no place in the apartment for a child. Nikita, her boyfriend, left two days before the birth, slamming the door and Valentina had no particular desire to return him back. However, the rental period for the apartment that Nikita and Valentina rented together ended in five days, and Valechka had no money to extend the lease.
With one day left until discharge, Valentina began to think about writing a child abandonment application when an unexpected event occurred. Her cousin Maria called her on a cell phone and offered Valentina to live with the baby for the first time in her apartment. I met Valentina with a girl, too, Maria. She also took care of things for the baby and gifts for the medical staff.
The first two weeks seemed like hell to Valechka. The baby screamed non-stop day and night, the nurse, who came several times, said that it was just colic and it would soon pass. You have to be patient for three to six months. It’s easy for her to say, she came and went, and she, Valechka, can’t get away from the screaming, red lump. Valentine lasted another two weeks. One morning, Masha discovered that the time for feeding the girl had long passed, and Valya still did not want to wake up. Masha was a delicate girl, but, however, when the crumbs' voice began to wheeze, she could not stand it and burst into the room. Valentina was not in the room. The bed was neatly made, and there was a note on the pillow.
"I can not anymore. I return to my parents. You can donate it to an orphanage or take it for yourself. If you decide to keep it for yourself, call me, I will draw up all the documents. Don't you dare persuade me. I have made the final decision. Your sister Valentina.
What Mashenka felt after reading Valentina's note, we will never know. Mashenka was a conscientious and sentimental girl, but what Valentina did now simply killed Maria's all faith in people. However, she could not remain indignant for long. The child began to cry more and more. Fortunately for Masha, there was still a jar of complementary foods left in the house, which she bought on the advice of the same nurse. The nurse was an old and experienced woman and suspected that the child was screaming not only because of colic, most likely, the girl simply did not have enough food. Valentina's milk left the baby hungry.
After reassuring the girl, Masha re-read the note again. Only now did she begin to understand what had happened. Until that day, Masha would la with Vali on the roles of “bring it, please!”, “Give it, please!”. Masha washed, ironed, bought mixtures and diapers, but she still didn’t see the baby as such. Now she had plenty of time to admire the baby.
However, with regard to time, Masha was a little mistaken. She didn't have much time left. Half an hour later, she had to leave the house, so as not to be late for work. Sitting on the edge of the bed where Valentina had been sleeping for the last few days, Masha read the note again. She tried to understand what Valentina was really thinking when she wrote this scribble. But the note was not going to reveal its secrets. Or maybe there were no secrets in this note, it was just heartlessness, selfishness and selfishness, all those qualities that crawled to the surface as soon as the spoiled girl Valya got into a difficult situation. No, Masha did not condemn her cousin, she just had no time for that now. The confused girl tried to find a way out of the situation into which her sister Valentina had dragged her.
Suppose she, Masha, agrees with the boss, and he will allow her not to come today, but to do all the work at home. Let's say. And how will she explain to friends and colleagues the appearance of a child? No, it's just not possible. You need to call Valentina, let her take the girl to the orphanage herself. It is necessary ... But this is simply impossible, the baby will die in the orphanage! Wow, how many stories are told! What if the Americans adopt her? What if she dies there?
The little one woke up. Mashenka had just had time to ask for leave from her boss, when the day rushed by at breakneck speed. Maria came to her senses only late at night. Her arms and legs were buzzing, but Mashenka suddenly caught herself smiling! And Masha came up with a name for the baby. She named the baby Katenka! Fumbling with the baby, Masha suddenly noticed that the girl looked like her late mother. At first Mashenka thought that it only seemed to her, but when she took out a family album with photographs of her mother in the evening, she was convinced of her observation. Looking at her mother's childhood photographs, Masha burst into tears several times, then scolded herself for inappropriate sentimentality, then ran several times to the bed to compare the sleeping baby with the photographs of her mother, until she guessed to bring the entire album into the room, which was now to become a nursery. Maria's mother's name was Katerina, she died a few years ago from a heart attack.
A month later, Masha became the official mother of the baby. One day, when Katenka was already six months old, an unexpected guest came to Masha's house. Valentina decided to visit Katenka. However, not even an hour had passed before the guest was going home. It was like this: Masha, delighted with unexpected help, asked to change Katya's diaper and wash the baby while she, Maria, would cook porridge for the girl. Valentina was blown away by the wind.
The girl was registered in kindergarten when she was one and a half years old. Masha would never part with her daughter, but the girl simply had no way out. There was no one to support Mary with the child. Before Masha suddenly became a mother, she had a young man, who, however, quickly disappeared in an unknown direction when he found out that his girlfriend had adopted someone else's child.
However, the girl did not go to kindergarten for a long time. Less than a week later, the baby got sick. In the evening, having taken the girl after kindergarten, Masha fed her dinner and sat down for urgent work. Katenka was busy in the corner with toys. An hour later, Masha sensed something was wrong. It was too quiet. Katenka by nature was a cheerful and restless child. Everything in this world surprised and delighted her. When Katenka undertook to examine some thing, the ordinary and familiar appearance of the object suddenly acquired an unexpected meaning for her foster mother. Sometimes it seemed to Mary that everything her adopted daughter touched began to glow. Of course, it also happened that an object that ended up in the hands of a child later turned into shreds or fragments. However, this was rare.
Tonight, however, there was an unnatural silence in the room. Pushing the laptop aside, Maria turned to where Katenka usually liked to play with toys. The girl fell asleep right on the toy rug. At first, the girl thought that her daughter had lost her temper in the sun, which always generously flooded the room at sunset, but the sunlight did not reach the corner where Katenka liked to play. By the way, this was exactly the place where Masha used to play as a child, watching her mother, who wrote on a typewriter all day.
Masha had no experience in raising children, but she watched Katenka from her very birth. And not just watched, but took an active part in the life of this child, and she was very surprised that the girl fell asleep so early. Taking the little one in her arms, she carried her to the crib, and only then did she realize the full horror of what was happening. Katya has a fever! Her baby girl is sick!
Not knowing what to do, Masha woke Katenka. The baby was lethargic and capricious. It is not clear why Maria tried to feed her daughter. The girl threw up. Panic took over the girl more and more. Finally, somehow pulling himself together, Masha dog dared to call an ambulance.
The ambulance arrived very quickly, although for Masha the minutes of waiting seemed like hours. The ambulance doctor laughed at Masha when the girl scaredly asked if there was a salvation from the disease that Katenka fell ill with. Having written out the prescription, the doctor advised Maria to calm down and call the local doctor tomorrow. For him, a doctor who had seen a lot of sick children in his lifetime, Katerina's illness was called briefly: SARS. For Masha, it was the end of the world.
The pediatrician came in the morning. The baby had to be treated, and Mashenka had to take a sick leave. The girl's bosses were not very enthusiastic when Maria called and reported her daughter's illness, but Masha was a valuable worker and this time somehow everything worked out.
The next time came exactly a week later, after Masha took her daughter to kindergarten. Again there was a temperature, a doctor, and as a result, a mountain of vials with medicine on the table and a sick leave. And again, and again, and again. As soon as Mashenka treated her daughter and sent the girl to kindergarten, the child would definitely fall ill in a week or two.
Various complications began. The child has been ill with everything that can be ill. Ears and teeth ached, one time they barely managed to prevent pneumonia, another time it ended in pyelonephritis. Seeing the displeased face of the boss, Masha began to suspect that very soon her status would decrease, and she would smoothly move from the category of very valuable employees to the category of candidates for dismissal.
But there was no way out. There were no grandparents ready to help Maria. The only relatives that the girl had left were Valentina's parents and, of course, Valentina herself. Valentina's mother was Masha's own and only aunt. However, knowing the attitude of her uncle and aunt towards her granddaughter, Masha did not even try to ask for help, and by that time Valentina had left the city somewhere, and did not give any signals.
"Nanny, here's the solution!" - with this thought, Masha somehow woke up, who had not slept the day before until almost three in the morning. As soon as the decision was ripe, there was no trace of the feeling of lack of sleep. However, having approached her daughter's bed, Masha felt that her determination to give her girl into the hands of a strange woman was fading before her eyes. She received enough to be able to hire a nanny, but ... After going through several sites on the Internet, reading a mountain of information, the girl realized that she would never go this way. What did the nannies do with the little wards left in their care! And starved and beaten, and forced the children to beg! When Masha read about the case of sexual molestation of a child, this idea, without materializing, disappeared into thin air, leaving Masha nothing but disappointment.
The solution came unexpectedly. The house in which Mary lived was inhabited mainly by elderly people. The place where her house stood was never very popular with the townspeople. It was far from the center and shops. It took five stops to get to the nearest school, and it was even further to the kindergarten. In general, the house stood almost on the outskirts and was of no interest to businessmen, new Russians, and other people with big money. The elderly ladies inhabiting the entrance still remembered Masha's grandmother, who, like Masha's mother, died of a heart attack. Even a close friend of my grandmother's was still alive.
She then sounded the alarm when one day Masha, returning from the store, sat down on a bench to rest, and suddenly lost consciousness. Knowing the problems that Masha's grandmother and mother had, the grandmother sounded the alarm. Masha was brought back to consciousness and helped to reach the apartment. They called a doctor. The doctor calmed the elderly society gathered at the entrance and reported the diagnosis. It sounded like overwork.
Masha never hid from her neighbors that Katenka was not her own daughter, and that would have been impossible. Mary's entire childhood and youth passed before the eyes of these women, and it was impossible to hide anything from them. Yes, Masha did not try. She was just not up to it.
A friend of her late grandmother, let's call her Anastasia Ilyinichnaya, offered to leave Katenka with her, and since the good neighbor had three more friends who lived in this and neighboring entrances, a clear schedule was soon drawn up for Katenka. Monday was Anastasia Ilyinichna's day. Tuesday - Raisa Andreevna. On Wednesday Katenka was picked up by her grandmother Faina. Thursday belonged to the artist of the original genre Leopoldina Leopoldovna, and Friday ...
On Friday, you need to stop separately. On Friday Ivan Petrovich nursed Katenka. Mashenka fell into a stupor when it turned out that Ivan Petrovich did not want to lag behind his elderly girlfriends and also expressed a desire to contribute to the upbringing of his little neighbor. After thinking, Masha came to the decision that she had no right to offend Ivan Petrovich with a refusal, whom, by the way, she also knew from childhood, and what to dissemble, the girl still had no choice. Friday was the same working day as the others.
Of course, Masha understood that nothing happens just like that and tried to thank the compassionate neighbors as best she could. But the fact is that she could not very much about. All five refused to accept money. Masha shared her products with Anastasia Ilyinichnaya and Raisa Andreevna before. It cost her nothing to buy not two loaves of bread, as she used to do, but five.
But here another problem arose. Having bought five loaves of bread, five packages of milk, five bars of butter, five boxes of eggs, in general, everything that she always took, only five times more, Mashenka could not move the bag. I had to take a taxi, although it was only a few steps to the house.
In the end, this problem was also solved. At a general council, where, out of delicacy, Masha was not invited, it was decided that Masha could only buy groceries for the neighbor who was sitting with Katenka that day. Masha accepted this offer reluctantly. It still seemed to her that such help was negligible. And in order to calm her conscience, she suggested, in turn, on Saturdays, to do a general cleaning for all the old people in turn.
Someone was very happy about such help, someone categorically refused, but Masha's conscience was clear. She knew that the old men appreciated her proposal and, if necessary, they would definitely turn to her for help.
The five old men had a different financial situation. Of course, in some ways they were united, all five received a pension. But everyone knows that pension pensions are different.
Leopoldina Leopoldovna still worked, gave private lessons to students at home. Grandmother Faina sat at home with four grandchildren. Ivan Petrovich worked at night as a watchman. Anastasia Ilyinichna and Raisa Andreevna were midwives and worked in the maternity hospital until their retirement. Until now, they were happy to tell Masha how much her mother was born, and at what minute she screamed, Maria.
Masha did not immediately refuse kindergarten. For a while, she still held her seat. However, after a month had passed, she finally made up her mind. Katya was a wonderful child. She could, without attracting anyone's attention, fiddle with toys or draw all day long. Of course, in the beginning it wasn't all smooth sailing, Grandma Faina's grandchildren would break their favorite doll, Grandpa Ivan's doggie would tear up his favorite slippers while Katenka was sleeping at lunchtime, but basically everything was fine.
It was simply impossible not to love Katya. She was like a reflection of the neighbor she visited today. She learned to knit with her grandmother Faina. When Grandma Faina's grandchildren had their holidays over and the children went home, Grandma Faina knitted socks with Katenka and sang old Russian folk songs. Of course, one grandmother Faina knitted, and Katenka so far only confused the threads, but the little one very quickly learned the songs of the northern convicts and sang along with her grandmother Faya in a thin voice: “... and I was left alone with a horde of children ...”, “Whom did you leave me beloved? !
And Katenka was also very homely, her favorite pastime was to put the plates in their places, pick up suitable spoons for them, etc. The grandmothers paid a lot of attention to the education and upbringing of the girl. With one of the neighbors, Katyusha learned the alphabet and quickly learned to read. Another neighbor taught her how to draw, with the third, Katenka, she became a specialist in TV shows and soap operas.
The girl could, with the air of a connoisseur, tell her mother who returned from work how it happened that Ignacio kicked the pregnant Lucia out of the house, and twenty years later, his son Fernando, whom Lucia gave birth to while in exile, married Ignacio's daughter, whom he took from the orphanage . Mashenka was preparing dinner and nodded gravely when her daughter dwelt on particularly dramatic moments.
We love what we put our soul into.
Masha's neighbors had a lot of time, and they did not hesitate to invest their souls in raising the baby. With grandfather Ivan, the girl became an inveterate mechanic. When in the garage, on Sundays, grandfather Ivan began his endless repair of the Kopeika, which had not left the garage for a long time, Ivan Petrovich did not have a better assistant, or rather assistant, than Katyusha. Holding out his hand, grandfather Ivan was just about to ask for some detail, and the girl was already giving him the right key.
But especially Katyusha liked to come to visit Leopoldina Leopoldovna. As I already said, Leopoldina Leopoldovna was an artist in the past. She performed on stage in a rather rare genre, the genre of ventriloquism. She had an Alyonushka doll, which spoke on its own and made the audience very happy.
In ancient times, ventriloquism was equated with magic.
Women and men who knew the techniques of ventriloquism were even burned at the stake during the era of the Inquisition. However, there is nothing mysterious in the science of ventriloquism; scientifically, this art is called ventrology. From the side it always seems that the sound of a person who is engaged in ventriloquism comes from the stomach. Hence, in general, this name came from, because the womb is the stomach, and to broadcast means to speak. Talking with your stomach, that's what happens when you combine these words.
The little spectators in the hall were always firmly convinced that it was the Alyonushka doll that was talking to them, because the mouth of Leopoldina Leopoldovna, standing next to Alyonushka, was always closed.
Leopoldina Leopoldovna origin Odila from a famous family. Even before the revolution, her grandmother performed on stage with the same famous doll Alyonushka. The tradition was continued by Leopoldina's mother. Unfortunately, Leopoldina Leopoldovna herself had no children, and the traditions of the glorious family were soon to fade away.
At one time, Leopoldina Leopoldovna graduated from a theater school in order to have the right to perform on stage with her number. She even worked for a short time in the drama theater and once acted in films. But the main place of work of Leopoldina Leopoldovna was the Philharmonic. The woman worked there for almost forty years. From there, they took her to retirement.
Over the years of Leopoldina Leopoldovna's work, hundreds of children and adults watched her cheerful performances. From a past life, an elderly woman was left with only photographs of her performances, which she hung on the walls. There were especially many photographs in the living room, where Leopoldina Leopoldovna received students. She prepared students for admission to theater universities.
The training program included several subjects, such as: acting, stage movement, stage speech. One of the subsections of stage speech was just ventrology. To those students who were indignant and did not want to understand the complex profession of a ventriloquist, L.L. (as I will now call Leopoldina Leopoldovna), gave only a general idea of the subject. For those who had nothing against acquiring knowledge in full, L.L. told everything in detail. At these moments, the old actress flourished, and it became clear why the audience loved her so much. L. L. told everything in colors, and photographs were confirmation of her glorious acting past. LL often referred to the photo. On them, she was photographed both alone and surrounded by famous artists.
Who was not in these photos! And Yuri Nikulin, Andrey Mironov and many, many, many more artists! In his youth, L.L. there was a solo program where she, that is, L.L., spoke not only with the voice of Alyonushka's doll, but also with the voices of various animals that came to visit Alyonushka. And also she participated in combined concerts, where she met many famous artists. While L. L. was young and her strength allowed, she had many tours around the country.
When it came to retirement, the performances, on which the children fell in droves, began to be performed only within the walls of the Philharmonic. LL Katenka did not teach anything. When the lessons were going on, the girl quietly sat on a small painted chair, which once belonged to her grandmother L.L. Katya sat quietly on this chair for several hours and went about her business. Here she had her album, her box of pencils.
Books L. L. ordered not to bring. Still, because L.L. preserved books of the last century. These books belonged to her grandmother's grandmother. They were printed on strange paper, and the letters on them were almost invisible. However, the pictures in the books retained their brightness and fascinated with strange but attractive drawings, but not so much that the girl abandoned everything and missed at least one word from what L.L. explained.
Of course, from everything that the old artist explained, Katyusha understood about five percent. L.L.'s students were almost adults, graduates of senior classes from different schools in the city, and L.L. her lectures in adult language, but when it came to venereology or the art of ventriloquism, the girl inwardly collected herself and opened her eyes and ears, afraid to miss even a little bit of information. Doll Alena, who stood in a place of honor in the sideboard and other animal dolls, was never given to Katenka. She admired these old time-tested toys from afar.
Yes, she, in general, did not need them, because it was not about the dolls, but about the skill of the performer herself. It is not enough just to be a ventriloquist to make children and adults sit for an hour and a half at the performance without moving. Weeks passed after weeks, and Katenka slowly studied with the older students. All those exercises that L.L. asked her students as homework, Katyusha performed effortlessly at home.
Dolls, hares, dogs and cats - they all gradually found their voices. Six months later, the girl played real performances in front of the puppets, who agreed to be her spectators. As I already said, LL Katenka did not teach anything. The woman's task was to ensure that the child was full, that the child had a good lunchtime dream, and Katyusha and L.L. walked when the lesson ended and L.L. I went to escort the students to the exit from the yard. Sometimes the students and the teacher did not have enough time allotted for the lesson, and L.L. She continued to tell something even after she had already gone out into the street.
Days passed after days, and now the new year has come. Katya was almost three years old by this time. Maria, as the best worker, was awarded a ticket to the New Year tree, which was arranged by the regional administration. Entrance was upon presentation of a passport and an invitation card. First there was a performance. Katenka, sitting in her mother's arms, was all trembling when she went on stage Baba Yaga jumped out and did all sorts of nasty things to goodies. Then there was a matinee around the Christmas tree. After that, the children were given gifts, and it was possible to go home. However, at that moment, a group of television men ran into the hall. They were waiting for the governor, under whose patronage this Christmas tree was held. The artists were returned, parents were asked not to change their children's clothes.
The governor was late. In order to somehow pass the time and disguise the pause, interviews began with children and parents. Katya turned out to be the most prolific. She read a poem, as her grandmother Nastya taught. Then she sang a song, as her grandmother Faina taught. Then she made a few riddles to the TV people, to which she herself gave answers. All the old people took the baby's first matinee very seriously. Katya missed last year's matinee because she was sick.
They fought over the outfit for their beloved pupil, starting from mid-November, all together. Grandmother Nastya and grandmother Raya even quarreled. Grandmother Raisa wanted to buy a carnival costume in the store, and grandmother Nastya insisted that the costume should be sewn. By mid-December, they came to a common decision, and the baby went to the New Year's party in the costume of the snow queen. The costume was wonderful, and the girl was even more beautiful.
Time passed, the governor was about to appear, and the stubborn girl continued to harass the TV people with her creativity. The fact is that while collecting the collective granddaughter for the Christmas tree, the grandmothers gave Katya many orders. Katya was an obedient girl, and now she was trying her best to complete all the tasks that her grandparents had given her. As soon as the TV man listened to the rhyme about "... the bear got angry and kicked it!" and tried to turn off the camera, in the hall where the New Year's party was held, there was a bursting bark.
A commotion began, the administration rushed to look for the dog, but the barking was immediately replaced by a loud “Crow!”. The adults were dumbfounded. And the orgy of sounds continued. The sound score included the neighing of a horse, the cooing of pigeons, the squeal of a piglet. And it all ended with the meow of a kitten. Luckily, there was no administration, no governor. Turned on the music. Masha turned to Katenka and heard:
- Mom, did you like it? I spoke for all animals!
To Masha's horror, the music stopped at that moment and the girl's confession was heard by everyone in the hall. It was a scandal! To hush up the embarrassment, Maria grabbed clothes in the wardrobe, and without changing the girl's clothes, threw a fur coat over her. Fortunately, it was not New Year's warm outside. Unfortunately for Masha, one of the fathers who brought his child to the New Year's party filmed everything that happened on the Christmas tree on a cell phone.
The next day, a video about the incident at the matinee was posted on the website. In a short time it was watched by a huge number of people. On the video, it was clearly visible that the girl's lips were tightly closed. She imitated sounds without opening her mouth. If it weren't for the girl's confession, which sounded in the silence like a bomb explosion, it would have been impossible to guess who was the author of the commotion that had begun.
The TV crew assigned to film the governor (who, by the way, never showed up that morning) were also wild and regularly dived into the murky waters of the Internet, hoping to catch a goldfish. And they did catch her! No sooner had the video filmed by a vigilant parent take its place on the Internet than TV people appeared under the windows of the apartment where Masha and Katya lived.
In vain, Maria thought that it was enough to leave the place where the embarrassment occurred and everything would be forgotten. Sweet couple figured out quickly. Moreover, before starting her landmark performance, Katya introduced herself directly into the microphone: “My name is Katenka Petrova. Now I will read a poem that my grandmother Nastya taught me. The poem is called: “White snow is fluffy, spinning in the air! ""
Vigilant grandmothers arranged a real interrogation for television workers. When it turned out that they had come to shoot Katenka, a real panic began.
Grandmother Faina managed to run home, dress up and push her way forward. On the chest of the zealous grandmother hung a medal of the hero of labor. She was the first to give the interview. Time passed, and the passages to the cherished door were blocked. Recording the fourth interview, cameraman Petya suddenly caught himself thinking that all this bodyaga reminded him of something.
And suddenly he remembered! In the same way, the girl Katya attacked him with her art, faithful to the precepts of her caring neighbors. And he understood the meaning of the saying that the apple does not fall far from the tree. Finally, the interview was over, and the TV people went up to the second floor, accompanied by an escort of neighbors.
Masha did not want to open the door, especially since the apartment was actively preparing for the new year. The Christmas tree was almost dressed up, but scattered sparkles, pieces of tinsel, and fragments from balls required immediate cleaning. I had to take the entire television company to the children's room. The nursery was cramped. In vain, the presenter explicitly hinted that the interview was being taken from a little girl, and not from the whole yard. However, the grandmothers pretended not to hear anything. None of the grandmothers was going to leave battlefield, or rather, the field of glory!
“Girl,” the presenter began her interview, but her grandmother Raisa immediately interrupted her.
- Her name is Katerina, Katenka!
- Well, okay, - the host grimaced, - Katenka, tell me, please, who taught you to talk without opening your mouth?
- I taught myself! - the girl's voice rang out
“But, Katyusha, that doesn’t happen!” After all, one of the adults should have explained to you ... - the host tried to push the girl to the right answer
- If Katya says that she learned it herself, then it is so! - the vigilant Ivan Petrovich could not resist, - she is a truthful girl with us, she always tells the truth!
“Well, well, well,” the presenter surrendered, “then I’ll ask the question in a different way: who advised you to arrange a prank at the New Year’s party ?!
“No one,” Katenka answered again, “I came up with it myself, when this uncle,” the girl pointed to the cameraman, “didn’t let me tell all the verses and sing all the songs that I learned with my grandmothers ...
“But you and I have also learned the dance of snowflakes,” Grandmother Nastya suggested.
- Yes, and they didn’t let me show the dance of snowflakes either! Katya was belatedly indignant.
“However, what a talkative girl,” the host said, turning off the microphone, realizing that she would not be able to record an interview today, when suddenly someone spoke loudly near the window, and silence hung in the room. The woman spoke, however, when the presenter looked around the nursery, it turned out that everyone was silent.
The baby's eyes shone mischievously, and her lips were closed. However, as the presenter later realized, it was the girl who spoke.
- Once in a restaurant, in one of the cities of Germany, there was a draw! There was almost no one in the restaurant hall. Only a few tables were occupied. Just behind one of them sat a man with a dog. The man ate, the dog did not take his eyes off the owner. The owner ate with appetite, not paying any attention to the dog. The number of dishes on the table was decreasing, when suddenly the dog decided to remind himself:
“How much can you eat,” she asked loudly, “I also want a piece of meat!”
- You have to be patient! The dog is adorned with patience, - the owner answered
The dog climbed under the table, but from there his objections were heard from time to time
“You can’t treat your beloved dog like that,” a grouchy voice came from under the table, “I want meat just as much as you do.” And you eat everything, and I get only bare bones!
The visitors sitting at other tables were simply speechless with amazement. The Englishman who was staying in this small German town was especially surprised. He even forgot about food. The Englishman was seized by one idea. By all means, he wanted to buy a talking dog. He was not even stopped by the high price that was asked for the dog. The dog balked and whimpered as the owner passed it from hand to hand. The dog was especially offended when the Englishman put a collar on it.
“The rights of dogs are being violated here,” the dog said distinctly, “until the UN representative arrives, I won’t say another word!”
It was a hoax, and after a while it was revealed. The dog, of course, did not know how to speak, the owner spoke for her. The owner's name was Schreiberg.
It was a famous artist-ventrologist.
"Ventrology" comes from the words "venter" - the stomach and "logos" - the word. But talking with your stomach is actually impossible. Ventrologists, like all people, use the vocal cords.
- What it is? — the presenter was surprised, — who said that?
- Yes, I did, - Katenka laughed, - did I do well? I remembered everything Grandma Leopoldina said yesterday. She told this to the boy Andryusha, and I remembered it.
— This cannot be! Such a little girl can't remember so many words and... But... It wasn't your voice!
“She spoke in my voice,” L.L., who was late, stood at the door, “but I declare that I have nothing to do with all this disgrace that this girl has done. I didn't teach her ventrology, and it's not possible! Such a small child… My mother started to study with me only from the age of seven, in order to prepare me for an artistic career!
“But don’t you understand,” the host exploded, “she spoke in your voice, with your intonations and characteristic words!
Why are you letting me down like that, Katerina? - L.L. to Katenka, who suddenly became silent, - I went for a gift to you, and you ... Well, you congratulated me on the New Year!
L.L. turned around and left the room
After her, the confused voice of the baby rang
- What did I do? I wanted everyone to have fun!
“And you succeeded,” Maria sighed, escorting the uninvited guests to the front door.
The new year is over, the Christmas holidays are over. Katenka had fun from the bottom of her heart. She was especially impressed by the fact that her mother was with her all ten days. Katenka sincerely became attached to her grandmothers, but such a number of days spent with Masha were a real New Year's gift for her. Masha, as best she could, explained to Katyusha the reason why Leopoldina Leopoldovna was offended, but it seems that the girl did not understand why the elderly lady flared up.
Maria hoped that over time the whole story forgotten, and they will live as before. However, her expectations were not destined to come true. On the contrary, the New Year's surprise inspired several media outlets to interview the wonder girl. But the last straw was an invitation to television. Katenka was offered to take part in a talk show. The talk show is filmed for more than one day, and therefore Maria refused the offer. The holidays were over, and Masha had to go to work. However, the little girl blabbed to her grandmothers about a tempting offer, and the enterprising grandmothers decided at a general meeting: there will be a talk show! And not just to be, but to be together with four grandmothers, one grandfather and a common granddaughter. By that time, Katenka, of course, had reconciled with L.L. and continued to attend her classes with students. The New Year's story, fortunately, did not change anything in the relationship between Katenka and L.L.
The elderly artist still believed that Katenka was still too early to learn. If the child does not lose interest in ventriloquism, then at the age of seven, just at the age when L.L. her own mother began to teach, she will begin preparing the baby for an artistic career. The students changed, but Katenka, as before, sat on a chair made in the century before last, and listened attentively.
When Katenka got tired, she went into the next room, where the cat Taisik was basking in the sun and the dog Alik was vigilantly watching the cat. For several years now, an invisible struggle for a sphere of influence has been going on between Taisik and Alik. Both of them were madly in love with their mistress, Leopoldina Leopoldovna. And both were jealous of the slightest manifestations of attention to the opposing side. The appearance of Katya did not change anything in the alignment of forces. Katya fell in love with both Taisik and Alik equally, and the animals needed a single, their own mistress.
However, for Katya, the time spent with animals was a real treasure. She could spend hours watching the behavior of animals. Once the girl wanted to experiment with little friends. So to speak, to test illegally acquired knowledge experimentally. First Katenka meowed. Clever Taisik only contemptuously moved his muzzle. Alik had a completely different reaction. Hearing a roaring bark and not seeing its source, Alik became worried and began to run around the room, nervously barking and throwing himself at the door and windows.
On Sunday, Masha took tickets to the puppet theater, and on Saturday an unexpected guest came. In the hands of the guest was a Barbie doll. Masha and Katyusha painted with paints. The paints were unusual, they could draw not only on paper, but also on the face and body. They were safe for the child and did not cause irritation. Having painted a bunch of paper, Katyusha got naughty and began to paint Masha. She wanted to draw a cat mask on her mother's face.
The process of transforming from human mom to cat mom was almost complete when the doorbell rang. Valentina was at the door. She was fashionably dressed, in her hands she had a gift for Katenka. Wiping her face as she walked, Masha said hello in confusion, and then she got up and invited her sister into the room. During the absence of her mother, Katyusha managed to paint the middle of the room and crept up to one of the walls. Her arms and legs were painted like a real tattoo lover. Masha sat Valentina on the sofa and painfully thought about how to introduce her to Katenka.
“Mom,” Katyusha shouted, “but I have run out of paper!” And you know, mom, let's draw a different muzzle on your face. You didn't look like Taisik at all!
“Daughter,” Masha stammered, “Katya, I want to introduce you to this… This,” Masha looked helplessly at Valentina, “this is Valya, she’s yours…”
“Aunt,” Valentina couldn't help it, glancing angrily at Maria, “yes, I'm Aunt Valya.
“Yes,” Masha repeated with relief, “this is Aunt Valya.” Katya, come up to your aunt and say hello!
“Hello, aunt,” Katenka held out her hand trustingly, “is this a present for me?”
- You.
- And what's in there? Hey Barbie! Aunt, didn't you bring me a car?
“No,” Valya smiled, “but don’t you like dolls?”
“I love it, but I have one project,” Katenka said project instead of a project, “I need an old car, I will repair it and make it a new one, only a bigger one. Like grandfather Vanya. I'll put Alik behind the wheel, and Taisik in the cabin.
— And who are Alik and Taisik? Valya asked
- It's a cat and a dog! Aunt, - the baby suddenly laughed, - can I draw on you too! Your face looks like a rat, Natasha from the next entrance has such a white rat! Beautiful-beautiful! I asked my mother to buy me one, and she ... I already even know what kind of paint is needed to draw a mustache for you!
“No,” Valentina suddenly got up from her seat, “let's draw another time!” I just remembered one thing! I have to go!
- Katenka, go to the bathroom for a wash, I will see my aunt ... Valya, and we will read with you!
“Did you turn her against me on purpose?” Valya hissed, pulling on her boots in the hallway.
“Valechka, Valentina, where are you going?” Let's talk, I'll treat you to dinner! Katenka will show you her drawings, tell you a poem!
- No thanks, I've had enough of what I'm wearing. were going to draw a rat! And as for the poems ... She is too talkative for you, are you not involved in her upbringing at all ?! How does she talk to adults?!
- Valya, stop being angry! This is your daughter, didn't you like her at all?
- Daughter ... I look at this little monster and do not believe that I gave birth to her! She doesn’t look like me at all, rather ... Yes, she’s your copy! You were just as nasty as a child! Wow... Don't see me off, I haven't forgotten the way yet!
Valentina had already left a long time ago, but Mashenka still could not calm down! She was hurt and embarrassed. It was not at all how she imagined the meeting of mother and daughter. Offensive words burned the soul and I wanted to express to Valentina everything that had hurt over the years. However, Masha knew that if the whole situation had repeated itself from the beginning, she, Masha, would not have been able to act differently.
Mashenka could not read. There was a lump in her throat, and she did not want her daughter to be afraid if she, Maria, burst into tears. Having thoroughly washed the girl, she put her next to her on the sofa, and turned on the TV. Katenka sensed with her sensitive heart that her mother felt bad and did not object to the cartoons. Of course, she didn’t understand anything from what was happening, but the image of Aunt Valya was clearly connected in her brain with her mother’s tear-stained face. Mom rarely cried, but always, when the girl saw tears on her beloved face, for some reason, the image of a strange Aunt Valya surfaced in her memory.
However, time cannot be stopped, and on Monday, on her way to work, her mother took Katenka to her neighbor in the stairwell, grandmother Nastya. Grandmother Nastya fed Katenka breakfast, and sat her down to read a book in syllables. While Katenka diligently collected naughty syllables in a heap, grandmother Nastya called everyone who was going to accompany the girl to the talk show.
The first rehearsal of the talk show was scheduled for tomorrow. Grandmother Nastya and grandmother Ray again started arguing about how to dress Katenka. Grandmother Raya wanted the girl to wear a pantsuit. She knew that Katenka had one in her wardrobe. And grandmother Nastya wanted Katenka to be in a beautiful dress on the show. Just such a dress grandmother Nastya gave Katya for the new year. L.L. She suggested asking Katenka herself what she would like to wear tomorrow. However, Katenka's answer did not satisfy any of the disputants. Grandmother Faina brought two huge white bows, but the bows did not want to hang on Katyusha's naughty hair. Finally, grandfather Ivan came and offered to dress the girl in a biker suit, trousers and a jacket made of shiny black fabric. A suitable suit grandfather Ivan just looked at the market today.
Katenka squealed with delight, but her squeal was drowned out by the roar of indignation. The image of a well-bred home girl was not at all like that for grandmothers. The grandmothers won. Grandfather Ivan reassured the girl that he would buy this suit for the next New Year, and at the New Year's party Katyusha would be in the form of a cool biker. On this they decided.
The talk show was called These Brilliant Kids.
The theme of the show was: "Genius in young children - good or bad?". They were going to talk and argue about this during a television program.
At the rehearsal, Katenka was not asked any questions. They simply explained what kind of music to enter the hall, when to be silent, and when to speak. Which sofa to sit on. The leader was shown from afar. He was just busy, arguing with the operator. The grandmothers were advised to separate. Someone had to be in the hall, and someone had to go out during the transfer from behind the scenes to the stage. For grandparents, this turned out to be a sore subject. As Katenka thought, everyone refused to go down to the hall voluntarily.
The assistant wrinkled, wrinkled, but could not solve this problem. We decided so, grandmothers will discuss this difficult issue when they return home. The director of the program did not care who would shout into the microphone from the audience, and who would tell the tearful story of a little girl on stage. When Masha gave her neighbors consent to participate in the program, she strictly forbade mentioning that Katya was not her own. Grandmothers swore an oath. There were 6 shooting shifts for this talk show. Typically, a filming shift lasts from six to twelve hours, but since children were supposed to be the main characters in this talk show, the shift was reduced to five hours.
There were three children invited to the show, except Katenka. Katenka saw them from afar. With one boy, Seva, the girl even managed to exchange a few words. Katya was interested in the car that Seva had in her hands, and Seva was interested in the Barbie doll that Aunt Valya gave Katya. Katya did not want to take this doll with her, but the director's assistant demanded that the girl had a doll in her hands.
The doll had to be beautiful and in bright clothes. Mom reviewed all the dolls that were in the toy box, but rejected everything. Masha herself played with some of the dolls as a child. Several dolls looked good, but their clothes were shabby. And vice versa, those dolls on which clothes were well preserved were with peeling noses, gouged out eyes and torn off arms. Seeing how Katyusha's face darkens at the mention of a gift from "Aunt Valya", Maria tried to connect the unconnected, but, no matter how hard she tried, the dresses taken from some dolls did not want to fit other dolls. Finally, Katya herself put an end to her mother's suffering
— Mommy, I already like this Barbie, stop dressing Masha doll in Dashenka's dress.
Do you really want to take Barbie to the shoot? How about we go to the store and buy another doll?
Mom, you are so funny! I will be filmed tomorrow, and the shops are already closed today. Don't worry, mommy, I'll take Barbie for fun, and I'll put my favorite doll Xenia in my pocket. Isn't it good that she's small?
- Truth! You are so smart!
Let's go back to the four kids labeled as geniuses. More precisely, to Seva. Katenka herself went up to Seva, it seemed to her that the boy had recently been crying. In any case, the baby looked miserable. The boy's dad went to the buffet, which was on the second floor of the studio, and ordered Seva to sit on a chair and not go anywhere.
The boy looked about the same age as Katya. Katya started the conversation first:
- This is your car? - the girl asked in a businesslike manner, forgetting about the rules of good manners, - will you let me play?
- On, - Seva wanted to put the car into the girl's hand, but for some reason Katyusha did not like this outcome of the case.
“No,” Katya removed her hand behind her back, “it’s impossible! You have to ask what I'll give you in return!
“I don’t want to,” the boy puffed up, “take it just like that, otherwise I’ll throw it away!”
- Where are your grandmothers? Katya asked
“I don’t have a grandma and I don’t have a grandpa. - more and more gloomy, answered Seva
“That doesn’t happen,” Katya said instructively, “I have five of them. Four grandmothers and one grandfather.
- Do you have a mother? the boy asked jealously
“There is a mother,” Katenka proudly confirmed, “and Leopoldina Leopoldovna also has a cat Taisik, and a dog Alik
“But I don’t have a mother, I don’t have a dog, and I don’t have a cat either. There is only dad.
Well, are we going to change? - Katya again changed the topic of conversation, - I have a small ball in my pocket, a toy fork and an adjustable wrench, though also a toy. And now ... There is also Barbie!
“Give me the doll,” Seva perked up, “and take the car for yourself!”
“Here, take it,” Katyusha was delighted, “what are you going to do with her?” Will you break right away?
“No,” the boy shook his head busily while unbuttoning Barbie’s dress, “why am I going to break it? I don't need a doll, I need her dress.
- What for? Katya was surprised
- I ... - seeing dad, who was carrying juice and sandwiches on a paper plate, the boy crumpled a piece of fabric from which the dress was sewn and put it in his pants pocket, - Go away, otherwise dad will swear, and take the doll!
- Give me the car? Katya asked matter-of-factly
- Not. Leave soon
Returning to the film set, Katyusha at first wanted to “forget” Barbie somewhere in the corner, but then she remembered her mother’s orders to be a neat and well-mannered girl and, having reached the nearest bin, threw the doll there.
So the time has come. To begin with, the director of the program looked around the motley company and said
- Each of you should look as interested as possible! Look at the presenter as if it were your attending physician, who is about to prescribe you a cure for all diseases at once, - the director joked, - further, several specialists will participate in the program: teachers, psychologists, lawyers, doctors. A huge request not to applaud after their performances. This confuses and interferes with the flow of the transmission.
The following information is especially for mothers, grandmothers, as well as fathers, grandfathers and other relatives. There is no need to patronize children and rush to their aid as soon as they forget a word or feel embarrassed. No need to loudly whisper directly from the audience to suggest solutions to problems, lines from poems and songs, chemical formulas, etc. No one will offend your children. An assistant is assigned to each child. Remember, our program is first of all a show, the more natural your children will keep, the more interesting the show will be. Now, about clothes and makeup for expensive ladies ...
The director said something else, but Katyusha fell asleep right in the arms of grandfather Ivan. The time had come for her afternoon nap, and Katenka did not like to miss it. She slept well and, just in time for the moment when the director suggested proceeding directly to the rehearsal, she opened her eyes and asked
“And when are we going home?” Mom must be back from work! I missed my mom!
Katenka was shushed left and right, and the director turned to a sonorous voice
"Who's got that loud voice here?" - the assistant ran up to the director and whispered something in his ear, - Well, I understand everything, so let's start with you girl! Is your name Katya Petrova? Am I wrong?
Five days flew by like one hour. Katenka carried out all the instructions of the director and assistants as an adult, without objection and whim. On the first day, grandmothers brought food in pots with them so that their dear child, God forbid, would not starve. On the third day, a scandal erupted. While adults were saying smart words , Katya, rather tired of sitting still, took Seva and the girl Galya with her, and took her to a neighboring studio to watch the shooting of a video with Anna Semenovich. She would have taken the boy Pavlik with her, but Pavlik, for nothing that he was the eldest of the children, sat in his mother’s arms and quickly wrote something in a notebook.
And then came the day of shooting. Masha was so excited that she wanted to take time off from work. Grandmothers dissuaded her in chorus. Katenka's curls were braided into tight pigtails. That's what the assistant director said. Of course, before the shooting itself, stylists and costume designers still had to work on the children, but the homework had to be submitted to the judgment of the assistant director.
Katyusha was seen off like a heroine, by the whole court. Well, of course not to everyone, but only to the adult part of the population of nearby houses. And to be more precise, the non-working part of the population.
Katyusha was disappointed that a trinity of adult girls from the first class did not see her triumph. The girls were mischievous and arrogant and were very proud of the fact that they studied already in the first grade. Grandparents, together with Katya, loaded into two taxis and, accompanied by envious and admiring glances of their neighbors and neighbors, set off towards glory. Of course, there were more admiring glances than envious ones, and to be even more precise, there was only one envious one in fifteen admiring ones, but he was there and there was no getting away from it.
We agreed as follows: grandmother Faina and Leopoldina Leopoldovna will sit in the hall and actively participate in the discussion of the problems that the moderator will voice. When Katyusha is invited to the stage, she will come out accompanied by Ivan Petrovich, and grandmother Nastya and grandmother Raya will come out from behind the scenes one after another with a gap of ten minutes and will talk about Katyusha's life and about the age at which she discovered the talent of a ventriloquist . And here the finest hour of L.L. will come.
She will rise from the hall to the stage and tell about the art of ventrology, tell the audience some funny stories from the life of ventriloquists. And also show some funny numbers with the doll Alyonushka. What the rest of the children were supposed to impress the hall with, Katyusha did not know. The talents of the children were kept secret until the last moment. The only thing that those present knew was that the oldest boy was Pavlik. Seva and Katyusha were about the same age.
The first showed a video about Vsevolod, that is, about Seva, the boy's talent was that the boy sewed. At the sight of a loose piece of cloth, his eyes lit up. Without any ruler and tailor's meter, by eye, he made a pattern, and stitched the fabric on his mother's sewing machine. The boy's mother died when the baby was barely two years old. Gradually, the boy's desire to sew turned into a mania. He looked through magazines that were left from his mother, he watched TV shows, and all with the sole purpose of learning to sew. All toys were dressed by Seva's hands, he even sewed covers for toy cars.
The father, stunned by grief, did not notice for a long time what was happening with the baby. He came to his senses only at the moment when he saw Vsevolod undressing the doll, which was presented to Seva's mother on her wedding day. The father suspected the little boy of perverted inclinations. It's a two year old baby! However, talent cannot be killed!
Dolls, toy animals, everything immediately flew into the trash. The sewing machine was removed on the mezzanine, where the baby could not climb yet. However, the boy did not calm down, he found a set of needles and thread, and began to sew by hand. Needles and threads are a useful thing in the household, but the father, who went berserk, threw them away, regardless of anything! For two days the boy behaved like a normal child, on the third day he found a wire in his father's toolbox.
The wire was thin and strong. The boy punched holes in the fabric with toothpicks. Seeing that all educational actions did not lead to a result, the father took the child to a neurologist. After examining the child, the doctor told the father that the baby was perfectly healthy, but in order to calm the raging father, she advised him to visit a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist attacked her father, asking her not to distract her from important matters and not to take an absolutely healthy child to the hospital. Only a psychologist helped my father. She explained to her father that the child yearns for his mother, hence all the unusual, at first glance, actions of the baby.
After that, the father gave up. No, he did not lower the sewing machine from the mezzanine, but he stopped taking the child to the doctors.
Having arranged the child in a kindergarten, the father breathed a sigh of relief.
However, he rejoiced in vain. Kindergarten was famous for developing programs that were used on children. And the kindergarten was the winner in various competitions. One of the competitions: "Do it yourself" was always held on New Year's Eve. All kindergartens in the city competed to become winners and reach the final. The finalists of the competition usually exhibited their crafts in the central hall of the citywide center for childhood and youth.
Crafts, paintings, panels, drawings - all this was carefully selected before being put up for the judgment of the most severe spectator - d children. Among the other winners was the kindergarten in which Vsevolod was. Moreover, Vsevolod himself was the winner in the competition. The costumes that he sewed and in which he dressed several dolls made a splash. There were nine dolls. They were different, from the smallest, almost a baby doll, to the largest, whose height was more than 50 cm. It was at the opening of the exhibition. The host of the TV program "Our Children" at first did not believe that all these chic costumes were sewn by a boy. However, when the organizers of the exhibition showed her this boy with their own eyes, she was even more surprised. The boy was not even three years old, and finished products for dolls flew out from under his dexterous fingers almost at the speed of sound. A queue of children lined up for Seva, who wanted to get a new dress for their favorite doll.
The story about the child was filmed and shown the next evening. The director of the kindergarten rejoiced! They have become famous! However, Vsevolod's father was gloomier than a cloud; such popularity did not inspire him at all. When they called him and offered to take part in a talk show, he categorically refused. The organizers of the program tried their best to persuade the formidable parent, and only two weeks later he agreed that his child would be the hero of the talk show. Despite the popularity that fell like snow on his head, the father did not change his attitude towards the boy. He was stern with him and, out of habit, stopped all attempts by the child to sew anything.
After the video was shown, the audience, as it was rehearsed, burst into applause. A boy came on stage with his dad. They were seated on a separate sofa. The host talked mainly with dad, the boy was silent. Expressing sympathy, the presenter asked about what happened to mom. Dad briefly outlined the situation. Then the dolls were brought in.
An unplanned whisper flew through the hall. The dresses in which the boy dressed the dolls were beautiful. Those who could not see from the last row were shown each doll separately in the video. On the shooting, every button, every stitch, every frill was clearly visible. Hall applauded. The applause was sincere and stormy. Katyusha, who saw everything that was happening in the hall on the backstage screen, also applauded. She remained indifferent to dolls and dresses. She wanted to support Seva, who, despite the fallen glory, was gloomy. The camera zoomed in on the baby's face several times.
The boy perked up only when a table with sewing accessories was brought onto the stage. Seeing the sewing machine, the kid even got up from his seat, but his dad's formidable whisper immediately returned him to his place. But the host of the program, apparently having received clear instructions from the director, approached the boy and offered him to try the sewing machine. Which the boy did with great enthusiasm.
Having seated the boy at the sewing machine, the presenter asked the kid for whom he would like to sew something, for a doll or a person? The boy did not hesitate to choose a man. The director's next question was about who he needed as a mannequin, a child or an adult? The three-year-old kid thought a little and answered - an adult!
After a moment's pause, a young woman stepped onto the stage. By her confident look, it could be concluded that she was a frequenter of various talk shows.
Immediately, an assistant came out from behind the scenes and carried out a large roll of cloth.
The dress was ready in fifteen minutes. While the boy was sewing, they went on stage: a teacher with thirty years of experience, a child psychologist, and finally Vyacheslav Zaitsev went up on stage, who told about his childhood and the same craving as Vsevolod, to create beauty. Both the psychologist and the teacher and Zaitsev all came to the unanimous opinion that the boy is a genius, and in this case genius is a blessing!
The dress was ready. The girl went backstage for a fitting, and the boy froze behind the typewriter, waiting for his first client back. The girl returned, the dress sat almost perfectly. The boy promised to eliminate several minor flaws immediately, as soon as the girl returned the dress to him for revision. It took another five minutes to finish the small details.
The last guest was a seamstress from a clothing salon with many years of experience. She then accepted the work of Vsevolod. After that, the boy took his place on the couch. Probably, in the edited form, the plot should have looked like this: the presenter should invite the viewers to watch a small advertisement. In fact, there was a change of invited guests on the stage. Dad and the boy were left sitting on the sofa, the table with the sewing machine was taken away.
The bosom friend of Katya and Seva, Galya, was supposed to go on stage next, but the director suddenly decided to replay everything, and the boy Pavlik was brought onto the stage along with his grandmother. However, it didn't change anything. Children with adults accompanying them still stood backstage and waited for their turn. And the invited guests, too, in principle, did not care, they were called directly from the hall.
The boy Pavlik, at the age of four, discovered a new chemical element. The invited guests were joined by a well-known chemist, an employee of the nanochemical laboratory, which he himself patronized the president.
The story of Pavlik was short, and what can be said about a boy of four years old. As expected, the boy's parents were chemists. All the talk was about the family's favorite brainchild, chemistry. It is easy to guess that the friends and acquaintances of the family were also from this glorious category, the category of chemists.
The story of Pavlik was not like the story of Vsevolod. All attempts by Pavlik to plunge headlong into chemistry were accepted by Pasha's parents with a bang. The boy was helped both in word and deed, as well as with formulas, reagents and a microscope. The famous expert chemist unexpectedly turned out to be an old acquaintance of Pavlik's grandfather. This news was met with moderate applause. Unlike father Vsevolod, Pavlik's parents did their best to ensure that the discovery of their boy received, if not world, then at least all-Union fame. Within a week of the boy's discovery, several newspapers ran small articles about the boy of genius, the hope of science.
But this triumph seemed to fade away, but Pavlik's grandmother, who had nothing to do with science, but had excellent organizational skills, decided that the whole country should know about the brilliant child, and called on television. A short story was filmed. When the invitation to the talk show came, the consent was given immediately. It was a holiday for the whole family!
By the way, the boy simply did not pay attention to the hype that arose around him. As in the case of Seva, Pavlik was interested in the process, and not the result of his work. And now, as soon as he stepped onto the stage, he tried to stick his nose into a notebook and even began to scribble something with a pencil. Grandmother with difficulty took away the tools of labor from him. The boy almost burst into tears, but when he saw a huge number of eyes looking at him, he restrained himself, but did not answer the host's questions even once.
Grandma was in charge. It's time for the audience and invited guests to speak. Again, teachers, psychologists, official and unofficial persons spoke out. As in the case of Seva, the audience passed a verdict, the child is undoubtedly a genius. However, when the second question arose for good or for bad, opinions were divided.
An agreement was reached quickly and rehearsed. It seemed like it was time to invite the third hero or heroine, but it turned out that it was too early for the invited guests to move from the stage to the hall. The word was taken by a chemist, a family friend. In order for the experiment to be clean, during the second plot, or rather at the very beginning of it, the chemist was given a formula that the child invented.
After that, the scientist was escorted backstage so that the man had the opportunity in a calm atmosphere to figure out whether Pavlik's formula was a discovery. The formula, in the full sense, was not a discovery, although the boy was undoubtedly a genius and really possessed remarkable knowledge in the field of chemistry at such a tender age. But the formula was not a discovery. Looking ahead, I’ll tell you that after the transfer to the chemist, the house was refused. But the truth remains the truth, the opening did not take place.
It was Katenka's turn. However, the assistant director said that the transfer plan was changed again. Instead of Katya, the girl Galya was invited to the stage.
Galinka was the same age as Katya, but she looked as if she was already six or even seven years old. And Gali had three brothers, there were father and mother. There was just no recognition. Parents worked in the circus. Galya was the youngest and from childhood she watched the work of her parents and brothers. Parents have long dreamed of a girl, and when Galochka was born, they literally blew dust off her. She was only a month old, and numerous relatives had already given her a wardrobe full of ruffled skirts, silk dresses, hats and scarves. The toy closet was full of dolls and baby dolls. Everyone expected Galya to be quiet, affectionate and obedient, but it happened differently.
Already at the moment when she was one year old, it was clear that the girl had a strong character. No dolls, no skirts with bows. Only trousers and only cars. At the age of two, Galya announced that she would go to work with her brothers. Naturally, the parents refused the girl, and the brothers laughed at her.
At the age of two and a half, Galya went to kindergarten. The family was considered to have many children, and my mother, albeit with difficulty, managed to get her a ticket to kindergarten. Galya did not mind getting up early, shaking on a crowded bus and staying in kindergarten without her mother. She even learned to eat semolina and sing songs with the whole group, but the sleepy hour caused a riot in Gali. Everything was quiet for two weeks. Mom picked up the girl at 12 noon. That's how it was supposed to be.
The explosion occurred on the day when everyone decided that Galinka was now a full-fledged kindergarten pupil, and her mother left her daughter for the whole day. After lunch, the teacher told the girl to take off her outer clothes and remain only in a T-shirt and panties. Galya refused. When the teacher tried to force Galya to undress and go to bed, Galya lifted the woman in her arms. That was incredible! The rest of the adults ran to the screech of the teacher. Urgent but the parents were called.
Until the parents arrived, Galya did not agree to lower the teacher to the floor. The teacher was small and thin, but had a shrill and unpleasant voice. Her voice still rang in my ears for a long time even after she fell silent. Parents did not punish Galinka. The Pope generally believed that all issues can be resolved peacefully, without resorting to violence.
The teacher thought otherwise. Had it been her will, she would have punished Galina immediately, but she had no will to do so. And in general, the teacher said that her legs would not be in kindergarten if this girl was not transferred to another group. There were no seats in the other group. And there was no desire among fellow teachers to take a recalcitrant girl to their group. Nobody needed someone else's headache. Somehow they came to an agreement. Since the game room turned into a bedroom during the sleepy hour, the kindergarten administration decided that it would not be a big deal if Galya was alone in the gym for two hours.
There was a hope that gradually the girl would get used to the order established in the kindergarten, and would sleep with everyone. The gym was awesome. One of the parents, related to big sport, equipped the gym with everything the soul could desire. True, sports equipment, mats and goats were a little worn out. However, don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
A children's table with a chair, several books and coloring books were brought to the gym. The girl had to do something while her friends from the group were sleeping. However, the manager did not take into account the fact that Galya is never bored. The girl did not touch the books and coloring books.
Galya was training. The little girl has set herself a goal. She wanted to become stronger than her brothers. At work, in the circus, mom, dad and three brothers had their own original number. And they showed it every evening to a grateful audience. In this circus performance, the Romanov family demonstrated miracles of endurance and strength to the whole world. Galya has seen more than once how her parents and brothers train. What kind of warm-up do they do, how much rest. And Galya decided to put all this knowledge into practice. That is, on yourself.
Three months later, the teacher tried again to persuade Galina to take her bed and rest at a sleepy hour, but she was refused. More teacher with this question to the girl did not climb. When Galinochka was three years old, an unusual incident occurred.
It was a summer afternoon. The educator and her group decorously - nobly followed the set course. That is, they went to the theatre. The play "Little Red Riding Hood" was supposed to be shown in the theater of the young spectator. Galya, as I already mentioned, was a tall girl and therefore walked last. She and the girl Nastya were the last in the column of little theater lovers. There was nothing left before the theater building, when suddenly a passenger car ran into the children from behind a turn.
An overweight lady was driving the car. The lady's heart sank. The woman tried her best to stop the car, or at least try not to crash into someone, but she could no longer do anything. Her consciousness faded. Not remembering herself, Galina flew forward and stopped the car. Of course, if the car was flying at full speed, the girl would not be able to do anything. Still, with all her strength, Galya was just a little three-year-old girl.
However, the fainting lady was still able to reduce her speed to a minimum. Galya was pushing the car. The car was pushing Galya. Thank God that one of the dumbfounded adults thought to join the girl. Two men stood next to Galya and tried to prevent the car from moving on. The third man climbed waist-deep into the open window of the car, reached for the ignition key, and stopped the car. There was silence for a second.
In the next second, a screech pierced the silence. It was the teacher screaming. She squealed so loudly that cars passing by began to stop. People started running to the scene. The story with the car could have gone unnoticed if not for the belated reaction of the teacher. At first the teacher squealed, then ... Then she suddenly screamed and grabbed Galya in her arms. She hugged the girl to her and showered her face with kisses. It was the teacher who would have become the first victim of the accident if Galya had not stopped the car.
Someone filmed everything that happened on a cell phone. Someone posted a video on the Internet. What happened next was a matter of technique. The video was seen by one of the assistant directors of the program. For a long time they could not find a kindergarten in which a loud-voiced teacher worked. But in the end, this obstacle was also overcome. Galina's brothers were delighted that their little sister was invited to the program. Parents were not delighted, but did not mind. Galya was promised that if she behaves well at the rehearsals of the program and does everything that the director tells her to do on stage, she will soon be allowed to participate in the preparation of a new circus number.
Well, Galya proved that she has the right to be the strongest among girls. The parents acknowledged this fact and agreed to all the conditions of the girl. Now, after what happened, they agreed to anything, just not to let go of their precious child anymore from themselves. Galochka's mother fell ill. A terrible picture stood before her eyes. The car flies at full speed to knock down her adored baby, and they, the parents, are far from their Galina and cannot help in any way.
The following were invited to the program: a teacher, a kindergarten head and two children. These children walked in the first pair, right behind the teacher, and probably would have suffered too if not for Galya. Parents of the children expressed their gratitude. They thanked the girl's mom and dad for raising such a sensitive, and, most importantly, strong daughter. After watching the video, Galya came out and showed everything she could. And she did a lot. It even got to the point that she tried to pick up the host. The man was not ready for such impromptu.
The director, out of petty revenge, did not warn him that the girl would show her strength on him. Of course, the presenter was not pleased, but tried to restrain himself. That is, relax and enjoy. Then a car drove onto the stage. You can imagine what the little strongwoman was doing with this piece of iron. Hall sincerely applauded. Then the teacher took over. The girl was in her last year at the Pedagogical Institute and dreamed of the title "Teacher of the Year".
It was evident that the girl still could not come to her senses. She knew about the decision of her parents not to take Galina to kindergarten anymore, but she did not mind. However, the teacher had a request. She asked her parents to let her be the girl's godmother. Remembering what happened that terrible day, the girl burst into tears. The manager reassured her subordinate, and told that she would now consider the second birthday of the teacher the day when the little kindergarten pupil stopped the flying car on the move.
Then they took the stage: a pediatrician, a professor of psychology, a master of sports in weight lifting. And again a verdict was passed that the girl was a genius. But after that, opinions were divided, the pediatrician was categorically against the fact that little Galya continued to build strength. She believed that in the future this could prevent the girl from becoming a mother and generally living a full life as a young girl. The child psychologist was confused in scientific terms for a long time, until, finally, it became clear that there was no end in sight to his reasoning.
But the master of sports believed that the girl's talent was from God. And if you turn her training in the right direction, then in the future the girl will serve her country in big-time sports. To sincere applause, the girl was seated on a sofa and safely forgotten. There were advertisements on the TV screen. And Katya was supposed to take the stage.
And this is where we break. You must be surprised. So many pages have already been read, but there is still no angel! Don't be offended. Everything must happen in its own time. Angel time has come. The mission with which he arrived, or rather, the angel flew in, would hardly have been liked by Masha's neighbors. Grandmothers did not look forward to waiting for the precious child to take the stage and amaze the audience with their talents. And Katya, of course, would have come out and amazed, if ... If not for the angel.
The angel was against Katya going on stage. Against her showing her talent. Against the girl being shown close-up. The angel wanted Katya to leave the television studio as soon as possible. However, he didn't know how to do it. The pen was ready to leave its owner for a long time, but the angel did not allow the pen to do this. Well, a feather falls at Katya's feet, and what will it change?
Adults will not let a girl go where her pen leads her. Ivan Petrovich held Katenka tightly and did not let go of her for a minute. Seeing no way out, the angel decided to take extreme measures. He sent the pen into the hall. A feather hovered over a woman's head. A piece of fluff detached from the feather and landed softly on luxurious, resin curls. The woman did not feel anything, she was unaware that a little girl, who would now go on stage, had been sent a haze. Katya really immediately went on stage and saw Aunt Valya in the hall.
As you understand, Katyusha's mother was not in the hall and could not be. She simply did not know about the filming in which her daughter participated. The pen drew the face of the offender, Aunt Valya, over the face of a real woman. In any case, this is how Katya perceived her own mother. The angel was uncomfortable with what he was doing. He rarely took such steps. The angel knew that there is a retribution for everything, and in this case he (the angel) will have to pay twice for everything. However, the Lesson that He gave him this time had to be fulfilled at any cost. A woman sitting in the hall was admiring a little girl who had just entered the stage and could not understand why the little girl was giving her frightened glances. The woman saw Katya for the first time in her life.
The words of the presenter sounded, the video was shown, but Katya did not want to get up from the sofa and come forward. A stupor attacked Katya. It seemed to her that now aunt Valya will go up to the stage, come up to the girl and ask where the girl is doing the Barbie doll. Trying to somehow disguise the pause, the presenter once again showed an excerpt from the New Year's embarrassment of TV people. Katya's closed lips and her laughing eyes were visible.
Hall applauded again. However, Katya still did not want to take part in the transfer. Then the neighbor's grandmothers began to come on stage and talk about Katya. The hall applauded again, but somehow languidly, without enthusiasm. The host approached Katya and tried to call her to a conversation. However, Kate remained silent. Her eyes were full of tears. Having come to the conclusion that today he would not achieve anything with the girl, the presenter decided to get the main trump card from the deck - Leopoldina Leopoldovna.
The finest hour of the old artist has come! She knew how to keep the room in suspense. Soon everyone forgot about the little girl. Katya just needed it. She immediately relaxed and, leaning against Ivan's side, fell asleep. She had already seen Leopoldina Leopoldovna's performance more than once. Perhaps, under other circumstances, she would have gladly applauded Grandmother Leopoldina once more, but today she had no time for that. The stress was so strong that all the protective functions of the body turned on, and she fell asleep. And the great ventriloquist reigned on the stage. Dolls, animals, people all went into action. Hall could not take his eyes off the old actress. But everything eventually ends. The speech of Leopoldina Leopoldovna also ended. Experts were not invited to the stage. No one commented on the degree of Katyusha's talent, since the girl did not perform.
The host was saying something, some music was playing, someone was applauding, and Katya was sleeping. She woke up only when it was over. Throwing a frightened glance into the hall, she discovered that Aunt Valya was not in the hall. Fear immediately receded, and the usual Katenka reappeared in front of the upset grandparents. Nobody scolded the girl. We decided that Katya was just shy.
And what about the angel? The angel will be next to the girl for another day, although his goal has already been successfully achieved. After a while there will be a kidnapping. No one else, of course, knows about this, but the threat has already hung over Katenka's head. However, thanks to the intervention of the angel, the girl will be able to turn the situation in her favor and return home safe and sound. She will be saved by the fact that the stellar performance never took place. Unfortunately, the angel was unable to avert the event itself. Not everything was within his power.
And in honor of the end of filming, Masha's mother took time off from work early and was waiting for her triumph at home. After Katya was at home, the angel was able to relax, but he could not fly away yet. Until a day had passed since the filming, he kept circling over the house where Masha and Katya lived and tried to understand whether he had done everything to ensure that the baby survived.
A month later everything was back to normal. Katenka also passed from one grandmother to another, and Friday was grandfather's day. L.L. became famous all over the country. Postmen brought her letters in batches. The art of the old actress touched everyone to the quick. It turned out that many people in Russia and the CIS countries remember the tour and performances of LL. For half a year the letters went and went. From the city administration L.L. even got an offer. From day to day, the city was expected to open a theater school and L.L. It was proposed to head the Department of Ventrology. L.L. asked for time to think it over, but then nevertheless refused the tempting offer. Three little friends of Katyusha-Seva, Pavlik and Galya also received their share of fame. Their little faces often flashed in various television programs. Only Katenka lived in the old way.
When a month had passed after the shooting, Valentina appeared on the threshold of Mashenka's apartment. She was very unhappy. Katya was left in the nursery, but she heard Aunt Valya saying something unpleasant to her mother in her rough and unpleasant voice. Katya understood that it was about the transfer, but did not understand what her aunt was dissatisfied with.
Spring came, and then summer came. Katya has long forgotten about filming, her childhood thoughts were occupied by other problems. Katya dreamed of the sea! She has never seen the sea live. Mom often showed Katya the sea in pictures, on video, but it was all wrong! Mom promised to save money and take Katenka to the sea, but ... only for the next year. Katenka was not offended and did not whimper, she decided to learn the voices that the sea emits. Mom taught her how to use a laptop, and Katenka sat and listened to the seagulls screaming, how the sea roared at high tide and at low tide. How do dolphins talk. She was interested in the sounds that the sea makes when it hits the shore, and the sounds of the sea during a storm!
However, my mother needed a laptop for work. Half an hour later, Mashenka closed the lid and gently escorted Katya to her corner with toys. Katya immediately found something to do. She drew the sea and voiced it. In August, the city was shocked by terrible news. There is a maniac in the city. A 9-year-old boy disappeared, and then a 7-year-old girl. The clouds were gathering over Katenka's head, but the angel could do nothing to help. What was destined to come true will come true!
In that de Maria and Katerina were going to visit. They went to the great aunt Maria. Katya did not know that they were going to her own grandmother. She was told that Aunt Valya's mother was waiting for them. Katyusha's face changed when she heard this news, but immediately relaxed when she found out that Aunt Valya was not in the city. The visit was a success! Katya conquered elderly relatives with her intelligence, courtesy and easy disposition.
Three months ago, my aunt had a complicated operation. For some time, it seemed to the doctors that the patient would not get out. However, Maria Ilyinichna, that was the name of her aunt, suddenly began to recover. During the operation, she suffered a clinical death and saw there, beyond the line, something that completely changed the woman. In any case, Valina's mother remembered that she had her own granddaughter and more than once asked her niece to bring the baby to visit. Masha, who was named after her aunt, was a kind and resourceful girl. In addition, she was burdened by the fact that time was passing, and Katenka had never seen her closest relatives by blood.
Once again, the visit was a success! Katya was fed with sweets, toys and books, and they asked Masha to come visit with Katerina more often. It was clear from the eyes of the grandfather that if it were his will, he would have already left his granddaughter in his own home and would not let him go anywhere. However, I had to limit myself to hugs and promises to see each other more often now. After the guests left, the elderly couple retired to their rooms and experienced their pain alone. Each blamed the other for the fact that the granddaughter is now growing up in a different house. If Masha were a stranger, perhaps Maria Ilyinichna and her husband would have tried to do something, somehow try to sue their granddaughter, but in this case nothing could be done.
However, now life has flowed differently. The life of the old people was illuminated by the sun! This sun had a completely sunny name - Katya! The little sun snatched the phone ahead of mom and told grandma and grandpa in detail how the day went. On Saturday, Masha was unwell. She was thrown into the heat, then into the cold. However, the girl knew that it was impossible to cancel a visit to relatives. Maria Ilyinichna and Sergei Pavlovich were waiting for Saturday as the most desired holiday, and Masha could not allow the meeting to take place due to some kind of indisposition.
Masha dressed Katya and allowed her to go to the playground and wait for her there. Katenka briskly ran down the stairs and ran to the swing. Masha went out into the yard in about ten minutes. Katya was not on the site. Masha thought that Katenka did not listen to her and decided to run into the garage to Ivan Petrovich. She moved in the direction of the garage, but saw Ivan Petrovich, who was walking towards her.
- What, hahala started? Ivan Petrovich said angrily. "You could introduce us!"
- What? - Masha was confused, - what kind of boyfriend? Where is Katya? Have you seen Katya?
“Well,” Ivan Petrovich was frightened, “isn’t this your acquaintance?
— Yes, who? Grandfather Ivan, quickly say everything you know!
- A boy came running and said that some man was talking to our Katya. I rushed to the site. The man had already opened the car door to put Katyushka in. I go to him with questions. He told me that he is your fianc;. You fell ill, and therefore asked to take Katya to her grandparents. I also wanted to talk to you before they left, and Katya said that you were really sick. This is true?
- What? I really don't feel well... God! Yes, what are we talking about? I don't have a fianc;! And I didn't ask anyone for anything!
“So how,” Ivan Petrovich clutched at his heart, “what about me, our Katenka, with my own hands ...
“Grandfather Ivan,” shouted Masha, “you have validol in your left pocket, not in your right!” Let's quickly under the tongue and ... Lord, what to do then? What is done in such cases?
- Call the police!
- Can you get an ambulance?
No, I'm the only witness! I can't get sick!
The police arrived quickly. Ivan Petrovich described the kidnapper in sufficient detail. Now all I had to do was wait. The rumor of the kidnapping immediately spread throughout the city. Uncle and aunt arrived immediately after the niece's call. Alarmed neighbors came in, complete strangers called and tried to cheer Masha up.
Leopoldina Leopoldovna canceled classes and ordered her friends to organize a survey. Someone else, besides Ivan Petrovich and the boy, must see where the kidnapper came from. He probably appeared in the yard more than once, if he knew the routine of Mashenka and Katya's life so well. He even knew about the Saturday visits of his uncle and aunt. Days passed. Masha had already ceased to hope, when suddenly a call came from the police. Masha was asked to come urgently. Masha wanted to go alone, but her uncle and aunt insisted that they go with her. A little later, the old neighbors also pulled up.
Katya sat at the table and ate borscht. Nearby was an employee of the children's room of the police. You can imagine what happened when the adults saw their Katenka.
The angel knew that Katya could save herself.
Katya suspected something was wrong even when Uncle Tolya, as the kidnapper called himself, took her to a completely different stage. defense. The girl knew very well where her grandparents live. When she pointed this out to Uncle Tolya, he said that the road was being repaired and they would have to take another road. Katyusha knew that there was only one road leading to her relatives' house, but she didn't object. Mom told her daughter about a maniac who appeared in the city. The same was reminded to the little neighbor, and the old neighbors. Even grandparents and they warned Katya several times that she would never leave with strangers.
After the car turned into the forest, Katya had no doubts. The girl was very scared. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it was going to jump out of my throat. Uncle Tolya ordered Katya to get out of the car. Katya obediently got out and stopped. She understood that something very terrible was about to happen to her, but suddenly she heard a calm voice inside her.
"Speak!"
It was the inner voice of the girl herself. The girl recognized him. Only Katya had never spoken to anyone with such imperious intonations.
“Speak! the voice repeated and added, “speak as you did then, on the New Year tree.”
As soon as the voice ceased, Katya immediately calmed down. It became clear to her how to behave. She even smiled.
This smile did not pass uncle Tolya's attention, the man jumped up to Katya and turned her around!
- Why are you smiling? Do you think I'll take you to grandma's? With grandfather? You, juvenile rubbish ... So small, but you behave worse than a prostitute! What, you say, did not entice me? Back then, on the playground?! Didn't excite? I know you agreed! You excite me! Then I have no choice but to kidnap you and kill you! Now the police are looking for me! And I'm not to blame for anything! It's you, you, you! And that damned boy and that girl!
The man pushed Katya to the ground. Katya fell, but immediately jumped up. It was impossible to hesitate, if a man pushed her harder, she might not get up!
Katya focused and ...
From the side of the road came the sound of a police siren. There was a complete impression that the sound of a siren was approaching. Uncle Tolya rushed about
- What is it? It can't be! Nobody knows where I took you! Where am I taking you all? Oh, it must be the grandfather! I didn't like him right away! Followed me, right? Well, no, I just won't give up! Now, little abomination, your final hour will come!
The man stretched out his hands to Katya's throat, when suddenly barking and the sound of male voices were heard very close by. It seemed that a lot of people were walking along with the dogs. Here Katenka certainly went too far. If a man were of sound mind, he probably would have suspected something was wrong. It seemed as if a company of soldiers was walking through the forest, or a whole column of people had come out for a demonstration and, for some reason, were wandering in the forest.
Then shots and explosions were heard. Yesterday Katenka watched a movie about the war with her mother and remembered how the sounds of battle sounded. Foolish with fear, Uncle Tolya, of course, could not appreciate Katya's ingenious plan. She managed to portray the sounds of battle very realistically. A tank fired, the sound of automatic fire was heard. And then... Then a series of explosions was heard. The man no longer thought about dealing with Katya. He shook his head in horror, not understanding what was happening. Finally, he squealed and rushed, not understanding the road, into the depths of the forest.
Katya was left alone. There was silence. After waiting a little longer, she slowly moved in the direction opposite to the one where Uncle Tolya ran. Katya got lost. She wasn't scared. She enjoyed listening to the sounds of the forest. Of course, she was with her mother in nature more than once, but this summer forest was full of surprises. Katya walked and read it, as one reads the most mysterious book. Her piggy bank of sounds replenished before our eyes. She liked the sound the woodpecker makes and tried to imitate it. It seemed to Katya that it turned out very similar, but the woodpecker did not react in any way to her attempts to make an acquaintance. Animals and birds are not as gullible as humans. They cannot be fooled by imitation. Even the most upscale.
When it began to get dark, Katya suddenly went out to the village. Quickly enough, she found adults who showed a desire to help the girl. However, the only police officer turned out to be dead drunk. His UAZ would not start, and the telephone connection was very poor. In the morning, the district policeman had a hangover, and a thirst for activity woke up in him. However, the UAZ still did not want to work. The situation was saved by the daughter of one of the villagers. She unexpectedly came to her parents in her car. By the way, the girl also had a cell phone.
In the evening, Katya told several villagers what happened to her, but the truth reached the district police officer a little late. But as soon as he realized that he had the opportunity to return the kidnapped girl home, the remnants of hop flew off the man completely. The precinct was hoping for a promotion! After all, it is not every day that kidnapped girls wander into the village.
Two hours later Katya was already in the city. An hour later, relatives rushed in and took the baby home! The next day Katenka and her mother had a long conversation at the police station. Katya even agreed I tried to show the place where Uncle Tolya pushed her to the ground, and then ... Then the mother and daughter returned home. Masha thought that Katenka would quickly forget everything, and life would go on as before. However, it happened differently.
The next morning, Masha discovered that Katya was unconscious. When the ambulance arrived, it turned out that the girl had a high temperature. The ambulance took the mother and daughter to the hospital. By noon the next day, Katya came to her senses, but it turned out that she had lost her voice. The nervous system of a little girl reacted in this way to stress. From the outside, it might seem that the girl easily endured both the abduction and the night wandering through the forest, but nothing just goes away. It took a lot of effort on the part of doctors and relatives before Katya started talking again.
The maniac was not found. Although the police had many signs of this man. The place where Katya led the police turned out to be a secret cemetery. The maniac killed children and buried them there. Naturally, Katya was not told about this. The story of Katyusha's abduction made a lot of noise. And, no matter how hard Masha tried, some of this story was leaked to the press. The journalists even sniffed out somehow that Katenka was not Maria's own daughter. Moreover, the crafty hacks even learned the name of the girl's mother. Masha did not deal with those who do not know how to keep their mouths shut. The girl only narrowed her circle of acquaintances even more and tried to take Katya out of the house and yard as rarely as possible.
And then one day an unexpected guest knocked at Masha's house. Maria did not want to open the door for a long time, but a few words that the guest said from behind the door made Katya's mother open the door. On the threshold stood Nikita, Valentina's former lover and, as Masha reluctantly admitted, Katenka's father. Katya hid in the nursery. For some time now, she has become afraid of strangers, and men in the first place.
Masha saw Nikita several times. At a family holiday, Valentina introduced Nikita to her relatives. This was six years ago. Then they met a few more times on various minor occasions. And now Nikita was sitting at Maria's house and hesitated, not knowing how to start a conversation.
“I…” Nikita stammered, not knowing how to express his thought, “Valka lied to me. Then, almost 4 years ago, she sent me a text message that the girl she gave birth to died in the hospital. I didn't want to have anything to do with Valentina, so I didn't inquire and go into details. And then a week ago I saw the program and ...
Nikita was silent for a long time
Masha could not stand it and decided to come to his aid.
- So what? Nikita, of course I understand everything, you didn’t have an easy relationship with Valya, but the fact is that Katya doesn’t know you. This story with the maniac affected her health very hard, and then there was the news that her dad was found ... No, you do as you wish, but I will not injure my daughter!
- But I…
- Nikita, I have no anger towards you. Your relationship with Valentina is your relationship, and it doesn't concern me. But Katyusha is a completely different matter! Katya is my daughter! I officially adopted her. And I won't give it to anyone!
No, I didn't come for that!
- Well, why did you come?
- I'm not going to pursue Katenka and you. I understand that the train has long since left, but I would like to see her sometimes. Give candy and toys.
- They give her a lot of sweets and toys. Especially lately! And in general, - Masha looked at the drooping Nikita and suddenly felt sorry, - okay. You really have a right to know how your daughter lives. I only ask you one thing, do not scare the baby. You can come, but let her get used to you gradually.
"So you'll let me visit you occasionally?"
- Yes. But let's not startle her right away, shall we? Let's say that you are her ... uncle! Uncle Nikita, distant relative. I agree?
- Very distant ... Relative. Well, I agree, but what else is left for me ?!
Katenka began to calm down. Now that her life had returned to its former course, she began to think often and for a long time did not answer those who called out to her. And she has ceased to be interested in ventrology. Her gift has gone missing. She stopped attending L.L.'s lessons. When the students came, Katyusha went to the room where Alik and Taisik were waiting for her and did not leave until Leopoldina's grandmother finished the lesson.
Surprisingly, such a change hurt the old actress. L.L. I had long since discerned Katenka's remarkable abilities and consoled myself with the thought that in a year or two she would begin to work seriously with the girl. Now, the girl’s lethargy and indifference to the main business of L.L. seriously hurt the vanity of the old actress. She tried in every possible way to rekindle Katyusha's desire to study, but so far things were moving slowly.
Nikita appeared consistently once a week. He did not have exact days of visiting. Masha did not require this. It was enough that Nikita tried to do the simple male work that any single woman with a child always accumulates. He was embarrassed to offer Masha money, but he brought some food with him. Masha objected at first, but Otom waved her hand. She was more and more worried about Katya's lethargy, and she tried to push everything else away.
While Masha is fighting for her daughter's mental health, let's get back to the angel. Rather, let's talk about the role of an angel in our history. It is no longer possible to return to the angel, or return him. The angel flew away and already forgot about his role in the life of the girl Katya. These are the lessons of the angels. They do the work that is entrusted to them from above. After the work is done, the angels forget about the little children they helped. It's probably logical. Otherwise, the hearts of the angels would burst with pain, and there would be no one to help children in trouble. So what was the role of the angel in this case?
Of course, I will tell, but the angel himself, when the work was done, considered his role insignificant. He believed that he could help Katyusha and the big ones if it were his will. He could have prevented a meeting with the maniac Uncle Tolya! It happened in his work! However, there was no such permission, and the angels do nothing that they are not told. Like this. Angels do not take the initiative. They only do Lessons.
Let us return to a specific case, to the case of Katenka Petrova. Uncle Tolya, as you already understood, was a mentally abnormal type. Everything that happened in the world and around him, he saw and interpreted in his own way. He hated children. And he was attracted to them. However, he blamed the children themselves for this attraction. It seemed to him that the children looked at him with meaning. It also seemed that the children's smiles had a sexual connotation. He seemed like a lot. And Uncle Tolya was a fan of talk shows. And he especially liked the talk show in which Katya was supposed to take part.
Uncle Tolya even left work early so as not to miss a single issue of the talk show. He recorded all transmissions. Twisted them over and over.
You still do not understand what I'm talking about? Not? Okay, I'll explain. Suppose Katya could show off her talents that day. The whole country would know that there is such a girl who can talk without opening her mouth. Uncle Tolya was a psycho, but he was not a fool. Knowing about the talents of the girl he kidnapped, he would have guessed that the sounds that frightened him were made by Katya. After that, the fate of the girl would be decided. Masha would never see her daughter again.
When the program was aired, the director of the program decided that Katya had spoiled the plot, and ordered her to be shown as little as possible. And the whole program was built on three children and Leopoldina Leopoldovna. Katya was shown only twice, and then briefly. However, this was enough for Uncle Tolya to try several times to remember where he had recently seen this girl. The fact that it was not in the courtyard of the house where he took Katya away, the maniac remembered for sure. However, fortunately for Katya, he did not dwell on this issue in more detail.
Six months have passed. Katya got used to Nikita. The neighbors, who at first were wary of the young man, soon got used to it and even began to give small assignments. This concerned the grandmothers of the neighbors. Grandfather Ivan, who so ingloriously slapped the maniac, was on the alert in the case of Nikita, and much later the neighbors of the girlfriends got used to the fact that a male face looms next to Katya and Masha. Uncle and aunt did not express their thoughts about Nikita, but they did not interrupt Katya when she talked about the cheerful uncle.
It's a new year again. Katya categorically refused to go to the New Year tree, and the New Year was spent quietly. We spent all ten days at home. Nikita called his mother and daughter to go to the skating rink or go skiing, but Katya began to cry as soon as she heard that she had to go outside. It was the last day of the New Year holidays, when an unexpected guest burst into the house. Valentina is back. She started screaming at Masha from the doorway, accusing the girl of taking her daughter away from her first, and now she wants to appropriate her fianc;. Masha was afraid of only one thing. She knew that Katya was now sitting huddled in a ball in the children's room, and she wanted the loud-voiced guest to speak more quietly. Masha took Valya into the kitchen and closed the door. She did not argue with Valya, did not remind her that it was she, Valya, who had abandoned Katenka four years ago. Masha was generally far from clarifying and reminding something. She reassured her sister as best she could. Then she dialed Nikita's phone on the display and suggested that her sister call her ex-fiance herself.
Valya snorted, threw the phone at Masha, and left, banging the door with all her might. For two weeks nothing was heard of Val. Valya rented an apartment and hardly visited her parents. The appearance of Valya did not change anything in the relations of the relatives with Mashenka and Katya. Saturday was the day of grandparents, and Katenka began to prepare for the visit from Tuesday. Masha has a lot of work to do after the New Year holidays. However, remembering that Saturday is sacred, she took Katya to her relatives and decided to leave her for a few hours. When Masha came for her daughter, it turned out that Katya had no relatives.
It was like this: Valya arrived and expressed a desire to take a walk with Katya. Katya did not dare to refuse the formidable aunt. She was afraid of Valya, like a boa rabbit. Valya did not return in an hour, as agreed, she was not there after two hours and after six. Valentina's phone did not answer. Maria Ilyinichna and Sergei Petrovich sat pale and embarrassed. They did not hide from Masha that they let Katya and Valya go with pleasure. The old men hoped that Valya would finally be imbued with maternal feelings for Katya. And then maybe he will return the girl to himself.
Masha stayed with her uncle and aunt until the evening, and then went home. Nikita was waiting for her at the entrance. He already knew what had happened. Seeing Masha, he rushed to her, but Masha only shook her head. As in the case of the maniac, Katya was gone for almost a day. However, this time Masha did not want to call the police, although Nikita suggested this to her several times. By the morning of the next day, when Masha was already desperate, the doorbell rang. Masha opened the door and froze. Under the door, Katya was lying in a bag. The girl was unconscious. The front door slammed. Valya's heels tapped, and a car immediately drove off from the entrance.
Do not rush to condemn Valentina, let's try to understand her motives. After all, nothing just happens.
Valya was determined to take Katenka away. She did not so much need a child as envy stifled her. She was infuriated that Nikita, her ex-man, was looking for his daughter. Moreover, he seems to like Masha, and he probably already dreamed of marrying her.
Masha refused to return the girl to Valentina, then Valya decided to just take the baby for herself. Not knowing what to talk about with a little girl, Valentina was silent while they were driving in the car. Having gone up to the apartment, which she temporarily rented, Valentina and Katya also did not talk very much. Valentina sat down at the computer, and Katenka was invited to have fun on her own. Evening has come. Valentina packed up and left. In parting, she told Katya to go to bed. Katya did not close her eyes all night.
When Valya returned in the morning, things got even worse. Katya was always afraid that Aunt Valya was about to ask her about the Barbie doll. Old fears suddenly returned, and at some point the girl lost consciousness. Valya, for whom Katya, in general, was a stranger, did not know what to do now with the sick girl. On reflection, she decided to throw the baby back to Masha. Finding Katenka unconscious at the door of her apartment, Masha called an ambulance. The woman and girl were taken to the hospital. Nikita spent the whole night under the walls of the hospital.
Epilogue:
Masha sleeps on a chair next to Katenka's bed. In the morning, when she opens her eyes, she sees her daughter's wide eyes. The girl carefully look at her mother and calls a little audibly: “Mom!”. Masha cries, and Katya continues her thought, “Mom, are we going to the sea?”. Tears run down Masha's cheeks when she hears Katya begin to reproduce the sounds of the sea. With a happy smile, the girl listens to the roar of the surf and the cries of seagulls. Masha knows that now everything will be fine. Her abilities returned to Katya, never to leave her again.
Five feather. girl ventrologist
© Copyright: Èðèíà Ìóòîâ÷èéñêàÿ, 2022
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Ñâèäåòåëüñòâî î ïóáëèêàöèè ¹222101300224
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