Children and stars

There were swings on the shore of the lake.  They rocked slowly.
There were two of them, he and she.  The girl's name was Tia, and her friend's name was Paul.
She was not yet 4 years old - a little more than a month remained.
Her friend, the one sitting next to her, was already 4 years and 2 weeks old.

It was evident that both knew about their huge age difference and they behaved relative to each other accordingly - she respected him for "adulthood", and he proudly accepted it, while giving her his boyish attention.
They sat together, swayed and looked at each other.  He was looking at her somewhat from above, not only because he was big, but also because she was tiny!
From this, Tia felt awkward and, out of embarrassment, hugged her favorite toy - a bear.  She pressed him to her.  All this made her weak and defenseless in Paul's eyes, in need of care and his constant attention!
Tia really looked like a beautiful doll: round and big eyes, pretty ears and a nose, a slender figure and fiery red hair.
With her left cheek, she pressed against the bear's head, and his bear's right ear touched her lips.
Tia, unnoticed by Paul, constantly kissed her bear.
Soon they started talking and only then listened to each other with attention until the very evening, without interrupting and with mutual attention.
Apparently, at this age, children know how, want and love to listen and hear each other.
Where does it go then?
Probably in the same place as the years?!

Their conversation was conducted so quietly that even her dad who approached them could not hear their words. And they, completely absorbed in each other, did not notice him.
Dad walked up to them a few more steps, and when it was already clear what they were talking about, he stopped.  He didn't want to disturb what was so gentle, pure and... Familiar to him since his childhood.
At this time, Tiechka pointed to the sky with the index finger of her left hand:

- Can you see the stars?  Do you know how many there are in heaven?  What are they doing there?

- No, - Paul answered her, confused and even embarrassed.  He took a closer look at the place where her thin finger was pointing.
Returning his gaze to Tia, he said:
- I do not see them!  Because they are not there now!

- They are!  They’re just still sleeping!” Tiechka said in the tone of a teacher, “They always go to bed during the day.  They leave the sky far, far away.  There - beyond the clouds, the sun and even beyond the sky!
Paul nodded.  He understood and generously agreed with everything Tia said.

- The stars go to sleep in the morning and in their place the sun and clouds come to the sky;  they walk there until the stars sleep.

Paul was now peering very carefully at the sky, trying to see at least the sleeping stars on it.
He did it the way all adults do - they raise their heads high and put their palms on their foreheads.
True, they do it by the fire, where there are always experts on the stars and constellations.
Suddenly Paul remembered that he was "adult".
He firmly and forcefully asked Tia in the voice of his dad:
- How did you know that?
Do the stars sleep? Or maybe they go to work?  - Paul asked ironically, trying to be even more like his dad.
He felt completely grown up.

- My dad told me this, - Tiechka answered quietly and confidently, - and my dad knows everything about the stars, and about their life there, somewhere very far away "at far away," Tia answered and took a deep breath.
She looked up at Paul and continued:
- You know, Paul, when the stars wake up, they open their eyes. And that's why we see them.  And during the day, when they sleep, their cilia close and we don’t see them.
Such a convincing explanation, Paul "accepted" immediately.  The authority of her dad was great for him, and this did not allow him to doubt everything that Tiechka told.
And she, after a pause and thus giving him the opportunity to look at himself as an "adult", continued:
- My dad says that the sky at night is like my favorite game - Pasel.
Only there are stars in the sky, and I have drawings.  They find their place next to others after they play!
So they draw pictures in the sky, and we look at them.  Isn't it beautiful?
And dad also says that our arms and legs ... well, everything in general, and you, and me, and mom and everyone have them, we are made of little stars!
Because there are many!
They love us!

Tiechka fell silent.
She looked at Paul.
He sat motionless and looked at his hands, then at her hands and again at his own.
He did not immediately understand what Tia said, but he believed her!
But everything said for him was very unexpected and strange.
He looked down at his hands again.  They didn't glow.
Pavel, because he was very mature and smart, understood that it was not dark enough and the stars simply had not yet woken up.
He wanted to tell her about it, but kept silent;  he could not afford to offend her with his words and only silently nodded.
Tia realized that he agreed with everything she said.

- Do you want to see the stars?  Tiechka asked.
She wanted to distract him from doubts and at the same time remind him of herself!

- So they are alive?  Can they sleep and wake up on their own? Do they sleep on their own and wake up on their own?
What do they like to eat the most?
Do they have moms and dads?  - Unexpectedly for her, Paul's questions rained down.

He wanted to know everything about them!  And, of course, now you can see all this for yourself, and if Tia allows it, then hear their voice and touch them!
He smiled, wanting to hide his, as it seemed to him, "childish desires" from her.

- Paul, they're good!  They never fight and go to bed on time!  They like to drink milk and do not offend girls!
You look like them!” she finished solemnly and looked up at him.
Paul forgot all his questions from these words!

Behind them, a slight rustle of leaves was heard, which informed both of them of the end of a wonderful evening, and that it was time to get ready for bed.

Tii's dad approached them.  His smile showed them both that they were "good" and that their time had come.  .

Paul and Tia together, holding hands inexplicably, got up from the swing together.
Now there were three of them.
Leaves rustled, lifted high by their feet.

Tiechka tried not to forget Paul's questions and silently repeated them.
And Paul wanted to quickly ask his dad about everything and already tomorrow, certainly tomorrow, to continue the conversation with Tia.
But he decided something else very important for himself!
And quietly, only for himself, he said:
- I will become big and learn everything about the stars!
And when Tia and I get married, I will always tell her about the stars!


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