Very often, when someone is asked what their favorite time of year is, they name the one in which they were born. Alice was born on December 24, and her favorite time of year was winter, but it was far from just because of her birthday. And not even because of New Year's Eve.
The main reason was that she and her sister Nika were going on vacation to their grandparents. Nika loved that time too. And it was especially fun when their cousin Goshka also came. This time Goshka would come too. And Alice began to imagine how they would spend their vacations. Of course, they will be like all children playing snowballs, sledding, maybe even make a snowman. But their favorite thing to do was to listen to the stories their grandfather read to them. When Alice was younger, she often thought that he looked like Santa Claus. Now she guessed that it was because of his voice - Grandpa may not have looked like the New Year's wizard outwardly, but his voice was exactly the same. They read many different stories, and Alice loved magical fairy tales the most. And secretly she still dreamed of being in one of them.
***
This time they read the fairy tale "The Three Fat Men" with their grandfather. And the younger ones, especially Nika, were struck by the resemblance between the girl Suok and the doll.
- But I wonder," she asked, "can it be possible for a doll to turn into a person? Or vice versa?
- It was better - Alice glanced warily at her sister - even sounds kind of creepy.
- And I'd like one of my dolls to come to life," Nika said dreamily, but her sister and brother couldn't hear it anymore.
***
Very often in large rural houses there are attics full of all sorts of things. There's a lot of stuff up there! Sometimes the attic itself looks like a magical land. And the house of our heroes' grandparents was no exception. And of course, they also liked to spend time there.
This time they went there too, and suddenly Veronica shouted:
- Look what I found!
At first Alice didn't believe that her sister could have found something very unusual in their attic, for they had searched it up and down, and more than once. But she was wrong, for the next minute Nika came out with a strange box in her hands.
- I wonder what's inside? And how does it open? - Nika shook the box in her hands. Something rattled in it.
- Maybe there's a key around here somewhere? - Goshka asked.
- We'll look now," said Alice.
But there was no need to look, because as soon as Nika pressed the middle of the box, it opened by itself. Something scary happened next. Because as soon as Nika opened the box, she froze and fell to the floor.
- Nika, what's wrong with you?! - rushed to her brother and sister.
- Ma-ma, Ma-ma, Ma-ma..." was all Nika could babble.
In the meantime, a little man like a jester jumped out of the box. Seeing how frightened Gosha and Alice were, the jester laughed:
- Ah, now all the toys in the world will look like me, and your sister will be a doll forever!
And jumped out. Out the window. Meanwhile, Gosha and Alice were terrified. What to do? How to save their sister?
- How are we going to tell grandmother about everything? - Alice cried. And Gosha was thinking.
- Grandma's not home now," he said thoughtfully, "She's gone to visit. That's a long time. So, while she was gone, we'd have to think of something to unchain Nika.
- Are we going to tell grandfather? - Alice asked.
- Grandpa? Maybe we should tell him, maybe he'll give us some advice. How much do you know about jesters?
- Not really," Alice admitted.
- Well, that's me, too. You gotta know your enemy. Come on, let's go, we've got no time to lose!
- Oh, they're back already! - Grandpa was happy to see his grandchildren. Suddenly he became alarmed - Where's Veronica?
This question almost made Alice cry again, and Gosha said:
- You see, grandfather, something happened here... - And he told me what happened.
- Where is she, where is Veronica? - asked the grandfather after listening to his grandchildren.
When Grandpa was escorted to Veronica's room and saw the box next to her, he realized everything.
- Now I get it, it's him, the Jester in the box.
- That's what I said - Gosha replied - And do you know him?
- It's a long story," Grandpa began, "In one kingdom there were people who loved to have fun. Especially the king's jester amused everyone, and not only in the castle. The jester was ugly and a dwarf, but everyone from nobles to peasants had fun with him. And no one noticed that the universal favorite actually had a black soul. Gradually, the jester decided that no one dared to laugh at anything and no one but him and his jokes. And as soon as he saw anyone - and especially children - laughing at someone or something else, he would get terribly angry, call them names, and might even hit them. Don't be surprised, even though he was a dwarf, he was very strong. Not only that, he felt complete impunity, because he knew that the children's parents would not believe them. It got to the point that once the jester hit the king's little daughter, who was even younger than our Nika. Yes, yes, he hit the princess. But he could not hide it, because it was seen by the girl's older brother and a servant who was passing by. Besides, the king and queen had long been alarmed by the children's complaints about their favorite. The Jester was sentenced to life in solitary confinement, and the court sorceress said:
- After death, the jester's soul will remain here forever!
That's what happened. It was strictly forbidden to open the box, but... all secrets sooner or later come to light.
- What do we do now? - Alice asked. Grandfather sighed.
- The only way I've seen is to break the box, but if I do it now, Nika will stay like this forever. Although... there is another way, but first of all, I don't know if it will work or not, and secondly, it's pretty complicated. I don't know if you'd agree or not...
- What's the method?
And grandfather told me. The thing was that the jester didn't recognize any weaknesses in himself. And if Alice and Gosha told about their weaknesses, it might work.
And Gosha and Alice agreed. They were ready to do anything to save their little sister.
They prepared their speeches really well. Alice told in hers how her indecisiveness hinders her, Goshka - how he sometimes feels lazy to do something and can't make himself do it. At the end both of them recalled a story that happened on vacation. They were at grandma and grandpa's house then, playing ball, and accidentally broke the glass... But grandpa only saw the broken window. No one ever found out who did it.
- Grandfather," said Alice, "you must forgive us. We were the ones who broke the glass.
- N-not you-" Veronica stammered suddenly. - It's me. When the glass broke, I was scared and ran away. Alice and Gosha said so on purpose. I was very frightened, and they didn't want me to be punished for it.
- Nika! - Alice screamed - You're talking! And you're not a doll anymore!
And indeed she was human again. Thus, having admitted her guilt, Veronica broke the spell. The family believes that Veronica is a little hero, but she herself believes that it was her brother and sister who helped her by their example. Of course, they've always been very friendly. And that's why no sorcery can defeat them.
The end