Sometimes trouble can turn into happiness. Sofya and Pavlik Shirokov knew this firsthand. After all, their strangest New Year became the happiest. But first things first.
It all started with the fact that when Pavlik was in the fifth grade, he and Sonya had a very strange neighbor. No, they saw no evil from her. And neither did the other neighbors. On the contrary, when she saw Sonya somewhere, she immediately began to praise her. Mostly, these compliments were about her looks. But Sonya didn't like this neighbor.
- Maybe she's not evil," Sonia thought, "but she's kind of... annoying.
She didn't even realize it herself, whether she did or not.
- If I tell anyone, they'll think I'm a nuisance, she thought.
This neighbor had a much more unpleasant trait: she could catch Sonia and Pavlik's father somewhere in the entrance and ask for some help. There were even times when she would come quite late at night. But Mikhail - Sonia's dad - still couldn't refuse her. And although even Mama didn't like it, Papa had an answer for all his discontent:
- Maria Egorovna is a lonely, elderly woman, she needs help!
- Maybe that's true," Sonia thought, "but why, if Maria Yegorovna came when you weren't at home, didn't she ask you to give her a message, and didn't ask you to help her when you came?
And it was true: after almost every such incident, Dad offered to help Maria Egorovna the next day, but she invariably replied:
- No, Mishenka! I don't want anything!
It's like he doesn't remember.
And there was one more thing that kept Sonia in suspense. Maria Yegorovna lived on the third floor of their house, they lived on the top floor, and of course their father was not the only man in the entrance. Why then didn't Maria Yegorovna ask for help from someone else? At this point Sonya sighed, because she realized what the answer would be. The fact was that Papa was the most failsafe in the house. And Maria Yegorovna, who was far from stupid, realized this very quickly. But Sonya and her brother couldn't even imagine how Daddy's dependability would turn out for them.
***
For as long as Sonya could remember, they had spent New Year's Eve at her grandmother's house - her father's mother, Taisiya Lukinichna. They would gather at her grandmother's cottage, decorate the Christmas tree, which was right there in the yard, and on January 1st they would find presents under the tree. By the way, my grandmother always brought toys from the attic. But that year for some reason everything went wrong.
***
No, she and her mom arrived without any adventures. Grandma, as usual, was happy to see them, it was fun, but... exactly until they decided to decorate the Christmas tree. It turned out that the door to the attic was jammed. Pavlik, Sonya and mom tried to open it themselves, but nothing worked. Mom called Dad, but he, as it turned out, was caught by Maria Yegorovna, who again needed help.
- Liusya, I'll try to get away as much as I can - Dad made excuses, but even grandma realized that they would have to celebrate the new year without him.
***
And no toys. And there was no telling which was worse. Because if Dad would still come back on the morning of January 1, it was not clear what to do with the toys. But the resourceful grandmother figured out what to do.
- You know," she said thoughtfully, "people didn't even have Christmas trees before. Instead, they used to hang apples and candy on the tree. Maybe we should do the same? - Grandma suggested and added hastily - I have thread.
So they did. Grandma also showed Sonya and Pavlik a way of making wishes.
- Take a piece of paper, write your wishes on it, roll up the paper and burn it.
- Just like that? - Pavlik asked.
- It's that simple. You may discuss your desires with each other, you may not discuss them, but make sure that your desires do not harm anyone.
- And us too? - Pavlik asked.
- You, too.
So they did. And they had wishes, and very important ones. Sonya wanted to get rid of Maria Yegorovna. When Pavlik found out about it, he was frightened:
- Are you crazy?! Grandma said you can't kill anyone! Or harm anyone.
- We're not going to hurt anyone, much less kill anyone. We'll just make sure she doesn't live in our house anymore.
- Ha, where will she go? - Pavlik asked.
- Well..." - Sonia pondered - "let someone from her family take her.
- What do you know about her family? - Pavlik asked again.
- My mother told me that she had a husband," Sonia began to remember, "but he's been dead longer than our grandfather. But look: if there was a husband, then....
- There must be children! - Pavlik finished.
- That's right. At least one person. And grandchildren. Well, at least one grandson or granddaughter for sure. So let them take grandma to live near them.
- Exactly! - Pavlik picked up - But not because someone was sick!
Pavlik himself had a wish, which appeared because of a problem that complicated his life much more than an annoying but not evil neighbor. The thing is that his class had not the most adequate math teacher. Marina Borisovna made very serious demands on her students, but at the same time... did not give them any knowledge at all. Because of this, even the girls who were excellent in elementary school began to have problems. What to say about Pavlik and his classmates, who had never been excellent or technically proficient either.
So, Sonya wished for a "good neighbor" and Pavlik wished for "everything to get better in math". Dad really came on January 1st, opened the door, and they decorated the tree as usual. And in general they started the year well, and the vacation was fun. But now it was time to go home.
***
On the first day of school, Sonia and Pavlik were very nervous. Especially Pavlik. And, as it turned out, not for nothing.
Because on the second lesson the class teacher Vera Fedorovna came to them and said that math (and she was the third), there would be no math.
- How not? - asked Pavlik - Is Marina Borisovna sick?
Knowing Marina Borisovna's character, he realized that the latter must have been in a very serious condition not to come to school.
Everyone else knew it, too. But it turns out that's not the case.
- No, she's not ill - answered Vera Fyodorovna - it's just that she... had to go to another city on urgent business.
- When will she be back? - Maxim, Pavlik's desk mate, asked.
- I don't know," Vera Fyodorovna replied with a sigh, "maybe in a few years. Or maybe he won't come back at all.
- And who will teach math? - Pavlik asked.
But it turned out that Vera Fyodorovna didn't know the answer to this question. At recess, Pavlik called his sister and told her everything.
- And do what? - He asked at the end.
- Let's go to Viktoria Alexandrovna's - replied Sonya. - Together.
Victoria Alexandrovna was the brother and sister's common first teacher. When she saw them, she was very happy.
- Oh, hello! - she smiled - why are you here, and the two of you together?
- Hello, Viktoria Alexandrovna - Sonia said hello - we wanted to ask: do you know where Marina Borisovna has gone and when she will be back?
Having learned what they were looking for her for, Victoria Alexandrovna grew serious.
- I don't know, my good people. She's got some serious family issues.
- In the family? - Sonia interjected.
- Yeah, or in the family or some other relative. She's always been very secretive, so no one knows what happened there.
- Who's gonna teach math? You don't know?
But, just like Vera Fyodorovna, Victoria Alexandrovna could not answer this question. And that was half the trouble. The very next day it became clear that there was no one to teach Pavlik's math class. All those who taught this subject were busy - most often, those who had to pass exams this year. Therefore, math in Pavlik's class was now taught by everyone who taught technical disciplines, and was freer when there was a lesson to be taught there. And of course, no one in Pavlik's class liked this life.
Sonya was also worried about her brother. So they did not immediately notice that for more than a week no one in their family had seen Maria Yegorovna. And then, on Sunday, Sonya finally asked:
- Daddy, have you seen Maria Egorovna for a long time? She's often looking for you, asking for help with something....
But instead of Dad, Mom answered.
- If we ever see her again, it will be very soon.
- Why?
- She's not gonna live here anymore. She's gone. Her great-granddaughter was born.
Maria Egorovna's family lived in a neighborhood not very close to her home. And now, when her granddaughter Lyuba became a mother, it was decided to move Maria Egorovna closer, because she was also working and would not have time to take care of her great-granddaughter (although it was not necessary to visit her every day) and work if both her great-granddaughter and her work were far from home.
- What about the apartment? - Sonia suddenly asked.
- They'll sell it, they'll have new tenants soon," Dad replied.
Sonya clenched her fists under the table.
- Just be lucky with the neighbors this time - she thought.
***
A few more days passed. Everything in Pavlik's classroom remained the same. And he and Sonya didn't find any new tenants either.
On Friday, going to school, my brother and sister finally saw a strange car near their driveway, with a crowd of people they had never seen before. It looked like people were either moving to a new house or moving out. Looking closer, Sonya and Pavlik realized that they were the new tenants. Besides, besides the people, there was a small red dog like a spitz near the car. Sonya and Pavlik knew all the dogs in their neighborhood, and no one had a Spitz. And he was not the only animal: among the things there was a large cage, covered with some kind of handkerchief. Sonya and Pavlik realized that there was a parrot sitting there.
A woman in a striped coat, who also sometimes brought something into the entrance, was in charge of all this. Although her face was hard to see, Sonya and Pavlik realized that she was probably older than their mother.
- I wonder," Pavlik asked thoughtfully, "Who is it?
- I don't know," replied Sonia, "Come on, let's go, or we'll be late for school.
***
And so, on Monday, the thing that everyone had been waiting for so long finally happened. Vera Fyodorovna came to the class and said:
- Starting tomorrow, you'll have a new math teacher. Her name is Sazanovich Nina Grigorievna.
On Tuesday, Sonia and Pavlik's first lessons were on the same floor. As they walked up the stairs, they saw a familiar striped coat.
- Look, - whispered Pavlik - our neighbor.
- Uh-huh," Sonja nodded.
- Probably brought one of the kids to our school to apply for a job. Can you tell me about it? Maybe he'll get into your class.
Ten minutes later...
- Hello, my name is Sazanovich Nina Grigorievna.
Pavlik looked at her carefully and almost fell over. She had light brown hair in a bundle, piercing blue eyes, and a gait that was enough to make one realize that its owner had been a dancer or gymnast for many years. Yes, he and Sonya hadn't seen her face the first time, and she had her back to them on the stairs, but he couldn't have been mistaken. The new teacher was their new neighbor.
***
To be honest, after talking to Marina Borisovna, Pavlik and his classmates were afraid of the new teacher. They simply did not know what to expect from Nina Grigorievna. But, fortunately, all their fears were in vain. Although Nina Grigorievna was strict, she was demanding not only to herself, but also to others, and she really knew how to explain and did it very clearly. Yes, she did not give anyone down, but she treated everything, including herself, with irony. In general, Nina Grigorievna turned out to be very cheerful. No wonder she easily and quickly found a common language with everyone.
Everyone was very happy for Pavlik and his classmates. And no one could even imagine that it would be he and Sonya who would have to get to know Nina Grigorievna better.
***
On Saturday, Sonia and Pavlik, who had done all their homework the day before, went for a walk. In the yard they saw a familiar spitz with which a girl a little older than Pavlik was playing. She wore a lilac jacket and a purple hat, and although her eyes were brown, not blue or blue, there was no mistaking who she was.
- Hi," she said simply, "are you Sonya and Pavlik? My mom told me about you. I'm Mila, and this is - she nodded at the spitz - Richie. If you want, you can play with him too, he's very sociable.
Of course, Sonya and Pavlik, who had never had a dog, didn't have to be persuaded for long. Mila was not deceived: Richie really turned out to be a very cheerful and sociable dog. They played for a while, and suddenly Ritchie barked excitedly and ran off somewhere.
And that's right: Nina Grigorievna was coming to the trio, only now she was not in a fur coat, but in a jacket.
- Oh, is that you? Hello," she said, "have you met our little bugger yet? - and suddenly added, "Can I play with you?
And they accepted her into the game. Everyone was having fun, and it seemed there was nothing more natural than playing in the yard with Nina Grigorievna's dog, together with her and her daughter.
When everyone was playing, Nina Grigorievna suddenly suggested:
- If you want, you can come and see how we live. - and, trying to calm down my daughter and dog, who were rejoicing wildly, she added: "Only first ask your parents for permission.
The parents allowed it, and Sonya and Pavlik went to visit Mila and Nina Grigorievna.
My parents agreed, and soon they found themselves in a spacious two-room apartment. The kitchen was also large and spacious, and there was a cage with a yellow parrot by the window.
- That's who was in that cage, thought the brother and sister.
And they sat down to drink tea. Surprisingly, they were not bored at all, as they usually were with their parents' friends, to whom they had refused to go at the first opportunity. And here it seemed to them that they had known Mila and Nina Grigorievna all their lives. Strangely enough, although Nina Grigorievna was Pavlik's teacher, they were not talking about school. Or rather, not only about it. With Nina Grigorievna could talk about anything in the world. And Pavlik and Sonia liked it very much when she and Mila visited.
***
It was their first, but by no means their last, visit to Mila and Nina Grigorievna. Sonya and Pavlik introduced them to their parents, and soon their mother and even their grandmother became friends with Nina Grigorievna and Mila. Now they spent a lot of time together. That's how the Christmas tree without toys brought them happiness and new friends.
The end