“It’s alive and glowing...”
One evening I was sitting in the yard, near the sand, waiting for my mother. She probably stayed late at the institute, or at the store, or maybe stood at the bus stop for a long time. Don't know. Only all the parents in our yard had already arrived, and all the kids went home with them and were probably already drinking tea with bagels and cheese, but my mother was still not there...
And now the lights began to light up in the windows, and the radio started playing music, and dark clouds moved in the sky - they looked like bearded old men...
And I wanted to eat, but my mother was still not there, and I thought that if I knew that my mother was hungry and was waiting for me somewhere at the end of the world, I would immediately run to her, and would not be late and not made her sit on the sand and get bored.
And at that time Mishka came out into the yard. He said:
- Great!
And I said:
- Great!
Mishka sat down with me and picked up the dump truck.
- Wow! - said Mishka. - Where did you get it? Does he pick up sand himself? Not yourself? And he leaves on his own? Yes? What about the pen? What is it for? Can it be rotated? Yes? A? Wow! Will you give it to me at home?
I said:
- No, I won’t. Present. Dad gave it to me before he left.
The bear pouted and moved away from me. It became even darker outside.
I looked at the gate so as not to miss when my mother came. But she still didn’t come. Apparently, I met Aunt Rosa, and they stand and talk and don’t even think about me. I lay down on the sand.
Here Mishka says:
- Can you give me a dump truck?
- Get off it, Mishka.
Then Mishka says:
– I can give you one Guatemala and two Barbados for it!
I speak:
– Compared Barbados to a dump truck...
- Well, do you want me to give you a swimming ring?
I speak:
- It's broken.
- You will seal it!
I even got angry:
- Where to swim? In the bathroom? On Tuesdays?
And Mishka pouted again. And then he says:
- Well, it wasn’t! Know my kindness! On!
And he handed me a box of matches. I took it in my hands.
“You open it,” said Mishka, “then you will see!”
I opened the box and at first I didn’t see anything, and then I saw a small light green light, as if somewhere far, far away from me a tiny star was burning, and at the same time I myself was holding it in my hands.
“What is this, Mishka,” I said in a whisper, “what is this?”
“This is a firefly,” said Mishka. - What, good? He's alive, don't think about it.
“Bear,” I said, “take my dump truck, would you like it?” Take it forever, forever! Give me this star, I’ll take it home...
And Mishka grabbed my dump truck and ran home. And I stayed with my firefly, looked at it, looked and couldn’t get enough of it: how green it is, as if in a fairy tale, and how close it is, in the palm of your hand, but it shines as if from afar... And I couldn’t breathe evenly, and I heard my heart beating and there was a slight tingling in my nose, as if I wanted to cry.
And I sat like that for a long time, a very long time. And there was no one around. And I forgot about everyone in this world.
But then my mother came, and I was very happy, and we went home. And when they started drinking tea with bagels and feta cheese, my mother asked:
- Well, how is your dump truck?
And I said:
- I, mom, exchanged it.
Mom said:
- Interesting! And for what?
I replied:
- To the firefly! Here he is, living in a box. Turn out the light!
And mom turned off the light, and the room became dark, and the two of us began to look at the pale green star.
Then mom turned on the light.
“Yes,” she said, “it’s magic!” But still, how did you decide to give such a valuable thing as a dump truck for this worm?
“I’ve been waiting for you for so long,” I said, “and I was so bored, but this firefly, it turned out to be better than any dump truck in the world.”
Mom looked at me intently and asked:
- And in what way, in what way is it better?
I said:
- How come you don’t understand?! After all, he is alive! And it glows!..
You must have a sense of humor
One day Mishka and I were doing homework. We put notebooks in front of us and copied. And at that time I was telling Mishka about lemurs, what they have big eyes, like glass saucers, and that I saw a photograph of a lemur, how he holds a fountain pen, he himself is small, small and terribly cute.
Then Mishka says:
– Did you write it?
I speak:
“You check my notebook,” says Mishka, “and I’ll check yours.”
And we exchanged notebooks.
And when I saw what Mishka wrote, I immediately began to laugh.
I look, and Mishka is also rolling, he’s just turned blue.
I speak:
- Why are you rolling around, Mishka?
- I'm rolling that you wrote it off incorrectly! What are you doing?
I speak:
- And I say the same thing, only about you. Look, you wrote: “The moses have arrived.” Who are these “Mozes”?
The bear blushed:
- Moses are probably frosts. And you wrote: “Natal winter.” What is this?
“Yes,” I said, “it’s not “natal”, but “has arrived.” There's nothing you can do about it, you have to rewrite it. It's all the lemurs' fault.
And we began to rewrite. And when they rewrote it, I said:
- Let's set tasks!
“Come on,” said Mishka.
At this time dad came. He said:
- Hello, fellow students...
And he sat down at the table.
I said:
“Here, dad, listen to the problem I’ll give Mishka: I have two apples, and there are three of us, how can we divide them equally among us?”
The bear immediately pouted and began to think. Dad didn’t pout, but he also thought about it. They thought for a long time.
I then said:
-Are you giving up, Mishka?
Mishka said:
- I give up!
I said:
– So that we all get equally, we need to make a compote from these apples. - And he began to laugh: - Aunt Mila taught me this!..
The bear pouted even more. Then dad narrowed his eyes and said:
– And since you are so cunning, Denis, let me give you a task.
Year of first publication: 1959
Since its first publication in 1959, Deniska’s Stories have been read by children throughout the then huge country. These stories enchant not only children, but also adults with their simplicity and childlike spontaneity. Thanks to this, many stories in the series have been filmed, and main character stories - Denis Korablev became the main character of several more films not based on Dragunsky's stories.
The plot of the book "Deniska's Stories"
Victor Dragunsky's stories about Denis Korablev did not appear by chance. Just at the time the first stories were published, Dragunsky’s son, Denis, was 9 years old, and the author was fascinated by childhood using the example of his son. It was for him that he wrote most of the stories, and it was his son who was the main reviewer of all the works in the “Deniska’s Stories” series.
In a series of stories subsequently collected in the collection “Deniska’s Stories,” the main actor first a preschooler performs, and then a schoolchild junior classes– Deniska Korablev with her friend Mishka Slonov. They live in Moscow in the 60s. Thanks to their spontaneity and lively childish interest, they constantly get involved in various funny and interesting stories. Then Deniska will throw the semolina porridge out the window so that she and her mother can go to the Kremlin faster. Either he switches places with a boy at the circus and then flies with a clown under the circus big top, or even gives advice to his mother on how to cope with household chores. And many more, and many more interesting and funny stories.
But they loved reading Deniska’s stories largely for their kindness and instructiveness. After all, all of them end well, and after each of these adventures Deniska found a new rule for himself. All this is especially relevant in the current aggressive world, so it is not surprising that many parents read Dragunsky’s stories for their children.
“Deniska’s stories” on the Top books website
Availability of "Deniska's stories" in school curriculum further raises interest in the works. Such interest allowed the stories to take their rightful place in our rating, as well as to be represented among. And given that interest in the work has not yet waned, we will see Deniska’s Stories more than once in our book ratings. You can find out more about the stories collected in the collection “Deniska’s Stories” below.
All Deniska's stories
- Englishman Paul
- Watermelon Lane
- White finches
- Main rivers
- Goose throat
- Where has this been seen, where has this been heard...
- Twenty years under the bed
- Deniska is daydreaming
- Dymka and Anton
- Uncle Pavel the stoker
- Living Corner
- Enchanted letter
- The smell of heaven and shag
- Healthy thought
- Green leopards
- And us!
- When I was little
- Puss in Boots
- Red ball in the blue sky
- Chicken broth
- Motorcycle racing on a vertical wall
- My friend the bear
- There is a lot of traffic on Sadovaya
- You must have a sense of humor
- No bang, no bang!
- No worse than you circus people
- Independent Gorbushka
- Nothing can be changed
- One drop kills a horse
- He is alive and glowing...
- First day
- Before bed
- Spyglass
- A fire in the outbuilding, or a feat in the ice...
- Dog Thief
- The wheels sing - tra-ta-ta
- Adventure
- Professor of sour cabbage soup
- Workers crushing stone
- Talking Ham
- Tell me about Singapore
- Exactly 25 kilos
- Knights
- From top to bottom, diagonally!
- My sister Ksenia
- Blue dagger
- Glory to Ivan Kozlovsky
- Elephant and radio
- Lyalka the Elephant
- Death of the spy Gadyukin
- Battle of the Clear River
- The Ancient Mariner
- The secret becomes clear
- Quiet Ukrainian night...
- Third place in butterfly style
- C in behavior
- Amazing day
- teacher
- Fantômas
- Tricky way
- Man with blue face
- Chicky kick
- What does Mishka like?
- What I love...
- ...And what I don’t like!
- Grandmaster hat
Victor Dragunsky
Deniska's stories
Part one
It's alive and glowing
What I love
I really like to lie on my stomach on my dad’s knee, lower my arms and legs and hang on my knee like laundry on a fence. I also really like to play checkers, chess and dominoes, just to be sure to win. If you don't win, then don't.
I love listening to a beetle digging around in a box. And on a day off I like to crawl into my dad’s bed in the morning to talk to him about the dog: how we will live more spaciously, and buy a dog, and work with it, and feed it, and how funny and smart it will be, and how she will steal sugar, and I will wipe up the puddles after her, and she will follow me like a faithful dog.
I also like to watch TV: it doesn’t matter what they show, even if it’s just tables.
I like to breathe with my nose into my mother's ear. I especially love to sing and always sing very loudly.
I really love stories about red cavalrymen and how they always win.
I like to stand in front of the mirror and grimace as if I were Parsley from puppet theater. I also really love sprats.
I love reading fairy tales about Kanchila. This is such a small, smart and mischievous doe. She has cheerful eyes, and small horns, and pink polished hooves. When we live more spaciously, we will buy ourselves Kanchilya, he will live in the bathroom. I also like to swim where it’s shallow so I can hold onto the sandy bottom with my hands.
I like to wave a red flag at demonstrations and blow the “go away!” horn.
I really like making phone calls.
I love to plan, saw, I know how to sculpt the heads of ancient warriors and bison, and I sculpted a wood grouse and the Tsar Cannon. I love to give all this.
When I read, I like to chew on a cracker or something else.
I love guests.
I also really love snakes, lizards and frogs. They're so clever. I carry them in my pockets. I like to have a snake on the table when I have lunch. I love it when grandma shouts about the frog: “Take away this disgusting thing!” - and runs out of the room.
I love to laugh. Sometimes I don’t feel like laughing at all, but I force myself, I force laughter out of myself - and look, after five minutes it really becomes funny.
When I have good mood, I love to jump. One day my dad and I went to the zoo, and I was jumping around him on the street, and he asked:
What are you jumping about?
And I said:
I jump that you are my dad!
He got it!
I love going to the zoo! There are wonderful elephants there. And there is one baby elephant. When we live more spaciously, we will buy a baby elephant. I'll build him a garage.
I really like to stand behind the car when it snorts and sniff the gasoline.
I like to go to cafes - eat ice cream and wash it down with sparkling water. It makes my nose tingle and tears come to my eyes.
When I run down the hallway, I like to stomp my feet as hard as I can.
I love horses very much, they have such beautiful and kind faces.
I love a lot of things!
... and what I don’t like!
What I don’t like is having my teeth treated. As soon as I see a dental chair, I immediately want to run to the ends of the world. I also don’t like to stand on a chair and read poetry when guests come.
I don’t like it when mom and dad go to the theater.
I can’t stand soft-boiled eggs, when they are shaken up in a glass, crumbled into bread and forced to eat.
I also don’t like it when my mother goes for a walk with me and suddenly meets Aunt Rose!
Then they only talk to each other, and I just don’t know what to do.
I don’t like wearing a new suit - I feel like wood in it.
When we play red and white, I don't like being white. Then I quit the game and that's it! And when I'm red, I don't like to be captured. I'm still running away.
I don't like it when people beat me.
I don’t like to play “loaf” when it’s my birthday: I’m not little.
I don’t like it when guys wonder.
And I really don’t like it when I cut myself, in addition to smearing my finger with iodine.
I don’t like that it’s cramped in our hallway and adults scurry back and forth every minute, some with a frying pan, some with a kettle, and shout:
Children, don't get under your feet! Be careful, my pan is hot!
And when I go to bed, I don’t like the chorus singing in the next room:
Lilies of the valley, lilies of the valley...
I really don’t like that boys and girls on the radio speak in old lady voices!..
“It’s alive and glowing...”
One evening I was sitting in the yard, near the sand, waiting for my mother. She probably stayed late at the institute, or at the store, or maybe stood at the bus stop for a long time. Don't know. Only all the parents in our yard had already arrived, and all the kids went home with them and were probably already drinking tea with bagels and cheese, but my mother was still not there...
And now the lights began to light up in the windows, and the radio began to play music, and dark clouds moved in the sky - they looked like bearded old men...
And I wanted to eat, but my mother was still not there, and I thought that if I knew that my mother was hungry and was waiting for me somewhere at the end of the world, I would immediately run to her, and would not be late and not made her sit on the sand and get bored.
And at that time Mishka came out into the yard. He said:
Great!
And I said:
Great!
Mishka sat down with me and picked up the dump truck.
Wow! - said Mishka. - Where did you get it? Does he pick up sand himself? Not yourself? And he leaves on his own? Yes? What about the pen? What is it for? Can it be rotated? Yes? A? Wow! Will you give it to me at home?
I said:
No, I won't. Present. Dad gave it to me before he left.
The bear pouted and moved away from me. It became even darker outside.
I looked at the gate so as not to miss when my mother came. But she still didn’t come. Apparently, I met Aunt Rosa, and they stand and talk and don’t even think about me. I lay down on the sand.
Here Mishka says:
Can you give me a dump truck?
Get off it, Mishka.
Then Mishka says:
I can give you one Guatemala and two Barbados for it!
I speak:
Compared Barbados to a dump truck...
Well, do you want me to give you a swimming ring?
I speak:
Yours is broken.
You'll seal it!
I even got angry:
Where to swim? In the bathroom? On Tuesdays?
Deniskins' stories by Dragunsky.
Viktor Yuzefovich Dragunsky was born on December 1, 1913 in New York, into a Jewish family of emigrants from Russia. Soon after this, the parents returned to their homeland and settled in Gomel. During the war, Victor's father died of typhus. His stepfather was I. Voitsekhovich, a red commissar who died in 1920. In 1922, another stepfather appeared - Jewish theater actor Mikhail Rubin, with whom the family traveled all over the country. In 1925 they moved to Moscow. But one day Mikhail Rubin went on tour and did not return home. What happened remains unknown.
Victor started working early. In 1930, already working, he began to attend the “Literary and Theater Workshops” of A. Diky. In 1935, he began performing as an actor at the Transport Theater (now the N.V. Gogol Theater). At the same time, Dragunsky was engaged in literary work: he wrote feuilletons and humoresques, came up with interludes, sketches, variety monologues, circus clownery. Got closer to circus performers and even worked in a circus for some time. Gradually the roles came. He played several roles in films (the film “The Russian Question”, directed by Mikhail Romm) and was accepted into the Film Actor’s Theater. But in the theater with its huge troupe, which included famous movie stars, young and not so famous actors I didn’t have to count on constant employment in performances. Then Dragunsky had the idea of creating a small amateur troupe inside the theater. True, such a troupe could be called conditionally an amateur performance - the participants were professional artists. Many actors responded with pleasure to the idea of creating a parody “theater within a theater.” Dragunsky became the organizer and leader of the literary and theatrical parody ensemble “Blue Bird,” which existed from 1948 to 1958. Actors from other Moscow theaters also began to come there. Gradually, the small troupe gained significance and repeatedly performed at the House of Actors (then: All-Russian Theater Society), where at that time Alexander Moiseevich Eskin was director. The funny parody performances were such a resounding success that Dragunsky was invited to create a similar group with the same name in Mosestrad. For productions in “The Blue Bird”, together with Lyudmila Davidovich, he composed texts for several songs, which later became popular and acquired a second life on the stage: “Three Waltzes”, “Wonder Song”, “Motor Ship”, “Star of My Fields”, “ Berezonka."
During the Great Patriotic War Dragunsky was in the militia.
Since 1940 he has published feuilletons and humorous stories, later collected in the collection Iron Character (1960); writes songs, sideshows, clownery, skits for the stage and circus.
Since 1959, Dragunsky has been writing funny stories about the fictional boy Denis Korablev and his friend Mishka Slonov under the general title “Deniska’s Stories”, based on which the films “Funny Stories” (1962), “Girl on the Ball” (1966), “Deniska’s Stories” (1970) were released g.), “In secret to the whole world” (1976), “ Amazing Adventures Denis Korablev" (1979), short films "Where is it seen, where is it heard", "Captain", "Fire in the outbuilding" and "Spyglass" (1973). These stories brought their author enormous popularity, and it was with them that his name became associated. The name Deniska was not chosen by chance - that was the name of his son.
In addition, Dragunsky was the screenwriter of the film “The Magic Power of Art (1970),” in which Deniska Korablev was also featured as a hero.
However, Viktor Dragunsky wrote prose works for adults too. In 1961, the story “He Fell on the Grass” about the very first days of the war was published. Its hero, a young artist, like the author of the book himself, despite the fact that he was not drafted into the army due to disability, enlisted in the militia. The story “Today and Everyday” (1964) is dedicated to the life of circus workers, the main character of which is a clown; This is a book about a person who exists in spite of time, who lives in his own way.
But most famous and popular are Deniska’s stories for children.
In the 1960s, books from this series were published in large numbers:
"Girl on a Ball"
"Enchanted Letter"
« childhood friend»,
"Dog Thief"
"Twenty years under the bed"
“The magical power of art”, etc.
In the 1970s:
"Red ball in the blue sky"
"Colorful Stories"
"Adventure" etc.
The writer died in Moscow on May 6, 1972.
The widow of V. Dragunsky Alla Dragunskaya (Semichastnaya) published a book of memoirs: “About Victor Dragunsky. Life, creativity, memories of friends”, LLP “Chemistry and Life”, Moscow, 1999.
Only a few days remain until the solemn September lineup.
First-graders feel especially anxious. What awaits them in school world? Will they withstand the load? Will you like it? The parents are also worried: the baby has grown so quickly that it’s hard to believe.
This page is about the first school day. Each of us has our own memories of him. Someone got lost in the crowd and cried while looking for their class, someone didn’t like their desk neighbor.
But over time, all sorts of little things and misunderstandings are erased from memory, by and large, only quiet sadness and dear faces of friends and loved ones remain.
U children's writer Viktor Golyavkin has a story “How I Was Afraid” about a first-grader who is so scared that, due to a misunderstanding, he ends up in a funny position. Famous artist Viktor Chizhikov also told how he went to school for the first time. In the story "Chiki-briki" two friends tease a strict auntie in big glasses, not suspecting that this is their first teacher. Having learned about this, they flatly refuse to cross the threshold of the school.
The wonderful storyteller Viktor Dragunsky composed a lot funny stories about Deniska and his friends. His hero is also worried about the first of September. It’s good that he has tactful adults who help him get rid of unnecessary worries.
Alyosha, the hero of L. Voronkova's story, on the way to school encounters many funny and interesting reasons for play and relaxation, but stoically withstands all temptations and appears at school on time.
But his namesake Alyosha Seroglazov, the hero of the story by Yuz Aleshkovsky, had no idea how difficult it was to study in first grade for an entire week for the first time in his life. On a day off, there is a reason to take stock: what was more in it - good or bad? Who is to blame if there was more bad things: himself or a coincidence of circumstances? Yes, get it offensive nickname It’s a shame at the very first school assembly in my life. But Alyosha copes with these difficulties on his own. And the little puppy Kysh, whom he and his dad bought at the bird market, helps to dispel the sadness.
First-grader Yulia Boriskina and six-year-old Dasha Vorobyova look very elegant and festive. Only in Dasha’s hands, in addition to her briefcase, is a soft toy, which she doesn’t want to part with. The girl goes to a class that has never existed at school before. The uniforms, textbooks, and lessons for the children in this class are completely different, not the same as for first-graders. Very soon Yulia Boriskina learns the role of periods and commas and truly understands the power of the team’s influence.
The writer Yuri Koval has amazing good stories about the distant village of Chisty Dor and its inhabitants. Among them are Panteleevna, Mironikha, Uncle Zui, and the only first-grader in the village, Nyurka. For her birthday, the girl receives a variety of gifts, but most of all she enjoys binoculars - with teacher Alexei Stepanych they will look at the stars.
First-grader Seryozha always lost handkerchiefs, balls, but only once, he even wanted to write with a pencil, but the guys helped out. And the little heroine of V. Zheleznikov’s story “After Lessons” did not even suspect that the alphabet cannot be learned in one day, so she found herself in a stupid position - her younger brother Seryozhka and the boy next door were laughing at her. It’s good that there are caring people nearby who will not ignore someone else’s misfortune, but will definitely help.
V. Golyavkin
How afraid I was
When I first went to school on September 1st for first grade, I was very afraid that they would immediately ask me something difficult. For example, they will ask: what are 973 and 772? Or: where is such and such a city, which I don’t know where it is. Or they’ll force me to read quickly, but I can’t, and they’ll give me a bad mark. Although my parents assured me that nothing like this would happen, I was still worried.
And so excited, confused, even scared, I entered the class, sat down at my desk and quietly asked my neighbor:
Can you write?
He shook his head.
Can you add 973 and 772?
He shook his head and looked at me in fear.
He was completely scared and almost crawled under his desk - he couldn’t read at all.
At this time, the teacher asked me what my last name was, and I decided that they would now force me to quickly read or add large numbers, and said:
I don't know anything!
What don't you know? - the teacher was surprised.
I don't know anything! - I shouted in fear.
Do you know what your name is?
Don't know! - I said.
Don’t you know your last name or first name?
I don't know anything! - I repeated.
The class laughed.
Then I shouted through the noise and laughter:
I know my last name and my first name, but I don’t know anything else!
The teacher smiled and said:
Apart from your first and last name, no one will ask you anything else. None of you know almost anything yet. This is why you came to school, to study and know everything. From today we will begin to study with you.
Then I boldly said my last name and my first name.
It even became funny to me that I was afraid at first.
And my neighbor said his first and last name before he was asked.
V. Chizhikov
Chicky-bricky
Grishka Barlyaev and I are running along a dusty, sun-scorched road. And clouds of warm dust rise up from us, the breeze blows it to the side, and it seems to us that we are machines, so we rumble desperately.
I am ZIS-101! - I shout.
And I'm five-ton! - Grishka shouts.
ZIS-101 drives faster.
But a five-ton truck will take away more cucumbers! - Grishka laughs.
Brakes!
We've arrived!
And we slow down near the garden. These are the gardens of evacuees. It rained two days ago, and cucumbers should appear in our garden. The garden is small, Grisha and I quickly ran around it - only four cucumbers.
Well, nothing,” says Grishka. - We'll pick them up from other areas along the way.
And we rattled in the opposite direction.
Stop! Brakes! I see a cucumber! - I shout.
And I see! - Grishka shouts.
They picked a large cucumber, wiped the dust on their pants and crunched into the cool, slightly sour flesh.
Sit down. Silence, only somewhere high, high, birds are singing.
What are you doing here?! - was heard right next to our ears.
Grishka and I were thrown around like that. In front of us stood a thin woman wearing big glasses.
We looked at each other in silence for a moment until she startled us again:
Come on, get out of my garden! Chiki-briki!
We flew away about twenty meters like a bullet and stopped. Now we were torn apart by laughter.
Chicky-breeny! Chiki-briki! - we jumped.
But she stopped paying attention to us, and we ran home.
Then we often remembered this incident and called any danger that threatened us “Chiki-briki.”
Summer is over. September 1st. In a clean shirt, with a field bag over my shoulder, I am sitting on the rubble, waiting for Grishka. Today we are going to school for the first time. I wait, I wait, Grishka is not there. All the kids passed by, one girl with a bouquet of daisies even ran at a trot. I think it's possible to be late. I go to Grishka’s house, I see him sitting in the window.
What are you doing?! - I shout to him. - Crazy, or what? We'll be late.
“I won’t go to school,” says Grishka.
How so?!
Do you know who our teacher is? Chiki-briki!
So I sat down. What to do?
I ran home, threw my bag on the bench, roared and told my mother that I wouldn’t go to school.
And she tells me:
Well, I’ll take you by the hand, like a little one.
When my mother dragged me to school, the lesson began. It’s quiet all around, only my roar can be heard in the yard. An old man came out of school with a broom in one hand and a bell in the other. He looked at me and shook his head.
You, mother, go, and I’ll take him to class.
I walked ahead, the old man pushed me in the back of the head with his dry palm. He stopped near the freshly painted door and knocked softly.
The teacher came out. Grishka was not mistaken - it was her.
The old man whispered to her:
Will you accept a latecomer?
It seemed to me that she was going to shout: “Come on, march out of my school!” Chiki-briki! But the teacher said:
Please come in, just don’t be late again,” and she smiled.
She was a very good teacher, my first teacher, and I will remember her all my life. Her name was Zoya Alexandrovna.
V. Dragunsky
First day
When the first of September arrived, I got up at night. Because I was afraid to oversleep. Everyone was still sleeping. I lay there for a long time with my eyes open. I lay there and lay there and almost fell asleep again. But then mom woke up. She began to iron my clean shirt. I quickly jumped up and began to get dressed. When dad saw me in new form, He said:
A real general.
There was a crowd of children standing near the school. One hundred thousand. Everyone had flowers in their hands. Moms, dads and grandmothers stood aside. The children made noise, each to their own. I paired up with one boy. He was very handsome. All covered in freckles. Mouth to ear.
They bought me a lot of new things for school. A satchel, notebooks, pencils, a pen, a whole box of feathers. Also a pencil case and an eraser. The pencil case is very beautiful, all shiny. I smelled it, it smells like candy. He licked it, it turns out, sourly.
SCHOOL WORDS
When I wasn’t studying, I was completely stupid. I knew very few words. For example, I knew the words: mom, dad, no matter me, a Christmas tree was born in the forest. And he also knew nine or ten words. And at school there are all new words: blackboard, chalk, teacher, class, desk, bell, hot breakfast. This is very interesting!
My family is too small. Dad, mom and me. This is because I myself am still small. And I will become big, and I will have a big family: dad, mom, grandfather, grandmother, sister, brother, son, daughter and four grandchildren.
TEACHER
The teacher came to class. She said:
Hello children! Let's be friends. Let's get acquainted. My name is Ksenia Alekseevna.
I said:
And my name is Denis.
The teacher said:
Very nice.
And the other guys shouted:
And my name is Masha!
And I'm Misha!
And I'm Tolya!
The teacher said:
That's good! I will call you all by name. What will you call me?
Tolya stood up and said:
We will call you Se-Sevna.
And the teacher laughed:
That's wrong! We must speak clearly and clearly: Ksenia Alekseevna. Got it?
WRITER
A writer came to us for the second lesson. He was cheerful and read funny stories. He composes them himself. For children. To make them laugh. Because laughing is good for your health. We all clapped after each story. And they shouted:
More! More! More!
Because we really liked his stories. He can write everything. And while he was reading, I was writing poetry.
I stood up and said:
I composed poems for you!
He said:
Read it please!
And I read out loud:
Poetry. Write us a story
A story about Chapaev! End.
He said:
What good poems!
THE BALL FLYS AWAY
Then classes ended and I went home. My mother met me at school. She gave me a red ball on a string. It was very beautiful outside. Yellow leaves hung on the trees. The people were all cheerful. The policeman showed the cars where to go. He was wearing white gloves. My ball kept stretching upward, pulling the string as if it were alive. I released him. He flew. I raised my head and watched the red ball fly away into the blue-blue sky.
Ksenia Alekseevna gave us homework. Write four sticks. I took a notebook and wrote. At first, it turned out that the sticks were crawling downwards. Then I decided to rewrite. It turned out even worse. Now the sticks climbed up at an angle. Mom looked and said:
Your handwriting is bad. You won't understand anything. Just blah blah blah. You write properly. You're not trying at all. Try your best.
I sat down to write again. Mom said:
Why did you stick out your tongue?
I said:
That's what I'm trying to do!
TO SCHOOL TOMORROW
And then I played in the yard. I played for a long time. Finally mom looked out the window and called:
Denis! Go have dinner.
I went home. For dinner I ate bread and butter and tea with milk. Then I began to undress. Dad asked:
Did you want to sleep? Why are you lying down?
I said:
Back to school tomorrow! It's time.
He smiled:
It's still early, seven o'clock. Don't be afraid, you'll have time to sleep.
I told him:
I go to bed so early because I want tomorrow to come sooner. I'll sleep quickly!
He laughed and said:
Well, then good night!
BEFORE BED
I lay in bed and kept trying to sleep. But sleep did not come to me. I kept thinking that I was studying and would soon be completely literate. First I will learn the entire ABC book. Letters from A to Z. And then I’ll learn all the syllables. Ma-ah. Ma. Meh. Mu. And so in six months we will go for a walk with dad. At first I will be silent, and then I will look at the sign and say, out of the blue:
Eggs, butter, milk.
Dad will say:
What, are you hungry? Do you want to eat?
And I will say:
No, I just read it. Look, it says on the sign!
Then dad will say:
Wow! Did you read it yourself?
Yes. And only six years.
Then dad will say:
How nice it is to walk down the street with an educated person!
L. Voronkova
I'm going to school!
The sun peeked through the window.
Alyosha, it's time to go to school!
“I’m already ready,” Alyosha answered. I took my school bag and took a bouquet of flowers as expected. And he went outside.
Alyosha, let's go to the river, they're building a dam there! - neighbor Arnika shouted to him.
Alyosha was even surprised.
Don't you see? I'm off to school!
And he passed by. Of course, it would be nice to run to the river and see the dam. But when will he?
As soon as he stepped onto the road, cars with bread caught up with him.
Hey, Alyosha,” the drivers shouted to him, “get in, let’s go for a ride!”
What's better? Sit in the cab and even put your hand on the steering wheel next to the driver’s hand and rush along the road!
Thank you! - Alyosha answered the drivers. “I’m going to school!”
And now the road went past the vegetable gardens. There, gardeners picked red tomatoes and green cucumbers from the beds. There were whole baskets of cucumbers and tomatoes.
Come here, Alyosha! - the gardeners called. - We'll treat you to fresh cucumbers!
Oh, ripe tomatoes are good, and cucumbers are so crunchy in your teeth!..
Thank you,” Alyosha answered, “I have no time, I’m going to school!”
I went out onto the field - there was no one. To the right are green winter trees, to the left is a forest. Now no one will call Alyosha, now he will quickly get to school.
But wings rustled overhead. Alyosha raised his head, and a whole flock of swallows were flying overhead.
Alyosha, Alyosha! - the swallows began to scream. - Look how our young children fly! Stop and admire!
“I can’t, I don’t have time,” Alyosha answered. - I'm going to school!
And if it weren’t for school, I would have looked at them for an hour. After all, he saw how these babies looked out of the nest.
Alyosha, Alyosha! - the hazel tree rustled in the forest. - Come quickly and look how many nuts I have! They are already ripe!
And the nuts, ripe, brown, are laughing on the branches, and the branches are bending down: just pick them!
When should I tear the nuts? - Alyosha answered. - After all, I’m going to school!
Alyosha, the mountain ash is ripe here, look how big it is!
Alyosha, Alyosha, the stumps are full of honey fungus! A whole basket from one stump!
But Alyosha quickened his pace and shouted with all his might:
Don't call me, I'm going to school!
And here is the school on the mountain. And the guys flock to her from all sides. And the bell rings.
And here Alyosha came to school. Just in time!
Yuz Aleshkovsky
Two briefcases and a whole week
It was my first day off, because for the first time in my life I spent a whole week in first grade.
I didn’t know how to start such a day, and so I decided to imitate my dad: when I woke up, I put my hands under my head and stared out the window.
Dad once said that on Sunday morning, since he doesn’t have to rush to work, he thinks about all sorts of things and how the whole week went. What was more in it - good or bad? And if there is more bad, then who is to blame for this: dad himself or, as he likes to say, a coincidence of circumstances?
There was more bad stuff in my first week of school. And not because of me, but because of circumstances that began to accumulate a long time ago.
If I had been born even two days later, I would have turned seven years old not on the thirty-first of August, but on the second of September, and I would not have been accepted into school. But dad already had to persuade the head teacher. And the head teacher agreed to accept me on a probationary period.
I was the youngest and smallest student in the entire school.
IN " Children's world“They bought me the smallest uniform, but when I tried it on in the booth it turned out that it was too big. My mother asked me to take the uniform off the unprofessional first-grader who was standing in the window and smiling, but my mother was persuaded to refuse this request and was advised to alter the uniform. She was also given advice , what to feed me so that I grow faster.
Mom shortened the trousers herself, and kept the cap in hot water all night, then pulled it over the pan and ironed it, but it still fell over my eyes.
In general, on the first of September I went to school, and at the very first break, the tallest boy in our class, Misha Lvov, measured me from head to toe with my own briefcase. He measured it and immediately gave me the nickname Twoportfolio. And he gave himself the nickname Tiger. Because of the surname Lvov. Even high school students got my nickname. During breaks they looked at me and were surprised:
Two briefcases!
Indeed, Two Briefcases!
They didn't tease me, but still I felt the greatest insult of all that I received in the nursery, in kindergarten, in the yard and at home.
I would go somewhere to the side, not play with anyone, and I was so bored that I wanted to cry.
True, one day a high school student came up to me, stroked my head and said:
Two briefcases, don't hang your nose. The time will come, and you will become four briefcases, then five, and then eight. Look! And during recess, don’t stand in one place. Knead your bones. And don't be afraid of anyone. If they start to scare you, flare your nostrils. They'll leave right away. I've always done this. I am Olya.
“And I’m Alyosha,” I said, and Olya showed how to flare the nostrils.
But no matter how much I fanned them out later, it didn’t scare anyone, and my ears were buzzing with shouting:
Two briefcases! Two briefcases!
I hated Tigger for this nickname.
It was good for Dadaev. They called him Dada! Kapustin - Head of cabbage. Galya Pelenkin, as a Brazilian football player, is Pele. Gusev's name is Tega-tega, and he is very happy. Lenyu Katsa - Katso. One me - Two briefcases.
Nothing! Maybe over time they will all get tired of such a long nickname, and only Felya will remain from him. Felya! This is not bad...
So I lay there and thought, and suddenly I began to stare... In front of my window, in one place, just like a helicopter, a sparrow was hanging and suddenly - bang! He hit the glass, fell on the ledge, then jumped up again, fluttered and tried to peck at something.
Then I saw a large blue fly that flew into the room and wanted to fly back. She buzzed, darted around the glass, then fell silent, as if losing consciousness, and again began to spin on the glass, as if on a skating rink.
“Here’s a stupid sparrow,” I thought, “he sees a fly right next to his beak, but he can’t peck. He’s probably angry and wondering how suddenly, for no reason at all, such warm moving air became hard and cold. And the fly is surprised. that everything is transparent, but you can’t fly away.”
Suddenly the sparrow scattered once again and flew into the room through the window like a bullet. I screamed, waved the blanket - he got scared, made a circle near the ceiling, flew back and fluttered on the glass next to the fly.
And somehow I felt sorry for both the sparrow and the fly. Day off... The morning is so good, and they got caught...
I jumped out of bed and opened the window.
Go about your business, you fools! You won’t understand that it’s not the air around that has solidified, but the glass that’s transparent. But I understand, because I am a human!
So I said out loud, looked out the window, and I also wanted to go outside...
T. Chinareva
First-graders and zero-graders
Just yesterday Yulia Boriskina was small, but today she is already big. Because today is the first of September and Yulia Boriskina is going to school. In a uniform dress, like adult schoolgirls. In a beautiful white apron. With a white bow in a braid.
Boriskin's mother smiled. Papa Boriskin smiled. Grandma Boriskina smiled. How not to smile if you are seeing someone off to first class. For seven years the man was small. They sang to him for seven years lullabies. And so the man grew up. How not to smile!
Only Yulia was very serious. Because she was worried and thought: who will sit at her desk with her? And what is the teacher's name? And will they mark today?
Yulechka, maybe I can carry your briefcase? - suggested the grandmother.
It's hard for you! - Mom objected. - I’d better carry the briefcase!
I must carry the briefcase! - Dad said decisively.
But Julia grabbed the handle of the briefcase tightly:
No! Me myself! I'm already big!
In the courtyard, the Boriskins ran into the Vorobyovs, neighbors from the fifth floor. All the smartly dressed Vorobyovs - dad, mom, grandfather and two grandmothers stood in a circle and argued.
Hello! - Yulina’s grandmother said loudly. - Look what a schoolgirl we have!
The Vorobyovs turned around, and grandfather exclaimed:
Oh, what a beautiful schoolgirl you have! Now look at ours!
The Vorobyovs parted, and the Boriskins saw that a frightened Dasha Vorobyova was standing in the circle of adults with a huge white bow, in a plaid skirt and a plaid vest. With a real briefcase that reaches to the ground. And a rubber pig in his hand.
She’s only six years old...” Yulina’s grandmother was surprised.
And she goes to the class of six-year-olds! - Dasha’s mother proudly remarked. - We just can’t talk ourselves out of leaving the toy pig at home...
We all went to school together. And on the way Dasha asked:
Do you know, Julia, what is the name of our class?
Julia didn't know. And just in case, I asked:
Preschool...
No,” Dasha shook her head. - It's called zero.
This means a class that has never existed at school before. The uniforms, textbooks, and lessons for the children in this class are completely different, not the same as for first-graders.
That's what time amazing first Yulia Boriskina and Dasha Vorobyova went to school in September. A first-grader and a zero-grader.
All the schoolchildren came on the first of September with flowers. And zero-graders, and first-graders, and tenth-graders. There were so many flowers on this day! And asters, and carnations, and daisies, and chrysanthemums. Everyone wanted to quickly give a bouquet to their teacher.
The teacher of 1st "A" was Antonina Pavlovna. In the classroom, she sat the children at their desks. A boy and a girl. And a girl with a girl. Because there were more girls.
The class was beautiful and bright. Outside the windows is a school garden. In the school garden there are fathers, mothers, grandmothers and grandfathers. They look out the windows and wave their hands. It was as if the children sat not at their desks, but on an airplane. And now they will fly away.
Periods, commas
Snow has fallen, frost has fallen, the cat washes the nose of a puppy on a black back with snow...
Oh-oh-oh! - said Antonina Pavlovna - And for whom, I wonder, do they put periods and commas in books? Come on first!
It fell... the snow fell... frost... The cat... washed... with snow... the puppy's nose...
I feel so sorry for this cat! - Antonina Pavlovna made a sad face. - Her paws are probably cold... And I feel sorry for this puppy. The owner must have lost it. And everyone in the city is not happy about the snow. They sit at home, look out the window and get angry... Come on, Yulia, let’s better imagine that you are a diesel locomotive driver.
The first-graders were busy and whispering. They did not understand why Yulia would be a diesel locomotive driver. After all, the poem only talks about snow, a cat and a puppy.
Our Yulia is driving a real diesel locomotive... - said Antonina Pavlovna, and Misha Lisichkin imagined that he was sitting not at the school window, but at the carriage window. - We drove away from Khabarovsk, and we met a small station. There are only two passengers on the platform. Grandmother and granddaughter. Yulia stopped the train for a minute so that her grandmother and granddaughter could board their carriage. Let's move on. We see a large train station. This is the city of Blagoveshchensk. The train takes longer here. While the water supply is being made, the bags with letters are being loaded into the mail car. So are punctuation marks. Point is a large station. The comma is small. Well, driver, move your diesel locomotive!
An old poplar with sparrows on its branches instead of fallen leaves flashed through the window. A group of zero-year students, who had already finished studying, went out for a walk. Dog Tom - true friend Guys.
Snow fell, frost fell,
The cat washes its nose with snow.
The puppy has a black back
White snowflakes are melting.
The sidewalks are covered in snow,
Everything around is white and white!
Julia read poetry so well that the first graders saw a white school yard. Nulevichkov, who sculpted the snow woman. And white snow flakes on Tom's back. Everyone really wanted winter to come. I wanted it so bad... I really wanted it for my birthday!
Hello!
Vladik Ushakov walked along a long corridor. He was in a bad mood. Yesterday I played in the yard and went to bed late. In the morning, my mother barely woke me up.
Vladik walked, dragging his briefcase behind him, looking at the floor and not noticing anyone around. He didn’t even notice the teacher Antonina Pavlovna.
But she immediately noticed Vladik. She said loudly:
Hello, Vladik! Have you forgotten anything?
Vladik immediately began to remember what lessons he had today. Is it really physical education?
Did they tell you to bring skis? - he asked uncertainly.
What kind of skis? Today is drawing!
Then I haven't forgotten anything! - Vladik was delighted. - I always carry colored pencils in my briefcase.
Ah, Vladik, Vladik... - the teacher shook her head. I'm not talking about colored pencils at all!
Vladik did not understand anything. When I came to class, I emptied everything from my briefcase onto my desk. A ruler, an eraser, a simple pencil and colored... Everything for drawing is there. The album is in the closet; the attendants will hand it out.
Hello! - said Antonina Pavlovna. - Some children have become absent-minded; in the morning they forget to say “hello” at home...
Vladik Ushakov understood everything!
The next morning he went to school cheerful. The alarm clock woke him up on time. Vladik managed to do some exercises and eat dumplings for breakfast. In general, the mood is not the same as yesterday.
He ran up the stairs, jumped over two steps, noticed Antonina Pavlovna from a distance and shouted as loud as he could throughout the entire corridor:
Hello!
Vladik! - Antonina Pavlovna grabbed her head. - Is this what educated people do?
I said hello! - Vladik was surprised.
You deafened everyone with your scream... How did I say hello to you? “Hello, Vladik...” And I look straight into your eyes. And you immediately understand how glad I am to see you today.
Vladik lowered his head and decided that tomorrow he would correct his mistake.
The next day he did not shout across the entire corridor. He approached Antonina Pavlovna while she was talking with two teachers - one for singing and one from the first “B”.
Hello, Antonina Pavlovna! - Vladik said and even bowed his head as a sign of respect. He so wanted the teachers to see how well-mannered he was today and how glad he was to see Antonina Pavlovna.
But the teachers shook their heads, and Antonina Pavlovna sighed sadly and answered:
Hello, Vladik...
Vladik Ushakov never thought that it was so difficult to be polite.
What a strength the team is!
During the big break, Yulia Boriskina was walking up the school stairs. Third-grader Elnikov ran towards her. Before Yulia had time to step aside, Yelnikov ran into her, pushed her, and she hit her forehead painfully against the wall.
She ran after Elnikov. I caught up and grabbed him by the sleeve:
Why did you push me and didn't apologize? I got a headache because of you...
There is no need to get in the way! Get out of here! Otherwise you’ll earn another bump! Do you know how much one plus one is? - And Elnikov burst out laughing.
Wait! - Julia threatened after the bully. - You will find out from me!
And she herself didn’t know what Elnikov needed to know.
Julia is walking along the corridor - there is a big bump, tears are falling. Meet Vladik Ushakov.
Why are you crying?
Yelnikov pushed...
Well, let's go! - Vladik said. - We'll show this Elnikov!
They found Elnikov in the dining room. He drank compote with shortbread.
Why do you hurt kids? - Vladik moved towards him.
Ha ha ha! - Yelnikov laughed loudly. - You saw how brave...
He was the one bragging to his third grade class. And the third grade was silent. Even the third grader was afraid of Yelnikov. How can two kids cope with it?
Let Yulia and Vladik go to class.
Now let’s call Denis Semyonov and see how this Elnikov speaks! - Vladik reasoned on the way. - Denis is into boxing. He has a real pear at home, I saw it myself.
Only Yelnikov was not afraid of Denis Semenov. He pulled so hard on Denis’s jacket that a button came off.
The guys were very offended by Elnikov. They came to their 1st “A” and told us everything. Then all 1 “A” got angry with Elnikov and went to deal with him.
As soon as Yelnikov saw a group of guys, he stopped joking. And where did his courage go? And the third grade immediately stopped being afraid of him. They started laughing and pointing fingers.
Then the bell rang. The change is over. 1 “A” went to class.
Yelnikov sat quietly at his desk. Today he learned what a force it is - the collective. No bully can resist her.
Yu. Koval
Nyurka
Uncle Zueva's Nyurka was six years old. She was six years old for a long time. The whole year. And just in August Nyurka turned seven years old.
For Nyurka's birthday, Uncle Zuy baked some wickets - these are cheesecakes with millet porridge - and invited guests. Me too.
I started getting ready to visit and just couldn’t figure out what to give Nyurka.
Buy two hundred grams of sweets,” says Panteleevna. - Pad.
No, we need something more serious here.
I began to sort through my things: a gun, boots, various topographical tools - nothing was suitable for a gift. Then he shook his backpack - he felt something heavy in the backpack. Yes, these are binoculars! Nice binoculars. Everything in it is intact, the glass is there, and the eyepieces rotate.
I wiped the binoculars with a dry cloth, went out onto the porch and pointed them at Uncle Zuev’s yard. You can clearly see everything: Nyurka is running around the garden, collecting dill, Uncle Zui is setting up the samovar.
Nyurka! - Uncle Zuy shouts. - Did you dig up some horseradish?
It’s no longer through binoculars, I can hear it that way.
I dug it up,” Nyurka answers.
I hung the binoculars on my chest, went into the store, bought two hundred grams of pads and moved towards Nyurka.
The most already different people got ready. For example. Fedyusha Mironov came in chrome boots and with his mother, Mironikha. Nyurke brought a pencil case made of birch bark. Mirosh’s grandfather wove this pencil case.
Manya Kletkina came and brought Nyurka a white school apron. On the apron it is embroidered in the corner with small letters: “NURE”.
More kids and adults came, and everyone gave us something for school: an ABC book, a ruler, two chemistry pencils, a self-writing paper.
Aunt Ksenya brought a brown dress. I sewed it myself. And Uncle Zui gave Nyurka a briefcase made of yellow leatherette.
The Mokhov brothers brought two buckets of blueberries.
They spent the whole day collecting, they say. Mosquitoes sting.
Mnronikha says:
This is not school stuff.
Why not school? - say the Mokhov brothers. - Very school-like.
And then they attacked the blueberries themselves.
I say to Nyurka:
Well, Nyura. Congratulations. You are now seven years old. Therefore, I give you two hundred grams of pads - and here are binoculars.
Nyurka was very happy and laughed when she saw the binoculars. I explained to her how to look through binoculars and how to point at what. Immediately all the guys ran ten steps away and began to look at us through these binoculars one by one.
And Mironikha says as if she’s seeing binoculars for the first time:
This is not school stuff.
Why not school? - I was offended. - Since a schoolgirl will look at it!
And Uncle Zui says:
Or with teacher Alexey Stepanych they will climb onto the roof and begin to look at the stars.
Then everyone went into the house and immediately, as they sat down at the table, they piled on the cucumbers.
There was a strong crunch from the cucumbers, and Mother Mironikha tried especially hard. And I liked the gates folded with envelopes.
Nyurka was cheerful. She put the primer, binoculars and other gifts in her briefcase and rushed around the table with it.
After drinking tea, the guys went into the yard to play lapta. And we sat by the window and drank tea for a long time, and watched how the guys played lapta, how slowly the evening came and how the killer whale swallows flew over the barns and over the road. Then the guests began to leave.
Well, thank you, they said, for the treat.
“Thank you,” Nyurka answered, “thank you for the dress, for the apron and for the binoculars.”
A week passed after this day, and the first of September arrived.
Early in the morning I went out onto the porch and saw Nyurka. She walked along the road in a school dress, in a white apron with the inscription: “NURE.” In her hands she held a large bouquet of autumn golden balls, and binoculars hung around her neck.
Uncle Zui walked behind her about ten paces and shouted:
Look, Pantelevna! My Nyurka went to school.
Well, well, well,” Panteleevna nodded.
And everyone went out into the street to look at Nyurka, because that year she was the only first-grader in our village. Our village is small - ten yards.
Teacher Alexey Stepanych met Nyurka near the school. He took the flowers from her and said:
Well, Nyura, you are now a first grader. Congratulations. And the fact that she brought binoculars is also well done. Then we will climb onto the roof and look at the stars.
Uncle Zui, Panteleevna, Mironikha and many other people stood at the school and watched Nyurka walk along the porch. Then the door closed behind her.
That’s how Nyurka became a first-grader. Of course, she is seven years old. And it will be for a long time. The whole year.
Yu. Ermolaev
Answered!
First-grader Seryozha never lost anything in his life: handkerchiefs, balls, even his cap. But I lost my pen and feather for the first time. And where did she go? Now the lesson will begin, you will need to write letters. And with what? Now the teacher entered the class.
Take out your notebooks and pens,” she said, “let’s learn to write the letter “R.” - And she beautifully wrote this very letter on the board. - What words do you know starting with the letter “R”? - asked the teacher and turned to Seryozha: - Well, remember what you will write with now?
Then all the guys shouted:
He will write with a pen! With a pen!
“But not with a pen, but with a pencil,” Seryozha objected, “I lost my pen.”
Anna Ivanovna,” said Shurik Paykov, “can I give Seryozha a pen?” I have a spare one.
Of course, give it,” the teacher said and asked Seryozha again: “And you, Smirnov, still tell us a word that begins with the letter “R.”
Seryozha thought, and then poked his finger in his chest and said:
Confused!
V. Zheleznikov
After classes
After school I ran into first grade. I wouldn’t run into them, but a neighbor asked me to look after her son. After all, it’s the first of September, the first day of school.
I ran in, and the class was already empty. Everyone left. I wanted to turn around and go. And suddenly I see: there is some kind of button sitting on the last desk, it’s almost invisible from behind the desk.
It was a girl, not the boy I was looking for. As befits first-graders, she was wearing a white apron and white bows.
It's strange that she was sitting alone. Everyone has gone home and, perhaps, is already eating broths and milk jelly there and telling their parents miracles about school, but this one sits and doesn’t know what it is waiting for.
Girl, I say, why don’t you go home?
No attention.
Maybe she lost something?
He is silent and sits like a stone statue, without moving.
I don’t know what to do. I went up to the board, figured out how to move this “stone statue”, and slowly drew.
I drew a first-grader who came home from school and is having lunch. Then - mom, dad and two grandmothers. He chews, devours both cheeks, and they look into his mouth. It turned out to be a funny picture.
And you and I, I say, are hungry. Isn't it time for us to go home?
No, he answers. - I'm not going home.
So, are you going to spend the night here?
I looked back at my painting and my stomach began to growl. I wanted to eat.
Well, this crazy one! He left the class and walked. But then my conscience got to me, and I returned back.
“You,” I say, “if you don’t tell me why you’re sitting here, I’ll call the school doctor now.” And he once or twice: “ Ambulance", siren - and you're in the hospital.
I decided to scare her. I'm afraid of this doctor myself. He always says: “Breathe, don’t breathe...” And he puts the thermometer under his arm. Cold as an icicle.
“Well, good,” he answers. - I'll go to the hospital.
“Can you tell me,” I shouted, “what happened to you?”
My brother is waiting for me. He's sitting in the yard.
I looked out into the yard. Indeed, there was a little boy sitting on the bench.
So what?
And the fact that I promised him that I would learn all the letters today.
“You have a strong promise,” I said. - The whole alphabet in one day?! Maybe you will finish school in one year then? Strong to lie!
I didn't lie, I just didn't know.
I see she's about to cry. She lowered her eyes and turned her head somehow incomprehensibly.
Letters teach whole year. This is not a simple matter.
Our mom and dad have gone far away, and Seryozha, my brother, misses him a lot. And I told him: “I’ll go to school, learn all the letters, and we’ll write a letter to mom and dad.” And he told all the boys in the yard. And today we wrote sticks all day.
Sticks, I say, are good, they’re just wonderful! You can make letters out of sticks. - I went up to the board and wrote the letter “A”. Printed. - This is the letter “A”. It is made of three sticks. Letter hut.
I never thought that I would be a teacher! But it was necessary to distract her so that she wouldn’t cry.
“And now,” I say, “let’s go to your brother, and I’ll explain everything to him.”
We went out into the yard and headed towards her brother. They walked like little ones, holding hands. She put her hand in my hand. Her palm is soft, her fingers are padded, and warm.
Now, I think, if any of the guys see it, they will laugh. But you can’t throw her hand away, you’re a human.
And this important Seryozha sits and dangles his legs. Pretends not to see us.
Listen, I say, old man. How can I explain this to you... Well, in general, to learn the entire alphabet, you need to study for a whole year. This is not such an easy matter.
So you haven't learned it? - He looked defiantly at his sister. - There was nothing to promise.
“We wrote sticks all day,” the girl said despairingly. - And letters are made from sticks.
But he didn't listen to her. He slid off the bench, put his hands in his pockets, lowered his head low and began to walk like a duck.
He didn't notice me at all. And I'm tired of: mess around here when you want! I was always getting involved in other people's affairs.
I learned the letter "A". It's written as a hut! - the girl shouted at her brother’s back.
But he didn't even look back. Then I caught up with him.
Listen, I say, what is her fault? Science is a complex matter. Will you go to school
You'll find out for yourself. Do you think Gagarin or Titov mastered the entire alphabet in one day? Also, oh, how we sweated. And your hands have given up.
“I spent the whole day composing a letter to my mother as a souvenir,” he said.
He had such a sad face, and I thought that it was a shame that his mother left him alone. Since you are planning to go to Siberia, take your children with you. They will not be afraid of long distances or severe frosts.
Just think, it’s a disaster, I say. - Today I will come to you after lunch and draw everything on paper under your dictation in the best possible way.
That's good! - said the girl. - We live in this house behind an iron fence. Really, Seryozha, okay?
Okay,” Seryozha answered. - I'll be waiting.
I saw them enter the yard and their figures flashed between the iron bars of the fence and green bushes.
And then I heard a loud, malicious boyish voice:
Seryozhka, well, has your sister learned all the letters?
I saw that Seryozha stopped, and his sister ran into the entrance.
To learn the alphabet, do you know how much you need to study? - said Seryozha. - You have to study for a whole year.
That means your letters were crying,” said the boy. - And your Siberia cried.
“We didn’t cry at all,” Seryozha answered. - I have a friend, he has not been in first grade for a long time, he will come to us today and write a letter.
“You’re lying,” said the boy. - Oh, and you’re great! Well, what's your friend's name?
There was silence.
Another minute - and the victorious, triumphant exclamation of the malicious boy should have been heard, but I did not allow this to happen.
I climbed onto the stone foundation of the fence and stuck my head between the bars.
By the way, his name is Yurka,” I said.
This boy's mouth opened in surprise. But Seryozha said nothing. He wasn't the type to hit people when they're down.
And I jumped to the ground and went home. I don’t know why, but I was in a good mood. It was fun at heart - that's all. I was in a great mood. I even wanted to sing.
