From the series» Grandpa Ralot Tales’»
Miss Swallow’s lessons
Late December. Evening.
My beloved grandchildren George and Mary, having mucked up their clothes with glue and sticky pieces of paper (they have been cutting out snowflakes and various figures all day, and then have been hanging them on the window), finally calmed down and grew quiet in the corner, looking through an old, battered book with New Year pictures.
– Grandpa! We’re bored! – my granddaughter resolutely declares in about five minutes.
– That’s because there is still no snow! George echoes her and points his finger at the painted snowdrift, «There is snow everywhere but not here.»»
– You can’t ask Santa Claus to bring presents let alone even real snowflakes! Mary echoes her brother, «If only I could find out his phone number! Then we would be able to call him and ask if we are going to model a mudman instead of a snowman again as we had to do last year!
Stop being mean! Send here a huge snow cloud and get a move on!
– And gifts, too, – George’s sister adds, – There is no New Year without gifts! Am I right, Grandpa?
– Of course, – I agree and continue, – But only on the condition that you obeyed your parents and grandparents for a whole year, put away your toys, helped your grandparents, well, and were not too naughty… Anyway, it’s time for someone to go to bed. Do we need to make it more specific, or is it clear?!
To my surprise, the kids are getting up from their seats and walking away to the bedroom. I am delighted by this, take a couple of steps towards the kitchen but I should not have.
– And what about a fairy tale? We’ve been waiting for a new tale all day! the voices are coming up behind me. You promised us this morning! Have you forgotten? You are getting old, aren’ t you? – the kids are exclaiming in a duet.
I am scratching the back of my head, remembering that at breakfast I did make such a promise and then I ask in a doleful tone:
– Well, who should I tell you about today?
– About them, – Mary pokes her finger at the wall of the large aquarium.
– You have already written about frogs, also about a firefly, but there hasn’t been a story about fish yet, – George agrees with his sister then takes her by the hand and pulls her towards the bathroom: he hopes that the sooner they brush their teeth and get into beds, the sooner a new fairy tale will be told!