“My dear, when you grow up, will you remember how one winter evening you left the nursery in the dining room, - this was after one of our quarrels, - and, lowering our eyes, made such a sad face? You are a big naughty man, and when something captivates you, you don’t know how to keep it. But I do not know anyone more touching than you, when you become quiet, come up and snuggle up to my shoulder! If this happens after a quarrel, and I tell you an affectionate word, how impetuously you kiss me, in the excess of devotion and tenderness that only childhood is capable of! But it was too big a quarrel ... "

That evening you didn’t even decide to come up to me: “Good night, uncle,” you said, and bowing, you shuffled your leg (after the quarrel, you wanted to be a particularly well-mannered boy). I replied as if there was nothing between us: "Good night." But could you be satisfied with this? Having forgotten the insult, you again returned to the cherished dream that captivated you all day: "Uncle, forgive me ... I will no longer ... And please, show me the numbers!" Was it possible then to hesitate with the answer? I hesitated, because I am a very smart uncle ...

That day you woke up with a new dream that captivated your whole soul: to have your own picture books, pencil case, colored pencils and learn to read and write numbers! And all this at once, in one day! As soon as you woke up, you called me to the nursery and fell asleep asking: to buy books and pencils and immediately set to work on the numbers. “Today is the Tsar’s day, everything is locked” - I lied, I really didn’t want to go to the city. "No, not royal!" - you cried, but I threatened, and you sighed: “Well, what about the numbers?” After all, is it possible? ” “Tomorrow,” I snapped, realizing that I am depriving you of happiness, but I’m not supposed to pamper the children ...

“Well then!” - you threatened and, as soon as you got dressed, muttered a prayer and drank a cup of milk, began to be naughty, and you couldn’t calm you down all day. The joy mixed with impatience excited you more and more, and in the evening you found a way out for them. You started bouncing, kicking the floor with all your might and screaming loudly. And you ignored Mom’s remark, and grandmother’s, and in response I shouted particularly piercingly and hit me even harder on the floor. And here the story begins ...

I pretended not to notice you, but inside I was chilled with sudden hatred. And you shouted again, surrendering all your joy so that the Lord himself would have smiled at that scream. But I jumped up in a fury from a chair. How terrified your face is! You shouted bewildered once more, in order to show that you were not afraid. And I rushed towards you, jerked my hand, slammed it hard and with pleasure, and, pushing out of the room, slammed the door. Here are the numbers!

From pain and cruel resentment, you rolled into a terrible and piercing scream. Once again, more ... Then the cries flowed incessantly. Sobs were added to them, then cries for help: “Oh, it hurts! Oh, I'm dying! ” “I suppose you will not die,” I said coldly. “Shout and shut up.” But I was ashamed, I did not look up at my grandmother, whose lips were suddenly quivering. “Oh, grandmother!” - you called to the last refuge. And my grandmother, for the sake of me and my mother, was fastening, but she barely sat still.

You realized that we decided not to give up, that no one would come to comfort you. But stopping the cries was immediately impossible, if only because of pride. You were hoarse, but you shouted and shouted ... And I wanted to get up, enter the nursery with a big elephant and stop your suffering. But is this consistent with the rules of upbringing and with the dignity of a fair but strict uncle? Finally you are quiet ...

Only half an hour later, I looked as if by an extraneous matter into the nursery. You sat on the floor in tears, sighed frantically and played with your unpretentious toys - empty matchboxes. How my heart sank! But I barely looked at you. “Now I will never love you again,” you said, looking at me with angry eyes full of contempt. “And I will never buy you anything!” And I’ll take away even the Japanese penny that I gave then! ”

Then mom and grandmother came in, pretending to come by accident. They started talking about bad and naughty children, and advised to ask for forgiveness. “Otherwise, I will die,” the grandmother said sadly and cruelly. “And die,” you answered in a gloomy whisper. And we left you, and pretended to completely forget about you.

The evening fell, you still sat on the floor and moved the boxes. I was tormented, and I decided to go out and wander around the city. “Shameless! - whispered then the grandmother. - Uncle loves you! Who will buy you a pencil case, a book? And the numbers? ” And your vanity was broken.

I know that the more precious my dream is to me, the less hope there is for it. And then I am cunning: I pretend to be indifferent. But what could you do? You woke up thirsty for happiness. But life answered: "Be patient!" In response, you went on a rampage, unable to subdue this thirst. Then life struck with resentment, and you cried out in pain. But even here life did not flinch: “Humble yourself!” And you put up.

How timidly you came out of the nursery: "Forgive me, and give me at least a drop of happiness that torments me so sweetly." And life had mercy: "Well, come on, give me pencils and paper." What a joy your eyes shone! How afraid you were to make me angry, how eagerly you caught every word of mine! With what diligence you drew lines full of mysterious meaning! Now I also enjoyed your joy. "One ... Two ... Five ..." - you said, having difficulty leading on paper. “No, not like that. One two three four". “Yes, three!” I know, ”you answered joyfully and deduced three, like a capital uppercase E.