Chapter 1. Meeting Alice
It was an ordinary house, one of many in this small town, but it was her house, which made it the most extraordinary of all.
Alice yawned sweetly: it was time to wake up. The moon was full and peered kindly through the attic window.
Beautiful! — she smiled, adjusting her pink bow and glancing at herself in the mirror, or rather, in one of its fragments.
A bat, but with that pink bow, she was Alice the bat, as the fireflies affectionately called her.
Hello, Moon, you look wonderful! — Alice greeted her old friend, flying out for a walk from her home attic.
Thank you. It's a marvelous night for flying, isn't it?
Oh yes, of course, — Alice loved to fly, and the fireflies were already waiting for her to play hide-and-seek. But first she needed to have dinner: apples were waiting on her favorite tree.
Chapter 2. An Old Friend
The wise Owl was a faithful old friend to our little bat. Sitting side by side on a branch, they could talk about anything in the world.
Owl, what are poems?
Oh, my dear little bat, it's a wonderful thing! But why this sudden interest in poetry?
I overheard people talking. One girl told another that she loves poems, that they help her when she's sad... And I thought...
Alice, are you sad? — asked the Owl.
No, but if it's such a necessary thing, I simply must have it. For example, when it rains — I have an umbrella. And poems will help when I'm sad. Is it wrong that I would have such a necessary thing?
Hoo-hoo-hoo, — laughed the Owl, — silly thing, you made me laugh. It's not an umbrella to put in a corner. It's not a thing at all.
Really? Maybe it's something tasty? — Alice licked her lips. — I really want to try it. Well, Owl, may I?
Little Alice made such a pitiful face that even a block of ice would have melted, but her friend laughed loudly for some reason.
You don't want to share? Are you stingy? I just want to try a little bit! And you call yourself a friend! Greedy!
Alice, you don't understand, it's not a thing and not food, — said the Owl.
Really? But can I at least touch it?
Only listen. POEMS are the music of your heart. Listen:
A blizzard surrounded. Snow
Decided to show winter,
And the moon like a crack
Cut through darkness with light.
Winter wanted to be good:
To cover all troubles with snow,
So people's souls wouldn't ache,
And walking would be easy.
And in this silent midnight
Amid the whiteness, it seemed:
Everything will come true this winter,
All cherished dreams will come true!
Beautiful! So that's what poems are?
Yes, and they can tell about anything in the world.
About everything, everything? Could I do that?
Of course, the main thing is to listen to your heart, it will guide you, — smiled the old friend.
Chapter 3. Meeting Fuzzy
The house where our little bat lived had an attic on the top floor. On the third floor lived a fat striped cat named Fuzzy, a house cat. He walked exclusively on the balcony, never went outside, and didn't associate with street cats. They often yowled under the window. After all, only people hear meowing, but cats can actually talk, even tease each other. So the cats would tease:
Is that a cat? That's just a hippopotamus! Ha-ha-ha!!!
Of course, the main reason was jealousy. Even the wildest street cat dreams of a warm home, of belly scratches... The street cats were also offended that this arrogant house cat, as it seemed to them, looked down on them with disgust: "Who are you, mangy creatures, and who am I, a house cat!"
In reality, Fuzzy was a terrible coward. He was afraid not just to go outside, but even to look down from the balcony! Yes, children, sometimes that's how it is: not knowing someone, we imagine them to be something they're not. So the street cats, thinking they were being scorned, laughed at the house cat. And Fuzzy had only two friends, and one of them was a goldfish. As you can see, he was a very peaceful cat and would sometimes meow about his feline fate to his silent friend, and she would just wave her tail, as if to say, I'm always with you!
And the second was the most important person, his owner Vera. You can call parents "owners" and "providers" since they're adults, but not close friends you can purr your cat secrets to. And they're always busy anyway. Come at the wrong time, Dad's watching soccer, you might get hit with a slipper.
And Mom, if you start being affectionate, rubbing against her legs, she scolds:
Shoo, Fuzzy, your fur is coming out in clumps, shoo!
But Vera always scratches behind his ear, opens the balcony door, and if only she could meow, but she's a real friend! That's what Fuzzy thought, sitting on the balcony and looking at the stars. He felt a little sad today... Suddenly a small black shadow flashed by. The cat didn't have time to be scared when someone said right by his ear:
Hi!
Fuzzy slowly turned his head to whoever greeted him, and his fur stood on end in horror. "A vampire!" his cat thoughts screamed, but from fear the cat only hissed. The poor thing remembered all the horror movies he'd seen.
Go away! — Fuzzy finally managed to hiss, — I'm not tasty. Fly away, you vampire!
How rude! — noted the bat. — I just wanted to be friends.
But blood? Aren't you going to drink mine?
Well, if you were an apple or a berry, then yes, — laughed the guest. — My name is Alice. And you, my brave friend?
Fuzzy, — the cat answered shyly. — Well, don't be offended if anything... You're definitely not a vampire?
Definitely... although I do have fangs, — but noticing the cat's frightened look, Alice quickly added, — I eat only fruit!
Phew, that was close, — purred the cat.
And so began the most unusual friendship between a cat and a mouse.
Chapter 4. Meeting the Street Cats
Enough time had passed since Fuzzy and Alice's first meeting. The cat had become very attached to the little bat, was proud and very happy about his new friend.
Alice is so brave. She flies wherever she wants, and I… I'm even afraid to look out the window, — sighed the cat.
Boo! — Alice silently flew up to her friend as always, but seeing his sad look, she became alert. — Something wrong? Did I hurt you somehow? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, honestly.
No, it's not you! It's just that I'm afraid to even look outside. Why would you want a coward as a friend?
So we'll solve this problem together! — and before Fuzzy could object, Alice shot downward. — Come on, to the branches and down!
Fuzzy was horrified, but it wasn't fear of heights. Alice was now in the favorite spot of the street cats! What if...? No, better not think about it!
Alice, come back! — the cat meowed pitifully.
But before the bat could take off, a powerful paw pinned her wing to the ground.
What kind of butterfly flew to us? — this was Pirate, the leader of the cat gang.
I'm not a butterfly, I'm a bat. My name is Alice, and you? — Alice asked politely.
Fish guts, and she even talks! Well, if dinner wants to talk, why not? And the fact that you're a mouse, any kind, I really like. Purr-meow!
Pirate had already bared his sharp teeth, but then something extraordinary happened: someone gray and large knocked him over, hissing angrily.
All the cats, coming to their senses, saw that it was... Fuzzy! He, forgetting his fear of heights, simply jumped from the tree.
Another cat quickly covered Alice with an empty box so she wouldn't fly away, and Pirate, coming to his senses, hissed angrily:
You, house cat, how dare you!? This is my catch!
She's not a catch, she's my friend!
This is where the movie hero scenes came in handy: Fuzzy hissed, trying to show karate moves. Alice managed to escape, flapping her wings, she said menacingly:
So who wants their blood drunk first?
Pirate and the rest of the cat gang were terrified.
Crazy creatures! — said Pirate as he left. The cats quickly disappeared from the street.
Yes-yes, — Alice called after them, — I'll bite you and you'll become one too!
The friends returned to the balcony. The cat was no longer afraid, as if he'd always climbed trees.
Alice, — asked Fuzzy after a pause, — would you really have bitten them?
Of course, no one hurts my friends! And I would have turned them into vampires!
Alice, are you serious? — Fuzzy asked frightened.
Fuzzy, don't you believe me? — Alice smiled. — I'm joking, just joking!
Chapter 5. Meeting Vovka
Alice and Fuzzy, as always, were chatting when they heard a scream from one of the apartments: "Ahhh! Attack!"
What's that? Does someone need help? — Alice was ready to help the whole world or at least try.
That's Vovka! — said Fuzzy darkly, — the neighbor boy. He's playing his computer games again! His parents went to the movies and he stayed with his grandmother, and she lets him do whatever he wants. And it's already ten o'clock!
You don't like him much?
He's not a fish, so I don't have to like him! But you have no idea what a nasty boy he is! He always has a slingshot, and he even managed to hit me with it when I was peacefully napping on the balcony. And I was dreaming I was flying! I almost did fly, just not upward, but downward!
Is he really that bad? — Alice didn't believe it. She thought all boys and girls could only be good. It's just that when they grow up, they forget how to be children and become... no, not evil, but very serious aunts and uncles.
Worse than a vacuum cleaner! — for Fuzzy this was the scariest thing in the world.
Alice thought for a moment and suddenly flew straight toward the source of the noise.
Where are you going, little Alice? — the cat meowed frightened.
I want to meet him. You'll see, he's good!
Alice didn't listen to the cat's pitiful meowing anymore. She flew to the window, it wasn't closed.
If he sees me, he might get scared. I need to take a peek with one eye, what kind of Vovka is this?
But what happened in the apartment, even Alice couldn't have predicted. As soon as she flew in, something fell on her from above—it was a butterfly net. Vovka was quite a hunter; he noticed Alice's approach before she even entered the room.
What kind of bird is this? — Vovka bent over the net.
Let me go, please! — asked Alice.
Actually, animals can talk and understand human language. But to avoid fainting and screaming, they try not to talk. However, in this situation, Alice decided to try to negotiate with the boy. Vovka stood for a couple of minutes with his mouth open, but didn't let go of the net. Finally he started babbling:
Talking! Cool! Now you have to grant me three wishes! So what should I wish for? I WANT...
I'm not a goldfish! — even Alice was starting to get angry at this boy.
Oh, so that's how it is! Well then... well then... I got it! You need to go to the circus! No, better I'll show you to everyone myself, and I'll get whatever I want! Vovka is the only boy in the world who caught a talking bird!
Actually, I'm a bat. But someone clearly STUDIED POORLY in school: first three wishes, then a bird!
How dare you, little mouse, argue with your master! — Vovka even turned red.
Actually, he was just ashamed: even animals were noticing that his knowledge wasn't very good. No wonder, since he spent most of his time playing computer games instead of studying.
Not a mouse, a bat! — Alice answered calmly. — If you answered like that in class, you'd be an excellent student, but instead it's computers, computers. You can't even tell a bat from a bird, you've played too much!
YES I... YES I... WELL, I'LL...
Vovka tried to pull Alice out, but she was quicker. Escaping from the net, she flew out the window. Then pain shot through her right wing and she fell onto a flower bed. Vovka managed to shoot from his slingshot and hit the poor thing.
Chapter 6. Save Alice!
Fuzzy saw his friend fall like a stone, and he meowed so pitifully that Vera woke up and hurried to the balcony in her nightgown.
Fuzzy, Fuzzy, kitty-kitty, — she called the cat, but there was no one on the balcony. Suddenly the girl noticed something gray and striped flash on a tree, its branches close to the balcony.
Fuzzy, Fuzzy, — the girl called quietly.
Meow! — the sound came from below.
Throwing her mother's large shawl over her shoulders, Vera quietly passed her parents' bedroom and, opening the front door, hurried outside. The cat needed help, something had happened!
Coming out of the entrance, Vera looked around, but Fuzzy was nowhere to be seen.
Fuzzy, Fuzzy dear, — the girl called again.
Meow, meow!
The cat appeared from nowhere, but when Vera tried to pick him up, he ran away. He seemed to be calling her somewhere. Seeing that his owner wasn't following, the cat unexpectedly said clearly:
Help her!
You... You... can talk? — Vera was surprised.
Yes, but that's not important now... Help her!
Fuzzy made a desperate decision, revealing the biggest secret of animals: they not only understand people, but can also speak their language. Vera hurried after him. Fuzzy led her straight to the flower bed.
"Oh, — thought the girl, — if Aunt Glasha saw me now, she'd scold me for picking her flowers at night!"
But then she saw something dark lying next to the flowers and immediately forgot about Aunt Glasha. Looking closer, Vera understood it was a bat. She'd read about them in a children's encyclopedia. For her age, the girl knew quite a bit about our animal friends, so the cat decided to ask for her help.
Help her! — the cat meowed pitifully.
But how? — the girl was confused. — I don't even know what's wrong with her!
That nasty Vova shot her with a slingshot!
Vera carefully picked up the bat. She and Fuzzy went home. There had been enough events and adventures for one night.
Chapter 7. A New Friend.
Alice opened her eyes. "Where am I?" her thoughts screamed.
The bat lay in a small box on a soft bed, there was even a pillow! Her bandaged wing hurt a little. She looked around: a cozy room, definitely not an attic. Where was she?
You're awake?
Fuzzy entered the room and was right next to his friend.
Where am I? What happened to me?
Well, Alice, so many questions! You need to rest and get your strength back!
But where am I? — the bat was confused and scared.
You're with friends. My Vera took care of your wing, it's not broken, it'll hurt a little and then heal. Everything will be fine!
The cat gently stroked Alice with his paw.
Vera is your owner?
Fuzzy didn't have time to answer before the girl entered the room.
Awake? How are you? You must be hungry? — the girl held a plate of strawberries.
Don't be scared, — said Fuzzy, — she knows we not only understand people, but also speak like them. She won't tell anyone.
Honestly, honestly, I won't tell anyone! — Vera confirmed.
Thank you, new friend! — Alice smiled.
Chapter 8. To Africa
Alice lived at Vera's for almost a month. She recovered quickly, but the girl insisted that the bat stay longer. Alice learned a lot about different countries, school, and other interesting things, and her diet was supplemented with a couple of tasty treats.
Now strawberries became her favorite treat. But she didn't like cheese, despite the distant kinship with mice who love cheese. Alice's presence remained a secret from the adults, although Mom was a bit surprised by the tightly closed curtains during the day and the fact that her daughter was doing her own room cleaning, something she'd never been eager about before.
Growing up! — Mom decided with a smile.
Vera started allowing Alice night flights. The girl and Fuzzy stood on the balcony and watched the bat with admiration. One day they heard noise downstairs. Some boy hurried out of the entrance. Fuzzy squinted, peering, and perked up his ears, listening.
That nasty Vovka! Going to Africa, decided to become a hunter! Fish scales help him!
Fuzzy, don't curse! How do you even know it's him?
I have sharp eyesight and good hearing — said Fuzzy proudly, — and this boy is muttering to himself so loud! Fish heads!
Fuzzy, stop! Tell me what you heard?
This little rascal even drove his grandmother crazy! Broke her favorite vase, and his parents took away his computer. Serves him right! So he's running away to Africa!
We have to stop him! — the girl decisively opened the balcony door.
Why? — Fuzzy was surprised. — He belongs with the monkeys!
Fuzzy!
Just kidding, just kidding, — the cat hurried after his owner.
Chapter 9. Find Vovka
When the friends went outside, Vovka was already gone.
Vera was confused: what should she do? Wake her parents? Was there another way? But how could she find him?
What are you doing here? — it was Alice.
Vera briefly told what had happened.
I'll help find him, — the bat said after some thought.
Alice, you don't have to, I know what he did to you! I'll wake my parents!
No need! — the bat was determined. — He's good, I know! Wait for me here!
Alice decided to ask the fireflies for help. They flew beside her like little lanterns. Vovka hadn't gone far, but he was already lost. He sat on the corner of a house and cried. To make matters worse, the streetlight next to him went out. There was a rustling sound above, and Vovka squeezed his eyes shut in fear.
Well, that's it, some monster came to eat me! Oh, my dear grandmother, my beloved Mom and Dad, if only you were here! How sorry I am for how I've behaved!
Vovka, — someone called him and interrupted his sad thoughts.
The boy opened his eyes and saw Alice.
Is it you?
I'll take you home, come on.
No-no, it's dark here, I'm scared, what if some monster is hiding?
There are no monsters, and the only vampire is me, — the bat smiled. — But about the darkness, we can fix that!
The fireflies lit up their little lanterns as bright as they could, and everything around became less scary. There was a feeling of celebration, as if something bright and good was happening.
Chapter 10. Is Vovka Good?
Vovka wiped his tears, got up, and followed the fireflies and the talking bat. It seemed to him that he was dreaming, because only in dreams can such miracles happen. But pinching himself to wake up, he realized—this wasn't a dream, it was really happening!
Why are you helping me? I wanted to put you in a cage, I wouldn't help myself like this!
The bat looked carefully at the boy and said:
You're good!
Are you laughing? I shoot from a slingshot, I tease everyone, no one wants to be my friend, I upset my grandmother, my parents... and I'm good?
You're good, — repeated the bat, — you just don't understand it yet. You have a kind heart, but with your actions you're trying to hide it. You just need friends!
But I... I need... — and tears appeared in Vovka's eyes again. — How did you know? That I need friends?
It doesn't matter how, — smiled the bat. — What matters is that I did.
They didn't notice how they ended up in their home courtyard, and Vera with the cat ran up to them.
Are you okay? Is everything alright? I'm Vera, or Verunia for friends!
Vovka, — the boy said, turning red. He suddenly realized how foolishly he'd been acting. He was very ashamed.
Come on, they're probably looking for you. — Vera looked at the windows of Vovka's apartment: all the lights were on. — And tomorrow we'll play, okay?
Okay, — the boy said, looking down.
The girl walked him to his apartment. His confused parents were already calling the police when Vovka entered the hallway.
Yes, brown hair, — Dad was saying on the phone, and Mom was giving Grandma drops.
Forgive me, — came the boy's voice. Dad dropped the phone in surprise.
Vovka, grandson! — Grandma was the first to see him.
So, young man, — Dad said sternly, — where have we been?
Forgive me, — Vovka repeated, — I'll never behave like this again!
And it was the pure truth, because this was a new Vovka, and he didn't lie to the people who loved him.
Chapter 11. How to Sleep Comfortably?
Alice was getting bored for her home attic, and even Vera's pleas couldn't make her stay in the apartment.
Here, take a pillow and blanket with you!
Why? — the bat was surprised. — It's much more comfortable to sleep upside down!
I doubt it, — objected Vovka.
He had become their new friend and had really changed. Fuzzy was suspicious of him at first, but after a couple of treats, the cat warmed up to the boy and forgave all his cat offenses.
Want me to teach you? — Alice suddenly asked.
Do you really need to learn that? — Vera was surprised.
For you yes, but for us bats, it's in our blood! — Alice said proudly.
The friendly group quietly passed the living room and hurried outside. The adults didn't even notice, too busy with their conversation.
So, where should we try? Aha! Here! — Alice noticed a bar. — Come on, let's turn you into flying bats!
Maybe we shouldn't? — Vovka had doubts.
No more talking! I'm your commander today, follow orders! To the bar!
The children reluctantly climbed onto the bar, but hanging upside down was uncomfortable, so the "new flying bats" soon fell right onto Fuzzy, who was sitting below watching his friends.
Meow, I'm not a cat anymore, I'm a cat cutlet, meow!
And we're not flying bats, we're unicorns! — noted Vera, touching the bump on her forehead. Good thing they'd put down a blanket, so the fall wasn't hard, but they decided not to risk it anymore, you could break something!
The important thing is we're friends! — said Alice, — and who we are—bats, people, cats, or unicorns—doesn't matter!
After these words, the friends laughed, and each went to sleep the way they liked.
Chapter 12. LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES!
That evening the children were excitedly discussing a cartoon they were planning to see on Saturday.
Alice listened to the conversation for a long time, then asked:
What's a cartoon?
Everyone was surprised, even Fuzzy stopped chewing the sausage Vovka had brought.
You don't know what a cartoon is? — asked Vera.
No. Is it something tasty? — for some reason, many unfamiliar things were associated with food for the bat.
No silly, it's pictures on a screen.
And what's interesting about that? — Alice couldn't understand what was so unusual about these pictures.
Decided, — Vovka suddenly said, — you're coming to the cartoon with us!
But you forgot that Alice is a night creature, and the cartoon is at 5 PM, — objected Verunia.
I know. I'll hide her under my sports jacket from the sunlight, and it's dark in the theater anyway.
On Saturday, the friends set off to see the cartoon together, but an alert ticket girl noticed something moving under the boy's jacket.
No animals allowed! — she said strictly.
Unzipping the jacket and seeing a black wing, the girl closed her eyes in fear, and Vera quickly hid Alice under her shirt.
I don't have anyone, look! — said the boy.
The girl, opening her eyes and seeing no one under the jacket, let the children into the theater. She went to make strong coffee, thinking: "I must be so tired, I'm seeing black wings! I need a vacation urgently!"
And the kids, as soon as the lights went out, took out Alice. There weren't many people, and they weren't worried about anyone seeing the bat. Besides, on Vera's lap, Alice looked like a stuffed toy. So Alice learned what a cartoon was. And after that, they often went to the movies on Saturdays.
Chapter 13. Sweet Dreams, Alice!
Today, on Friday, Alice was preparing to go to her friend Owl's birthday party.
She had asked Vera in advance for strawberries to treat her friend. She talked to the fireflies, and they helped organize the congratulations. She made a small gift with her own paws, thanks to the girl who taught her to make crafts and gave Alice a box with a beautiful ribbon. The bat admired the little owl figurine one more time, put it in the box, and tied it with a blue bow. She was ready to go.
The Owl always celebrated his birthdays at home, and today his guests were his aunt, Alice, and the fireflies. Putting the treats on the table with the fruit, Alice handed over the gift.
And now for the congratulations! Fireflies, let's go!
And in the sky, from small glowing lights, the words appeared: "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!" Owl's aunt, getting emotional, even shed tears:
What friends you have! A treasure! Dear, I'm so happy for you! Happy birthday, my dear little one!
Crickets played "Happy Birthday" on little violins, and all the guests, including Owl himself, sang along. After the party, Alice and Owl sat on a branch and chatted about everything and nothing.
You know, I have a little gift for you too!
Really? — smiled Alice, — is it tasty?
Well, no.
Beautiful?
You'll decide that yourself now. I wrote a poem about you called "Alice the Bat":
Alice the bat doesn't live in a hole,
She sings a song to the bird with soul.
She's friends with cats and drinks milk too,
Goes to the movies on Saturday, it's true.
She doesn't like cheese, doesn't like to squeak.
Doesn't lie for excuses or speak.
What kind of bat is she, you ask, my dear.
There's one who loves roofs, have no fear!
She spreads her wings and can fly so high,
The night's her friend. She loves to cry.
Our Alice is a flying bat so fine,
Friends with cats, loves roofs—she's divine.
Alice the bat lives quite well, you see,
Doesn't cry tears needlessly.
Soon you will hear about her, my friend,
Now off to bed, my little end!
Is all of this about me? — tears appeared in Alice's eyes.
Of course, my dear friend. And we should get to bed soon, dawn is coming.
A yellow leaf fell right into Alice's paws. The bat, looking around, suddenly realized that autumn had come, and she needed to go into winter hibernation.
Yes, — she said thoughtfully, — soon comes dawn and autumn, then winter... Sweet dreams, my friend!
Sweet dreams, Alice!
