Tanya was a very fussy girl. She lived with her mum and dad in a big house on the ground floor. And all the neighbours knew when Tanya was in a bad mood. Sometimes she cried so loudly that her mum got a headache, sometimes she stomped her feet and swore so much that her dad clutched his chest. Nobody got any peace from Tanya. There was no pleasing her.
One day the girl asked her parents for a kitten. They were very surprised, because Tanya never thought about anyone except herself. How could they trust her with a living creature?
Her parents refused Tanya. There was a big tantrum, but this time they didn't give in to the fussy girl: she wouldn't be able to look after a kitten. But mum and dad told Tanya's godmother about her wish. The girl's fourth birthday was coming up, and her aunt had an idea that Tanya needed to learn to respect others. Like a fairy godmother from fairy tales, she decided to give the fussy girl a special gift.
Among many beautiful boxes with big bows, one was brighter than all the others. It was a gift from her aunt. Tanya took the box, and her aunt said:
