Petey absolutely loved playing online games.
Why on earth did you buy him that tablet! He'll play even more now! ― Nan fumed.
Almost every kid has a tablet these days, and it's fine… ― Dad argued.
And on a phone everything is tiny, with all those games he'll ruin his eyesight! ― Mum added.
Nan just sighed and went off to the kitchen. At first Petey didn't play very often. He did his homework and tidied his room. But then his favourite game started a tournament season. That's when things really kicked off!
Petey, did you hear that there's a tournament in our game soon? ― Vadik shouted excitedly, running up to his mate.
Nah, what's a tournament?
Mate, you're clueless! ― Vadik was astonished. ― It's a championship! You could become a seriously awesome fighter! Ugh, I probably won't get to take part. Mum won't let me play that much!
How long do you have to play? ― Petey asked with interest.
At least five hours! The competition goes on for about two days. You have to win every battle. And that's tough: you know what the fighters are like!
Petey came home with only one thought in his head: what could he come up with so that they'd let him take part in the tournament. Petey even prepared promises for Mum and Dad: study hard, tidy his room, always walk Rex, clean the hamsters' cage and all that sort of thing.
Only Nan was at home. Auntie had come down with something, and his parents had gone to visit her. They wouldn't be back for two days! Petey was delighted: Nan wasn't as strict as Mum and Dad. This tournament was definitely going to be his!
After a tasty lunch, Petey washed up his plate and, looking up at Nan, quietly asked:
Nan, can I?
Can you what?
Well, play on the tablet for a bit… I've got a tournament today.
Well, if it's a tournament, then of course! ― Nan smiled. ― But only for a little while.
Of course, of course! ― Petey grabbed the tablet and settled comfortably on the couch.
The game gripped the boy, he didn't see or hear anything around him. The battles were tough. He had only managed three fighters and started the game again, when Nan appeared in the doorway of the bedroom:
Petey, you said just a little, and an entire hour has gone by! Right, that's it, wrap it up!
Nan, sweetheart, just one more minute, the last battle!
Five minutes, Petey, five minutes!
But five minutes later Petey didn't even think about putting the tablet away. He lost the battle again and got really cross: he wanted to be the winner, or at the very least come second, so that Vadik would be green with envy. Let him know what a cool fighter he is!
And when Nan looked into the room again, the boy pretended he couldn't hear her remarks. Yes, he knew Nan would be upset, but he'd apologise later, and right now the battle is what matters most! Nan came in several times, but Petey either stayed silent or just waved her off: I'm busy. Eventually Nan couldn't take it any more:
Petey, I'm tired of telling you it's time to stop your game! Your eyes are going square! Are you listening to me?
The boy said nothing.
Petey…
Oh, leave me alone! "Petey, Petey"… Petey ate the bear!
How can you talk like that… ― Nan said in a trembling voice.
I'll talk how I like! This is my flat, and I'm the boss here! If you don't like it ― leave! ― the boy shouted the last words loudly, then jumped up from the couch and slammed his bedroom door in Nan's face.
He thought Nan would come in to scold him again, but he only heard quiet footsteps outside the door.
She must have gone to the kitchen, ― he thought, ― good. I'll finish my game, and then I'll apologise. Right now there's no time for that: a battle is a battle!
Petey was completely absorbed in the game. He had no idea how much time had passed. The tournament still hadn't finished, and the tablet's battery died. The boy remembered he had left the charger in the lounge room.
Oh well, ― Petey said to himself, ― I'll fetch the charger, pop into the kitchen to see Nan, apologise and carry on!
Petey stretched: all his muscles had stiffened from sitting in one position for so long. He opened his bedroom door and was surprised: the hallway had different wallpaper, and everything was different.
Did Nan redecorate everything in just a couple of hours? ― he said.
But when the boy walked into the kitchen, there was no Nan. There was only a girl about eight years old. She was sitting at the table stuffing sweets into her cheeks.
Who are you? ― Petey asked.
Faye, ― said the girl, ― and you're probably the plumber, mate?
What plumber? And I'm not your mate, I'm only a couple of years older than you!
Ha-ha! ― the girl laughed cheerfully. ― Oh, you're a joker! Do I look like a Nan to you?
Stop messing with my head, ― Petey got cross, ― who are you, and where's my Nan?
What Nan? ― the girl asked.
Inna Grigorievna is my Nan! You tell me, how did you get in here, did Nan let you in?
I live here! ― the girl sulked, pouting her lips. Then, trying to remember something, she added. ― Inna Grigorievna ― I've heard that somewhere… Oh, I remember! Dad told me. She's my great-grandmother. He also said she disappeared before he was born. Her eldest grandson upset her. He got so caught up in a game on his tablet that he didn't see or hear anyone. His parents ― my nan and grandad ― tried to bring him round, they called doctors, but nothing worked. They even discovered a new illness called "zombicomp". Since then nobody goes into the room of that boy, who, by the way, is my uncle. The doctor said he doesn't even need food, because he has moved into the virtual world. They even put a sign on his bedroom door: "Do Not Enter!".
Petey was horrified:
And Nan, where did she go?
Nobody has seen her since that evening. Wait, you're not from that room with the sign? You're my uncle from the virtual world?
Petey didn't answer. He ran out of the kitchen and burst into his room. Looking at himself in the mirror, he didn't see a boy. An exhausted, pale grandad was looking back at him from the mirror.
What have I done! ― Petey cried. ― Because of some silly game Nan has disappeared! Nan, my dear Nan…
Petey, sobbing, collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep out of sheer helplessness.
Petey, Petey…
Someone was gently shaking his shoulder. Opening his eyes, Petey saw his Nan.
Nan, sweetheart, you're back!
I never went anywhere, I just sat in the kitchen so as not to disturb you…
You're not disturbing me… Nan, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you, honestly!
Nan smiled:
I'm not cross with you, Petey.
And the boy thought: "How lovely that it was only a dream!".
Petey sometimes still plays a game now and then. But now he remembers that it's just a game, and the real world is far more interesting!
