In a certain city there lived a boy named Kolia. He lived with his mum and dad in a small, cosy flat. Kolia went to school, played football and was very fond of animals. On the way to school he would always buy a bit of sausage and feed a kitten that lived on the street near Kolia's house.
Kolia was a good student and had many friends. The boy always helped his parents. Sometimes he would cook dinner by himself, without his mum's help, and set the table. Kolia could fix a chair on his own and helped his dad service the car.
But the boy had one peculiarity – he didn't believe in anything and was very suspicious.
All the teachers said in unison: "This Kolia will drive us mad! He's always arguing with us and doesn't believe in anything!".
And whenever the subject of magic came up, Kolia would laugh so loudly that everyone around would turn to look.
The naughty boy was 100% sure that there were no such miracles, that it was all made up for small, silly children, and that he was already grown up and clever.
One morning, heading to school, Kolia, as usual, went into a shop and bought some sausages for his shaggy friend. But this time the kitten didn't meet Kolia as he usually did. The boy immediately suspected something was wrong. He looked carefully all around the house, but the kitten was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, Kolia heard a strange sound. It was the kitten meowing somewhere in the distance. Listening carefully, the boy followed the sound and within a minute he saw his little friend under a bench.
The kitten had hurt its paw and couldn't even stand up.
Kolia picked it up, held it to his shoulder and said:
Well, how did you manage to hurt yourself? You're still so small and you need to be more careful!
The kitten, as if understanding what Kolia was saying, purred loudly.
Kolia took the sausages out of his rucksack and began to feed his friend. After a while, Kolia hurried off to school.
He couldn't be late, because today there was a new geography lesson and the boy simply had to disbelieve something and argue with the teacher.
But what was to be done with the kitten? Kolia decided to leave it here and on the way back take the kitten to the vet. Let them treat its paw.
The lesson began. The teacher was talking about some geographical discovery, but Kolia couldn't get the injured kitten out of his head. He thought about how the poor little kitten was all alone there, and no one could help it. The boy was so tired from worrying that he didn't notice himself falling asleep.
Kolia, wake up!
Suddenly the boy heard, and opened his eyes. Before him he saw a man in white clothes. He had a grey beard, kind eyes, and a beautiful unusual pendant hung on his chest.
Who are you?
The boy asked suspiciously.
I am the one who will help you! But you must believe me.
Replied the mysterious man.
Believe? Why should I! And anyway, what are you on about?
Kolia continued to regard the man suspiciously.
I know what you're thinking! You're worried about the kitten with the injured paw, and it's sitting all alone right now under a bench.
The man replied.
How do you know that? I haven't told anyone!
Kolia was genuinely surprised.
That is – magic.
The man said calmly.
Ha-ha-ha! Magic! You've got the wrong person to tell! Magic doesn't exist, it's all fairy tales for little children. And I'm already grown up and don't believe in any of it.
You don't have to believe. But your disbelief won't make things better for anyone, especially not for the kitten. Now I'm going to tell you some magic words that you must say aloud three times: "Magic exists, magic exists, magic exists". When you say these words, be sure to think about what you want most of all at this moment.
The bell rang and Kolia woke up. It turned out it had all been a dream. Kolia put his textbook and notebook into his rucksack; his next lesson was maths.
The boy went into the classroom and sat in his place. But the words of the man from his dream wouldn't leave his head. And he kept thinking about the kitten that needed help. And so Kolia decided to believe in miracles, if only for a moment.
Magic exists, magic exists, magic exists!
The boy said aloud.
The classroom was noisy, so no one heard these words. Kolia was worried that his classmates and teacher would think he believed in miracles and would laugh at him.
The lessons ended and Kolia hurried to his shaggy friend. Running up to the bench where the kitten had been lying, the boy couldn't believe his eyes.
Instead of his injured little friend, there lay the pendant that had hung on the chest of that grey-bearded man.
And suddenly the boy heard from behind: "Meow!".
Kolia quickly turned around and saw the kitten. Its paw was whole, and the kitten was jumping around the boy and wasn't even limping.
Magic does exist!
Kolia whispered and smiled.
