A soft plush teddy bear had been lying behind the dresser for many years now, covered in dust like a blanket. His small worn ear barely peeked out, and no one paid any attention to it. No one knew that Mishka could see everything happening around him with his black button eyes.
There go beautiful red high-heeled shoes — that's mum Nadya collecting toys into a box, and Mishka, as usual, goes unnoticed. Mishutka loves mum Nadya. She often hums something cheerful, and the bear briefly remembers how joyful things used to be.
Around midday, a dog appears in the room — Bonya, a big cheerful dog. She grabs a bright green ball and chases it around the room, knocking over carefully arranged toys on the shelves with her enormous tail. Of course, not ones like Mishka — different ones: new, needed ones. They're not covered in a layer of dust and take pride in being wiped down every Saturday.
Sometimes Mishka thought that if he were found, he too would take a place on the shelf, surely next to the new robot or building set. Years ago he even tried to sneak out from behind the old dresser, to catch someone's eye, so they'd remember him, be happy, wash him and comb his fur. But over the years he'd only managed to show the tip of his ear, and that wasn't enough.
But now he knew that no one needed him anymore, and he was content with little: he watched through a crack from under the dresser at life in the room. Maybe it was good that everyone forgot about him. After all, despite everything, Mishutka was at home: he hadn't been thrown out onto the street or given to someone else.
In the evening comes Mishka's favourite sound — Sanka's laughter. She always laughs so loudly that her giggles reach even the most remote corners. Sanka walks around the house in striped socks. Sometimes they're different colours, like today, for example. On her left foot is a pink sock with white stripes, and on her right — a white one with pink stripes.
And then it's time to go to sleep. That's the saddest time. Mishka remembered well how many years ago Sanka was so tiny and fragile, and he was her favourite plush friend. The little girl, barely taller than him, would cuddle the teddy bear to herself while sleeping and with pleasure nibble on his much-suffering ear. But Mishutka never complained; he liked sleeping on a soft pillow and being covered with a warm blanket.
Mishka remembered how Sanka grew up. She used to host the best tea parties in the world of toys! So caring, kind and gentle, she would pour tea for all the guests at the table, even Bonya. And he had the biggest cup with three spoonfuls of sugar.
When Sanka got a bit older, she loved putting her plush friend to bed. Yes, he got his own toy bed. And every evening the girl would read him her favourite book and say she'd never forget him, even when she went to school or became all grown up and worked in a balloon shop. She promised to take him to work with her. And Mishka would fall asleep, and his button eyes would smile. He believed Sanka.
And now Sanka is all grown up: she goes to school, packs her schoolbag every morning. Sometimes a pencil falls and rolls right under the dresser. Mishka thinks this is the moment, and the girl will finally see her old friend, but Sanka just takes another one. And then the door closes behind her.
And Sanka goes to sleep alone. And doesn't read to anyone at night. And Mishka falls asleep in his cosy home right on the floor, blown by wind from the open window.
Then a new day comes. Sanka goes to school, and mum Nadya's red shoes appear. Today she's not alone. From the morning, Bonya is playing around in the room. This time the dog has grabbed a terribly squeaky doll, and mum quickly takes it away from her.
Mishka knows that Bonya won't give up and will definitely find a new victim among Sanka's toys. A couple of seconds later, the restless dog is already chasing pencils around the room. Another pencil ends up under the dresser. A big fluffy dog paw boldly reaches under the dresser. And at that very moment, Mishka feels his ear in the dog's mouth.
It's not easy to pull Mishka out, but Bonya is stubborn. She growls. Just a bit more and the ear will come off. Mum Nadya comes to the rescue in time and chases away the playful dog.
Hundreds of thoughts rush through Mishka's head at once. He's been found! He's in mum Nadya's hands. She looks at him in surprise, as if seeing him for the first time. But he remembers her! He loves her red shoes! And then she asks the most important question for Mishutka:
