A girl once had a doll that she'd found by the entrance to her building on a bench, lonely and abandoned. The doll was handmade, sewn from old rags. Its eyes were embroidered with thread and looked somewhat sad, gazing off into the distance. It was wet and dirty.
The girl felt sorry for the doll:
Mum, let's take her home. It's not right to be abandoned like this.
Said the girl.
Alright.
Said her mum.
But we'll put up a notice that we have this doll, just in case the owner turns up and we need to return it.
Okay.
Replied the girl.
At home they washed and dried the doll.
You're very unusual.
Said the girl to the doll, examining it closely.
If you stay with me, I'll definitely give you a beautiful name. Do you agree?
The girl looked into the doll's embroidered eyes, and it seemed to her that the doll blinked.
A week later, the doll's owner appeared—Augustus. His mum had sewn this doll for him when he was very small. Augustus had kept it as a keepsake.
He explained that the doll had been washed and hung to dry on the balcony, the wind had blown it off the line, and it had fallen into the dirt. Someone must have felt sorry for the poor thing, picked it up, and placed it on the bench.
Hello, girl.
Said the visitor.
You have my doll, according to the notice.
Yes.
The girl answered sadly.
Here.
And she handed the doll to its owner.
You know what?
Augustus smiled.
Keep her. I'd be happy if you two became friends. I think she'll be very well cared for with you.
My name's Renata.
She answered with a happy smile.
Thank you so much!
Renata sat at the table on a pouffe in her room. She was painting an apple with gouache. Next to the paints sat the doll. She accidentally knocked over the white gouache with her hand and spilled paint on the doll.
Oh no!
Exclaimed Renata.
I'll have to wash you again.
She said to the doll.
The doll looked at the girl in a strange way. At least, that's what it seemed to Renata. They washed the doll and left it to dry on the windowsill. Night was falling and Renata went to bed.
The first rays of sun peeped through the window. The doll opened her eyes:
What a lovely morning.
Thought the doll, and smiled at the flower growing on the flowerbed below the window.
Would you mind if I gave you to the girl?
She asked the flower.
I would.
Answered the flower.
You'll pick me, and that means I'll simply die.
Nonsense.
Thought the doll and, bending down, picked the flower. The flower immediately drooped and fell silent.
Hey!
The doll tried to cheer it up. But the flower remained silent.
I didn't want you to die. I just wanted to give you to the girl because she saved me.
The flower was silent. The doll tried to reattach it to the stem. The flower remained silent.
Renata woke up:
Good morning!
She said to the doll.
I've been thinking it's time to give you a name. A name is like a document.
Renata thought for a moment, looked at the doll once more and said:
Let's call you Gerrard! Do you like it?
The doll fluttered her cloth eyelashes:
Actually, I'm sort of a girl. Why Gerrard?
But she didn't argue with Renata:
Gerrard it is—that's actually quite funny.
Thought the doll.
In truth, her thoughts were occupied with something else—behind her back, in her cloth hands, the flower was dying.
I'll definitely save you.
The doll said to the flower.
And you'll live again.
Renata had her own plans for the new day—she was supposed to meet her friends.
You're coming with me.
She said to Gerrard.
It's time to introduce you to society.
These meetings usually took place in a clearing not far from Renata's house.
She opened her rucksack, stuffed Gerrard inside, and didn't even notice how the doll grabbed the picked flower with her.
From that moment on, Gerrard's adventures began.
First Meetings
Gerrard opened the rucksack zip and climbed out, gripping the flower tightly in her hand.
Dandelions grew in the clearing, and Gerrard spotted a stranger.
She decided to approach closer. The stranger was very busy: he was the size of a pea, yellow with a brown stripe and with little antennae. Next to Gerrard she saw 5-6 more just like him.
She gathered her courage and said:
Hello, I'm Gerrard.
One stranger answered:
I'm Maxim, and I'm a bee! Yes, we're all bees here!
I want to bring this little flower back to life. Will you help me?
Asked Gerrard.
The bees buzzed indignantly:
We're busy! We need to stock up on honey for winter!!!
And only Maxim answered:
I'll help you!
Thank you.
Said Gerrard happily.
But we need to find what will bring it back to life.
The bee Maxim, after thinking, said:
I know what it is! Didn't Renata's white gouache bring you to life?
Yes.
That's what we need to find! Does Renata still have any left?
Asked Maxim.
No.
Answered Gerrard sadly.
We'll have to search for it! Otherwise the flower will die in just two days!
How do you know?
Asked Gerrard fearfully.
I studied 'FLOWEROLOGY' at school and got top marks in it!
Boasted Maxim.
Oh! I know some ants—they collect everything that falls. We should ask them about the white gouache.
Will you come with me?
No, unfortunately! I have to work with everyone else, or they'll throw me out of the hive! And I really don't want that!
Oh well!
Said Gerrard sadly.
Alright, good luck!
And Maxim flew away!
Bye.
Gerrard set off on her journey, but then remembered that the bee Maxim hadn't told her where to go! She looked around, saw a large mound, decided it must be an anthill, and headed in that direction.
The Ant Colonel
The journey turned out to be longer than expected. Gerrard finally reached the anthill. All around her, small creatures bustled about, busily moving things from place to place.
These must be the ants.
Thought Gerrard.
And suddenly she noticed that the one in charge was watching her suspiciously:
Hello, I'm Gerrard.
Said the doll hurriedly.
Hello.
He said in a loud voice.
Who sent you, comrade?
I came from Maxim, he's a bee.
Maxim... Haven't heard from him in ages! What brings you here?
I've come for white gouache to bring a little flower back to life.
Too late. Oh yes, sorry Gerrard, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Colonel Michael!
So, Mick?
That's right!
And who did you give the white gouache to?
To my soldier ants and the red ants!
And where are they?
The soldiers are over there!
Colonel Mick pointed to the kerb.
And the red ants are over there!
And he pointed to the trees.
But! You'd better go to the soldiers first!
Alright, thanks! Bye!
Gerrard ran off towards the soldiers.
Good luck, comrade Gerrard!
Said the colonel and returned to his duties.
Gerrard turned around and waved to him.
Soldier Ant Masha
The first one Gerrard spotted was a red ant with black spots and little antennae:
Hello, I'm Gerrard.
Hello, I'm Masha, and I'm in a terrible hurry!
Muttered the red ant with black spots and little antennae.
Colonel Mick sent me.
Sorry, I'm in a real rush! I need to get to those bushes over there urgently. Let's talk later!
I can help you.
Really? Then what are you waiting for, help!
Alright.
And they got there in no time.
Thanks so much! I'll be right back, please wait.
Said Masha and disappeared into the bushes.
Appearing a minute later, she asked Gerrard:
So what did you want to talk about?
I came for white gouache, from Colonel Mick.
You're too late, my subjects used it all up. You'll have to go to the red ants. Well, never mind, not all is lost!
Thank you.
Said Gerrard and set off to the red ants, but it turned out they didn't have any white gouache left either that could bring the flower back to life.
The day was ending, and Gerrard had to get back to the clearing with the dandelions and the bees.
Seeing that Renata was already packing her rucksack, she quietly slipped inside, clutching the drooping flower to herself.
Back home, Renata placed the doll on the windowsill and asked:
Well, did you enjoy the walk? It's a shame you can't talk.
Said Renata.
Alright, don't be sad, I'm going to talk to Mum.
And she shut the door.
In the doll's cloth chest, a tiny heart beat desperately with pain and sorrow at having killed the flower.
A tear rolled from her toy eyes... and fell on the flower.
It stirred and sighed.
Don't cry Gerrard, instead collect the seeds from my head. In spring, scatter them on the flowerbed. Rain will come and they'll wake up. Many, many new flowers will grow. Don't cry, but remember this: to make one happy, you must not hurt another.
I'll remember.
Smiled Gerrard.
Night fell. Renata was getting ready for bed.
Come on, I'll put you to bed with me.
She said to the doll.
No point in you sitting alone over there.
Renata placed the doll on the pillow, hugged her, and it seemed to the girl that she heard the beat of a real heart...
