Philimon the Dragon had a pretty good relationship with food. He absolutely loved whistling hot peas, carrot stick salad, juicy pink dragon fruit, and even rainbow soup.
But Philly couldn't stand rissoles. As soon as they were brought to the table, he'd turn up his nose. Just "yuck" and "gross" — what a smell and taste those rissoles had. Mind you, this dish was highly regarded on the tree, and all the other young dragons were surprised that Philly didn't appreciate rissoles. The nanny was absolutely outraged.
Freshest, most tender, most appetising. What's there to turn your nose up at??
And the old woman would glare angrily at Philly the fussy eater. He was a bit scared of her long crocodile snout, so with a sigh he'd pick at his rissoles and sit at the table longer than anyone else.
Only when Agrafena's patience ran out would he be allowed to escape, leaving the cold food on his plate. On one of these miserable days, chubby Foma unexpectedly came to Philly's rescue.
Phil, mate, why do you keep moping over those rissoles? Want me to eat them for you, and you can show the nanny a clean plate? Good for you, good for me, good for her.
Of course I do! Here, eat up!
Philly was delighted. Foma immediately warmed up the rissole with his breath and swallowed it with relish. Pleased with their clever plan, the little dragons rushed out of the kitchen. On the way, Philly showed the nanny his empty plate. Now he wouldn't have to sit for two hours over his food. And so it went from that day on.
Whenever rissoles were served for lunch, Foma was right there — helping Philly out. But old Agrafena's nose wasn't that long for nothing. And so she soon found out that Philly was trying to pull the wool over her eyes.
The nanny got angry, but didn't let on. The old woman caught him on his way out with yet another empty plate.
I see, Philimon dear, how well you've been eating my rissoles. Look what I've prepared for you — seconds.
The nanny spoke sweetly. And handed him a warm paper bag.
Eat one more rissole, make an old lady happy.
Philly turned completely green.
Alright, but... um... I'll have it later... in a bit.
The dragon lied.
Take it, just don't forget to return the empty bag to me. I'll need it again.
Agrafena winked. Philly had to urgently find Foma.
I've already eaten three whole rissoles today — Agrafena brought me seconds herself. I can't eat any more — I'm stuffed.
What am I going to do with it? The nanny said to return the bag empty!
Empty? Well, just chuck it out, the rissole, and you'll have an empty bag.
Foma said and, struggling to get airborne, flew off. So Philly did just that, then went to see the nanny. He watched as the pleased old woman opened the bag.
Why didn't you eat the rissole? Forgot, probably?
Philly nearly fell off the branch! Where did the rissole come from? He'd thrown it out under the tree himself... Nothing for it, he had to take the bag back. Philly ran straight to Foma.
He was also surprised by the new rissole, but decided to help anyway and, gathering his strength, ate it. This time, before returning the bag, Philly thought to look inside. The rissole was there.
He had to subject it to a new test — throw it in the creek. But neither the cold creek, nor his mate Fedya's reliable trunk, nor a pile of leaves — nothing helped.
The rissole appeared in the bag again and again. Philly tried to stomp on it and even asked an adult acquaintance to incinerate it, all to no avail.
And in the evening Agrafena delivered her verdict — no other food until he ate the rissole. Philly went to the nursery without dinner. He slept poorly and in the morning, with no choice left, had to make a firm decision — to eat this wretched rissole right in front of the nanny.
At breakfast the dragon timidly shuffled over to Agrafena, Foma gave him an encouraging push in the back, and Fedya winked.
Agrafena grinned from ear to ear, pointed Philly to the nearest table, then sat down next to him and waited.
The little dragon held his breath so he wouldn't smell the rissole, and opened the bag. Strangely, it was hot inside. The rissole popped out onto the plate so fresh and lovely that the hungry little dragon was so surprised he breathed in through his nose.
He suddenly caught its amazing rissole aroma. And immediately took a bite from the side. It was so delicious!
Hungry Philly gobbled up the rissole in one go and looked at the nanny in bewilderment. She laughed uproariously, ruffled his spiky mane and went off to wash the dishes.
And Philly quietly peeked into the bag and fished out the next rissole. The bag turned out to have a secret, and the rissoles — they really were top-notch!
