In a very old library stood a large magical bookcase. It could determine how well a person could read and, based on that, would offer them a book to read. All you had to do was say: "What should I read?", and the cabinet doors would open with an intelligent creak, and on the shelf lay a book it had selected.
In bygone times, there were queues at this remarkable cabinet in libraries, but over time people read less and less. Books took a back seat, replaced by electronic versions stored in the depths of the endless Global Network. Now there was no need to queue at the book cabinet—you could simply select the desired catalogue in a virtual environment, or even more simply, just search for a book or desired notes on a website. The library had fewer and fewer visitors and eventually closed. The library's possessions were put up for sale.
One antiques collector became interested in the cabinet, whose fame had spread far beyond the city where it was located. Since no one had approached this unique piece of furniture for so long, everyone had forgotten it was magical. The cabinet sold for a pittance.
The collector lived in a large house. He loved antique items and decorated his home with them. The collector had never previously thought about the functional capabilities of his purchases. But when the cabinet was delivered to his home, he decided to see what was inside, but couldn't manage to open it. So he placed it in his study simply as a decorative object.
One evening, the collector's son, young Peter, came into his father's study and wanted to play there. He saw an electronic reader on his father's desk.
What should I read?
The boy asked thoughtfully.
And suddenly the cabinet doors opened and on the shelf lay books with fairy tales "Kolobok" and "The Turnip". The boy got frightened and ran to call his parents. When they entered the study, they saw the open cabinet with books.
How did you open it?
The collector asked his son in surprise.
I didn't touch it. It opened by itself.
I tried for a long time to open it, but couldn't manage it. Think—did you accidentally press something on it?
I'm telling you, I didn't touch this cabinet. I didn't even go near it. I wanted to play with your electronic reader, and when I picked it up, I simply asked aloud what I should read. That's when the cabinet opened.
The six-year-old boy explained.
How remarkable.
Exclaimed the collector.
When the boy took the fairy tales about Kolobok and The Turnip from the cabinet, the piece of furniture closed and they couldn't open it again. The boy really liked the books—they were quite colourful and the font was just right for him. He ran to his room and began reading the fairy tales.
Meanwhile, the collector couldn't understand how the cabinet had opened by itself. He invited a furniture assembly specialist, but even he couldn't open the cabinet. Then he decided to ask the library workers what sort of strange antique he had bought. But none of the current library staff could tell him anything useful. However, one of the workers suggested he contact the retired librarian—Ilya Petrovich.
With difficulty, the collector managed to find the retiree's address. He went to his home, and Ilya Stepanovich told him that the cabinet was magical.
And how do you open it?
You simply need to say: "What should I read?", and the cabinet will select a book for you
The retiree answered.
But why did they sell me such a magical cabinet for next to nothing?
The thing is, nowadays people read books very little. That's why the magical book cabinet became unwanted by anyone.
Ilya Stepanovich answered with sadness.
The collector returned home and approached the cabinet.
What should I read.
He said carefully.
The cabinet doors opened, and on the shelf lay a book by A.S. Pushkin—"Eugene Onegin".
And indeed, this was the very book the collector had read long ago but never finished. He took the book and began reading it, becoming so absorbed that he read all night.
In the morning, the collector realised that he and his family had indeed almost stopped reading books. And he decided to change that. Now every evening they visited the magical cabinet and spent 2-3 hours a day reading books. The cabinet seemed to have grown younger, as it had begun a new life!
