What a truly magical holiday New Year's is!!! And if you don't believe in Father Frost, then let me tell you a story that happened to me and my dog Laika.
On New Year's Eve, Laika and I went for a walk in the forest. Suddenly, a terrible blizzard started. We quickly ran along a familiar path, but the snow turned into a real storm, and we couldn't see anything around us. We wandered for a long time until the blizzard finally stopped.
Suddenly I spotted a very, very tall pine tree. I was admiring this forest beauty for so long that I didn't notice Laika had disappeared. I called for her in vain. My dear little dog was nowhere to be found. I decided to climb the tree and look around. I climbed up very high and noticed that the pine cones were glowing from inside. I leaned towards one cone, looked inside and saw a miniature palace.
It was made of precious stones. The windows were crystal, the roof was emerald, and the doors were made of the finest ice that shimmered with different colours. And then something inexplicable happened: the earth and sky spun around me, I started to fall, I screamed loudly… and found myself on the threshold of this wonderful palace, only now it was much larger in size.
The door opened and out came an old man with a long grey beard, holding a tall beautiful staff in his hand. His face looked very sad — terribly sad.
Hello, grandfather. Why are you so sad? — I asked.
Hello, my dear. I'm sad because the Snow Beast has taken my reindeer from me, and now I can't bring gifts to the children. I'm afraid the children won't wait for me and will stop believing in me.
Ah! So you're Father Frost! — I gasped. Remembering how I got here, I added:
And my dog Laika has disappeared.
Tears streamed from my eyes. Father Frost thought for a moment:
It seems to me that this is the Snow Beast's mischief.
But where should I look for it?
Don't worry, — Father Frost comforted me, — I'll give you a magic snowball, it will lead you to the Snow Beast's house, and gloves that will glow as soon as the beast gets close.
Thank you, grandfather!
With these words I set off. Soon the snowball stopped, and the gloves began to glow, I froze waiting. A loud roar was heard, and the Snow Beast appeared. Instead of a nose, teeth and claws, it had icicles. Looking at me, the Beast began to sing:
I am a Beast, terrible, snowy, and dreadful. Guess three riddles, and take your friends back.
Go ahead! — I shouted.
So, the first riddle. A white cloth covers the whole world.
That's snow.
Correct. Second riddle: it doesn't run itself, and won't let you stand still.
Hmm. That's frost, — I answered.
Grrr, — the Beast began to get angry. — Then the last one, the most difficult. It grows with its head down, it grows not in summer, but in winter, but as soon as the sun warms up — it cries and dies.
I thought hard. I won't be able to save my friends! I threw my head back so the Beast wouldn't see my tears. Right in front of me hung an… ICICLE.
It's an icicle! — I exclaimed.
The Beast got angry, hissed and crumbled, turning into ice dust. And Laika and Father Frost's reindeer were already running towards me. I got on the reindeer, and we galloped to the palace. Laika ran behind us.
Grandfather Frost was waiting for us on the porch.
Thank you, girl. For your bravery you deserve a gift, — and he handed me a stone that shimmered with all the colours of the rainbow, — this is the Rainbow Stone, it brings happiness.
But how do I get home? — I asked.
I'll sprinkle you with magic snow, you'll fall asleep and wake up at home.
When I woke up, I thought: 'What a wonderful dream I had!'
Wake up, my dear, — my mother smiled above me. — The gifts under the tree are waiting for you.
I rushed to the tree, opened a colourful box and saw… a rainbow stone.
