One evening, when Mum had already turned off the light and only a yellowish nightlight was shining in the room, suddenly there came a delicate melodious ringing sound. Right in the centre of the room, Anya saw a golden spark, then another. More and more sparks appeared, swirling and whirling like midges, gradually condensing into a glowing little figure. And suddenly the ringing and light disappeared, and in the middle of the carpet stood a small gnome, about the height of a stool.
– How beautiful! – said Anya, who was now sitting up in bed rather than lying down, so she could observe the sparks more comfortably.
– Hello, Anya, – said the gnome.
– Hello… – Anya was a bit flustered, – Who are you?
– I'm Fedya from the fairy tale helpers squad, we help the inhabitants of fairy tale lands…
– Oh, how interesting, – exclaimed Anya, – What sort of lands are they? Where are they? How do you get there?
The girl was bouncing on the bed with impatience.
– Wait, Anya! – interrupted the gnome, – I only have ten minutes, and our wizard Elizard said that only an inhabitant of a non-magical land can give the right advice. He says your thinking is different, more suitable. Will you help?
– Of course! – The pillow was bouncing along with Anya.
– But listen carefully, it's important not to miss a single detail! High on a mountain there is a cave, and a dragon lives in it…
– A dragon? I'm scared! Don't tell me such scary fairy tales! – Anya pulled the blanket up to her eyes.
– It's not a fairy tale! Well, it is a fairy tale, – the gnome got confused, – but everything is a fairy tale where we are… Besides, the dragon is kind, and it's the dragon who needs help! Will you help the dragon?
– Can I think about it?
– Anya, – pleaded the gnome, – help is really needed, time is running out, and I haven't explained anything to you yet!
Slowly from behind the edge of the blanket appeared the girl's nose, then her chin, then her neck. Then Anya placed her hands on top of the blanket and sighed:
– Well, all right then. I'll help!
– So, – the gnome was pleased, – in the cave the dragon has a wonderful garden, except it doesn't grow flowers, but precious stones…
– Wow! – Anya had already forgotten her fear, and was bouncing on the bed again. – Are they beautiful, these stones? What colour are they? You know, I love pink stones most of all, they're called rubies! And I've always wanted there to be such golden stones! Does your dragon have them? He's a fairy tale dragon, he must have them, right?
– Yes, yes… Probably… – the gnome waved his hand distractedly, thinking that he probably didn't have time for politeness anymore. – So, you see, they grow from bottom to top, like crystals, like vines…
– Like vines! Like goats! – the girl was no longer listening to the gnome, before her inner eye precious stones sparkled and shimmered in all colours. And then she realised that it wasn't them shining at all, but the little gnome's figure was breaking apart into sparks, which gradually faded away.
– Well, how did it go? – asked the wizard.
– You see, this girl, she's so timid, so dreamy! And interrupting someone is so rude! Anyway, I didn't manage to tell her anything…
– I was hoping that an emotional girl with a lively imagination would be the best option for making contact, but I didn't account for us having so little time, – the wizard thoughtfully turned his hat in his hands, – Don't worry, tomorrow the transition stone will recharge, and you can try talking to the boy.
Yuri didn't have a nightlight, he wasn't afraid of the dark at all and loved when stars shone through the uncurtained window into his bedroom. So when the stars suddenly lit up right on the ceiling of the room, he was very pleased. The stars descended smoothly and gathered into the shape of a gnome.
– Hello, Yuri! I really need your help, and I only have ten minutes! – Fedya hurried right away.
– How glad I am that you've come! – exclaimed Yuri, – I've always dreamed of having a mysterious friend! – and Yuri rushed to give him a hug.
But the gnome managed to stop him:
– Wait, don't touch me, or I'll disappear!
The boy dropped his arms sadly, but almost immediately smiled:
– Imagine, I lost a tooth! Yesterday!
Gnome Fedya was confused again, but immediately said:
– Excellent, so you're already quite grown up, clever and can help me! Listen carefully and don't interrupt. In our fairy tale land, high on a mountain in a cave lives a dragon, he's kind, and he grows a garden of precious stones.
– What's his name? – the boy still asked.
– Roma.
– Just like my friend! – Yuri was delighted.
– E-e-e, yes, – continued the gnome, – so, the gems in his garden are interconnected, they grow from each other from bottom to top shining brighter and brighter, and then, one purple stone, growing at a medium height, suddenly began to fade and shimmer strangely, – the gnome was really getting into it and was waving his arms about, – and around it…
Yuri, who until then had been watching the gnome intently and with interest, suddenly said:
– And Dad's going to buy me a remote-controlled car! Can you imagine? A big one! I think you'll fit, and next time I'll be able to take you for a ride!
– Yuri, weren't you listening to me at all? – Fedya was surprised. He was so hurt that tears came to his eyes, and he took off his cap so he could wipe them away unnoticed.
– And I've got a new ball too, a basketball one, let me show you!
Yuri crawled under the bed for the ball, and when he came out from under there, there was no one in the room anymore.
– How did it go? – the wizard asked carefully.
– This boy is probably very lonely, and has no one to talk to…– gnome Fedya nervously crumpled his cap in his hands, and didn't even notice how the pompom came off and rolled across the floor.
– What makes you think that? The Magic Ball said he has lots of friends and caring parents.
– He was in such a hurry to share all his news with me that he didn't manage to listen to me…– the gnome noticed the missing pompom, but didn't even bother to look for it.
Elizard tried to cheer him up:
– While you were gone, the ball suggested another candidate to me, they say he's a very clever boy!
– Who says? – Fedya was not so easy to convince anymore.
– His mother.
– All mothers say that, – the gnome sat down right on the faintly glowing transition stone and began to melancholically pull threads from his cap, he always did that when he was very upset.
– And his teacher, – continued the wizard, – and his English teacher, and his logic teacher…
– All right then, – Fedya smiled weakly, – see you tomorrow!
– Hello, Benjamin! – gnome Fedya took off his cap and bowed ceremoniously.
Benjamin was almost seven years old, but everyone in the family called him by his full name from childhood and strictly told everyone they knew, teachers and instructors, to do the same. The wizard had warned the gnome about this beforehand, and Fedya tried to be very polite.
– Benjamin, the fairy tale land and dragon Roma really need your help! – continued the gnome.
–Now, now! – Benjamin put on his glasses, took a notepad and pencil from his bedside table and got ready to write, – How can I be of service?
– The Magic Ball told our wizard Elizard that a child from a non-magical land will give the right advice when they hear about our problem.
– Did it say
