In a big, big city there once lived a girl named Alenka. She lived with her parents in a multi-storey house and often played at the children's playground.
In autumn it was time for her to start school, so the girl had already learned all her letters and numbers. Alenka was a good and obedient girl who always listened to her mum. Well, almost always…
The girl really didn't like it when her mum asked her to come home or go to bed. She had a thousand excuses for her mum's advice. Her discontent grew especially when the girl was drawing.
I don't want to stop drawing, never ever!
The girl insisted.
More than anything in the world I love to draw!
Why do you never draw with pencils?
Her mum asked.
Why don't I draw with them, I do, but then I erase it. There are such bright colours all around, and pencils can't capture all the beauty, so that's why I don't draw with pencils.
The girl explained.
One evening Alenka was sitting at her desk and, as always, drawing. She had been so tired all day that she didn't even notice her eyes getting heavy and she fell asleep without realizing it.
And the girl dreamed a wonderful, colourful, magical dream. Alenka found herself in a mysterious unfamiliar country where the inhabitants were… paints.
Oh my, how beautiful it was! The houses looked like pencils, the trees were green like paintbrushes, and along the streets walked plump paint tins. There were five of them.
The paints recognized the girl immediately:
Allow me to introduce myself: Red!
Said the tin.
The most cheerful.
I'm Yellow, like the sun and sand.
Blue – like forget-me-nots in the field and the sky.
And I'm Green, I love leaves and grass.
I'm very pleased.
Alenushka said happily.
I know you all well, because I love to paint with paints. But I think someone hasn't introduced themselves. Why are you so shy and quiet?
Because I'm White. My drawing can't be seen at all on white paper.
The last paint tin introduced itself.
Then it's all clear to me! So you're all artists here?
The girl asked.
All together they declared:
Yes, we're paints, which means we're famous and well-known artists!
Oh, praising yourself and boasting isn't very nice. Maybe you could show yourselves in action? Paint a cheerful, beautiful picture. There's just a free space on the wall in my room.
Said Alenka.
Excellent idea! But we need to think about what to paint. Let's discuss it now, decide and get to work.
The paints answered in unison.
They went off to the side and took a long time deciding.
You listen to the music, sit for a while, and we'll go and each paint our own picture. Five pictures are much better than one. Do you mind?
Asked the paint tins.
The paints scattered in different directions, and the girl was left alone. She looked at the fairy-tale city, listened and hummed along to a little song.
Some time passed. Red appeared first. He came up to the girl and handed her an album with a drawing.
Oh, how beautiful! But somehow it frightens me, everything is so red! I think it's a fire! Mum doesn't let me play with matches, I'm afraid of fire!
Said the girl.
Yellow handed over his drawing second.
Well, Alenka didn't understand this one either:
What is this? I can't make it out, is it a sandbox or something?
Blue also showed his art, but there was a question for him too:
It's a beautiful drawing, but I don't know what it looks like. If it's the sky, why aren't there any clouds?
A drawing by Green ended up in the girl's hands.
Is this a meadow of grass? But why do I need so much of it, I'm a girl, not a rabbit!
Alena protested.
Last of all, the tin with white paint handed over a white sheet from the album.
I don't want to seem like a fussy girl in your eyes, so you don't think I don't like anything. I know you're all excellent artists, but separately it turned out quite badly. Let's try to paint one picture together.
Suggested Alena.
How do we do it together? I can only paint an autumn forest, poppies or a little dress, if it's red.
Well, that's perfect! Green will paint the meadow, you paint the red poppies. A girl in white shoes and white bows will pick the flowers. Above them will be a blue sky and a bright yellow sun shining.
How well we've thought it all out! Excellent idea! We'll manage it! Hurray!
The plump paint tins discussed the idea enthusiastically.
Alenushka, wake up.
Mum woke her daughter.
Get up, wash yourself, brush your teeth and into bed.
Mum, mummy, I had the most wonderful dream.
The girl said happily.
You'll paint it tomorrow, but today it's time for your wash and into bed to sleep.
Mum suggested.
I'll definitely paint it, but that's not what I wanted to say! I understood something new!
What did you understand?
Mum asked.
But Alenka didn't answer, she was already sleeping soundly.
Did you guess what new thing the girl understood? If not, listen: each of us has only a little strength on our own, but if we unite with our friends, we can do something big, important and bright. After all, to achieve a good result, we need to do everything together – a team is strength!
