February turned out to be sunny and snowy. The weather was good and frosty. Three friends—Vova, Tolya, and Pasha—gathered as usual on an icy hill.
Vova is the oldest in the group. He's in fifth grade, gets straight A's, and participates in various sports clubs. Second-grader Tolya is the cheeriest and most active: he never sits still and always wins games. The moment someone gets distracted—Tolya's right there. Pasha is the youngest. He doesn't even go to school yet, but he tries to keep up with the older boys! You'd better not put your finger near his mouth—he'll bite it off.
One day the boys decided to find out who was stronger.
Friends, the holiday is coming soon—February 23rd. It's time to find out who among us is a real man,—Vova announced solemnly.
But what does it mean to be a 'real man'?—Pasha decided to clarify with his friend.
I know! It's someone who is faster, taller, and stronger than everyone else!—Tolya shouted.
Yes, that's right!—Vova confirmed.
But what's there to figure out? You're the tallest, Vovka, you're the oldest,—Pasha grumbled indignantly.
And I'm the fastest! I always win at tag, no one can escape from me!—Tolya announced happily.
So that makes me the strongest?—Pasha asked doubtfully,—well, by process of elimination.
Vova laughed and nodded. He knew that Tolya had no equal in tag, but he couldn't believe that little Pasha was the strongest. Tolya laughed too.
Why are you laughing?—Pasha asked the boys.
Pasha, do you really think you're stronger than me and Tolya?—Vova asked his friend, laughing.
I do! Otherwise it's not fair! Am I not a real man?
Okay, enough talking, let's test it!—Tolya suggested.
How will we test it?—Pasha asked warily. He understood that it wouldn't be easy for him to overpower the older boys in strength.
I suggest this: we roll a huge snowball together, and then one by one we'll try to push it from its place. Whoever manages it is the strongest,—Vova proposed.
I agree!—Pasha exclaimed. Tolya agreed too.
The boys got to work. They rolled the snowball for a long time, and it turned out big and heavy. The three of them barely managed to push it to the middle of the square. Then they started trying one by one to move it from its place.
Pasha, being the youngest, got to try first. He threw all his strength against the snowball, which was taller than him by half a head. The ball didn't budge. Pasha looked at the boys disappointedly, and they smiled. The boy, trying to hide his hurt, walked away and sat on a bench.
It was Tolya's turn. The boy turned his back to the snowball and pushed with his feet against the snow. He threw all his strength against the snow mass—but couldn't move it. Tolya wasn't too upset, but decided to support Pasha and sat down next to him.
Vova stood near the huge snowball. If he could move it—victory! That would mean he wasn't only the tallest but also the strongest, and therefore—a real man!
Without doubting his strength, Vovka smiled and pushed the ball with one hand. Nothing. Vova didn't lose his composure, braced his hands against the ball, pushed with his feet against the snow, and tried again. Another failure!
The oldest of the boys couldn't move the snowball either! Everyone burst out laughing, and Vova turned red.
You know, this is a silly argument. Nobody won! Let's go sledding down the hill instead!—he said.
Let's! I'm going first! Pasha, are you coming with us?—Tolya called out happily.
No, I don't want to,—Pasha's voice was unusually sad.
Fine then! Sit there and pout while we go play,—Vova said to him, and he and Tolya headed to the hill.
But Pasha had no intention of sitting idle and sulking. He had a fighting spirit. He got up from the bench and walked with determination toward the snowball. He spent a lot of time trying to move the massive thing, but it was all in vain. What should he do? Did that mean he wasn't a man, not a defender? No!
Out of frustration with himself and the boys, Pasha decided to take a risky step. He stepped back from the snowball and ran at it with all his might, jumping on top of it.
It worked! The ball moved from its place under Pasha's weight. Pasha himself, of course, flew face-first into the snow, but that didn't bother him much. He immediately jumped to his feet, brushed off the clinging snow, and ran after the boys.
Vova! Tolya! It worked! I'm the strongest, I moved it!—he shouted to the boys, who were hanging around the icy hill.
It can't be!—Vova answered.
I don't believe it!—Tolya exclaimed.
Then come and see for yourselves! And if you don't believe me, go get Tanya over there, she'll tell you if the ball moved or not.
That's a good idea. Tanya, will you come with us?—Vovka asked the girl in the red jacket who had just sledded down the hill and come over to the boys.
I will, but what do I need to do?—she answered in a clear voice.
Testify to the movement of the snowball,—Tolya laughed, and the boys ran after Pasha to the snow projectile.
Pasha was glowing with happiness. He took Tanya by the hand and led her straight to the ball. The girl carefully examined the packed snow, but she still had doubts.
How did you manage that?—she asked Pasha, squinting.
It's a secret!—he cut her off. The last thing he needed was for the boys to be able to repeat his record.
Did someone help you?—Vova asked, coming closer and putting his arm around his friend's shoulders.
I did it myself, do you believe me?—Pasha answered, looking him straight in the eye.
Do you give me your word as a real man?—Vova asked.
I do!—Pasha exclaimed immediately, and his cheeks turned red with embarrassment.
So, what will the snow commission say?—joked cheerful Tolya, coming up to the boys,—Tatyana, the decision is yours, what do you think?
I think your games are silly! But Pasha is telling the truth, he wouldn't lie to his friends. And you can see from the snow that the ball moved.
Pasha happily jumped up and down. Tolya and Vovka joined him.
Hooray! Now I'm a defender too, just like you!
So you'll have a holiday soon too,—Tanya said,—boys, I have gifts for you.
For all of us?—the friends asked in unison.
For all of you!—the girl smiled mischievously and, quickly making a snowball, threw it right at Tolya's forehead.
Ah, so those are your gifts! Attack!—Vovka commanded, and the boys rushed into battle. Pasha, though, defended Tanya. After all, she had helped him prove to the boys that he really had moved the ball.
He never told anyone how he managed it. But he always remembered that victory goes not to the strongest, but to the one who perseveres to the end!
