Petya loved playing online games more than anything.
Why on earth did you buy him that tablet! He'll play even more! ― grandma fumed.
Almost every kid has a tablet these days, and it's fine… ― Dad argued.
And a phone has such tiny screens, all those games will ruin his eyesight! ― Mom added.
Grandma just sighed and went off to the kitchen. At first Petya played games only now and then. He did his homework and tidied up the house. But then his favourite game kicked off a tournament season. That's when things really got going!
Petya, did you hear that there's going to be a tournament in our game? ― Vadik shouted excitedly, running up to his friend.
Nah, what's a tournament?
Seriously, you're so clueless! ― Vadik was surprised. ― It's a championship! You could become a super-cool fighter! Ugh, I probably won't get to take part. Mom won't let me play that much!
How long do you have to play? ― Petya asked with interest.
At least five hours! The competition goes on for about two days. You have to win every battle. And that's hard: you know what the fighters are like!
Petya came home thinking only one thing: what could he come up with so that they'd let him take part in this tournament. Petya even prepared promises for Mom and Dad: study well, tidy his room, always walk Rex, clean the hamsters' cage, and all that sort of thing.
Only Grandma was home. Aunt had fallen ill, and his parents had gone to visit her. They wouldn't be back for two days! Petya was delighted: Grandma wasn't as strict as Mom and Dad. This time the tournament would surely be his!
After a tasty lunch, Petya washed his plate and, looking up into Grandma's eyes, quietly asked:
Gran, can I?
Can you what?
Well, play a little on the tablet… I have a tournament today.
Well, if it's a tournament, then of course! ― Grandma smiled. ― But only a little.
Of course, of course! ― Petya grabbed the tablet and settled comfortably on the sofa.
The game gripped the boy, he didn't see or hear anything around him. The battles were tough. He managed to beat only three fighters and started the game over, when Grandma appeared in the doorway of the playroom:
Petya, you promised a little, and already an entire hour has gone by! That's it, finish up!
Gran, sweetie, just one more minute, the last battle!
Five minutes, Petya, five minutes!
But five minutes later Petya didn't even think of putting the tablet away. He lost another battle and got really angry: he wanted to be the winner, or at the very least take second place, so Vadik would be green with envy. Let him know what a cool fighter he is!
And when Grandma looked into the room again, the boy pretended not to hear her remarks. Yes, he knew Grandma would be upset, but he'd apologise later, and right now the battle was what mattered most! Grandma came in several times, but Petya either stayed silent or just waved his hand: I'm busy. In the end Grandma couldn't take it anymore:
Petya, I'm tired of telling you it's time to stop your game! Your eyes are already square! Are you listening to me?
The boy said nothing.
Petya…
Oh, leave me alone! "Petya, Petya"… Petya ate the bear!
How can you talk like that… ― Grandma said in a trembling voice.
I talk however I want! This is my apartment, and I'm the boss here! If you don't like it, leave! ― The boy shouted the last words loudly, then jumped up from the sofa and slammed his bedroom door in Grandma's face.
He thought Grandma would come in to scold him again, but he only heard quiet footsteps behind the door.
She must have gone to the kitchen, ― he thought, ― that's fine. I'll finish my game, and then I'll apologise. Right now there's no time for that: a battle is a battle!
Petya got completely absorbed in the game. He had no idea how much time had passed. The tournament hadn't finished yet, when the tablet's battery died. The boy remembered he'd left the charger in the living room.
Well, fine, ― Petya said to himself, ― I'll go get the charger, stop by the kitchen to see Grandma, apologise, and then carry on!
Petya stretched: all his muscles had stiffened from sitting in one position for so long. He opened his bedroom door and was surprised: the hallway had different wallpaper, and everything looked different.
Did Grandma redecorate everything in just a couple of hours? ― he said.
But when the boy walked into the kitchen, there was no grandma at all. There was only a girl about eight years old. She was sitting at the table, stuffing candies into her cheeks.
Who are you? ― Petya asked.
Faya, ― said the girl, ― and you must be the plumber, mister?
What plumber? And I'm not your mister, I'm only a couple of years older than you!
Ha-ha! ― the girl laughed merrily. ― You're quite the joker! Do I look like a grandma?
Stop messing with my head, ― Petya got angry, ― who are you, and where is my grandma?
What grandma? ― the girl asked.
Inna Grigoryevna is my grandma! Explain to me how you got in here, did she let you in?
I live here! ― the girl pouted offendedly. Then, trying to remember something, she added. ― Inna Grigoryevna… I've heard that somewhere… Oh, I remember! Dad told me about her. She's my great-grandmother. He also said she disappeared before he was born. Her eldest grandson hurt her. He got so lost in a game on his tablet that he didn't see or hear anyone. His parents ― my grandma and grandpa ― tried to bring him to his senses, they called doctors, but it was all useless. They even discovered a new illness called "zombicomp". Since then nobody goes into that boy's room, and he's, by the way, my uncle. The doctor said he doesn't even need food, because he has moved into the virtual world. They even hung a sign on his door: "Do Not Enter!".
Petya was horrified:
And Grandma, where did she go?
Nobody has seen her since that evening. Wait, you're not from that room with the sign? You're my uncle from the virtual world?
Petya said nothing. He ran out of the kitchen and burst into his room. Looking at himself in the mirror, he didn't see a boy. An exhausted, pale grandpa stared back at him from the mirror.
What have I done! ― Petya cried. ― Because of some silly game Grandma disappeared! Grandma, my dear grandma…
Petya, sobbing, collapsed onto the bed and fell asleep from sheer helplessness.
Petya, Petya…
Someone gently touched his shoulder. Opening his eyes, Petya saw his grandma.
Grandma, sweetheart, you're back!
I never went anywhere, I just sat in the kitchen so I wouldn't bother you…
You're not bothering me… Grandma, forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you, honestly!
Grandma smiled:
I'm not angry with you, Petya.
And the boy thought: "How good that it was only a dream!".
Petya still plays a game now and then. But now he remembers that it's just a game, and the real world is far more interesting!
