In a certain city lived a boy named Kolia. He lived with his mum and dad in a small, cosy apartment. Kolia went to school, played football, and loved animals very much. On his way to school, he would always buy a piece of sausage and feed a kitten that lived on the street near Kolia's house.
Kolia was a good student and had many friends. The boy always helped his parents. Sometimes he would cook dinner by himself, without his mum's help, and set the table. Kolia could fix a chair on his own and helped his dad service the car.
But the boy had one peculiarity — he didn't believe in anything and was very suspicious.
All the teachers said in unison: "This Kolia will drive us mad! He's always arguing with us and doesn't believe in anything!"
And whenever the conversation turned to magic, Kolia would laugh so loudly that everyone around would turn to look.
The mischievous boy was 100% certain that there were no such miracles, that it was all made up for small, silly children, and that he was already grown up and smart.
One morning, heading to school, Kolia, as usual, went into a shop and bought sausages for his shaggy friend. But this time the kitten didn't meet Kolia as he usually did. The boy immediately suspected something was wrong. He carefully looked all around the house, but the kitten was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, Kolia heard a strange sound. It was the kitten meowing somewhere in the distance. Listening carefully, the boy followed the sound and within a minute he saw his little friend under a bench.
The kitten had hurt its paw and couldn't even stand up.
Kolia picked it up in his arms, held it to his shoulder, and said:
Well, how did you manage to hurt yourself? You're still so small and you need to be more careful!
The kitten, as if understanding what Kolia was saying, purred loudly.
Kolia took the sausages out of his rucksack and began to feed his friend. After a little while, Kolia hurried off to school.
He couldn't be late, because today there was a new geography lesson and the boy simply had to disbelieve something and argue with the teacher.
But what was to be done with the kitten? Kolia decided to leave it here and take the kitten to the vet on the way back. Let them treat its paw.
The lesson began. The teacher was talking about some geographical discovery, but Kolia couldn't get the wounded kitten out of his head. He thought about how the poor, little kitten was all alone there, and no one could help it. The boy was so tired from worrying that he didn't notice himself falling asleep.
Kolia, wake up!
Suddenly the boy heard, and opened his eyes. Before him he saw a man in white clothing. He had a grey beard, kind eyes, and a beautiful, unusual pendant hanging on his chest.
Who are you?
The boy asked distrustfully.
I am the one who will help you! But you must believe in me.
The mysterious man answered.
Believe? Why should I! And besides, what are you talking about?
Kolia continued to regard the man suspiciously.
I know what you're thinking! You're worried about the kitten with the hurt paw, the one that's sitting all alone under the bench right now.
The man answered.
How do you know that? I haven't told anyone anything!
Kolia was genuinely surprised.
That is — magic.
The man said calmly.
Ha-ha-ha! Magic! Found someone to tell! Magic doesn't exist, it's all stories for little children. And I'm already grown up and I don't believe in any of it.
You don't have to believe. But your disbelief won't make things better for anyone, especially not for the kitten. Now I'm going to tell you some magic words that you must say out loud three times: "Magic exists, magic exists, magic exists." When you say these words, be sure to think about what you want most of all at this moment.
The bell rang, and Kolia woke up. It turned out it had all been a dream. Kolia put his textbook and notebook into his rucksack; his next lesson was maths.
The boy went into the classroom and sat in his seat. But he couldn't get the words of the man from his dream out of his head. And he kept thinking about the kitten that needed help. And so Kolia decided to believe in miracles, if only for a moment.
Magic exists, magic exists, magic exists!
The boy said out loud.
The classroom was noisy, so no one heard these words. Kolia was worried that his classmates and teacher would think he believed in miracles and would laugh at him.
The lessons ended, and Kolia hurried to his shaggy friend. Running up to the bench where the kitten was lying, the boy couldn't believe his eyes.
Instead of his wounded little friend, there lay the pendant that had hung on the chest of that grey-bearded man.
And suddenly the boy heard from behind: "Meow!"
Kolia quickly turned around and saw the kitten. Its paw was whole, and the kitten was jumping around the boy and wasn't even limping.
Magic exists!
Kolia whispered and smiled.
