Tyoma lay with the blanket pulled over his head, trying his hardest not to cry.
While he was doing poorly at it, tears flowed on their own and disappeared into the blanket. He didn't want his mom to hear him and get upset. Actually, he was already quite grown up—all of six years old—and he should take care of his mom. That's what Dad always says, and Tyoma completely agrees. Besides, he had accidentally overheard Mom telling Dad:
I'm worried about Tyoma, he's going to be so upset tomorrow! I don't even know how to tell him!
Tyoma understood everything right away. His beloved Chara was gone. Chara, Charushka, Charunichik—a small funny poodle, or rather a female poodle—had come back from her walk this morning in Dad's arms. He burst into the apartment like a hurricane, grabbed the car keys, shouted something to Mom, and rushed off with Chara, putting her in a carrier. Tyoma was so surprised he even sat down on the floor. For Dad to run like that!
Even Mom always called him a "beloved slowpoke" for his eternal unhurriedness and calm.
Tyomochka, Chara got hit by a car! Dad took her to the vet.
Tyoma knew how the puppy could race down the road, completely oblivious to everything around her in a fit of some mad joy from the vast space, sounds, smells—everything that wasn't in their small apartment.
His parents also knew this dog habit and never let her off the leash in the yard.
She'll calm down when she grows up!—Dad would joke, and they only let the puppy off the leash in the park next to the house.
Today, Tyoma knew, Dad was in a big hurry for some meeting. He probably decided to take a walk in the yard. Something cold and evil pushed into Tyoma's chest. It seemed to him that some nasty voice whispered right nearby:
That's it! You don't have your friend anymore!
Still sitting on the floor, he himself whimpered in a very dog-like way…
Chara appeared on Tyoma's birthday: it was just like in his favourite cartoon about Karlson. In the morning, his parents woke Tyoma right in bed, kissed both his cheeks, and Dad gently pulled his ears. Presents were already piled in the middle of the room. He jumped out of bed and was about to sort through them when Mom said:
Sonny, who's ringing the doorbell so insistently? It must be for you!
Probably Serega, he's early!
Tyoma ran to open the door. On the threshold, in a soft blue basket, sat a fluffy curly black ball of fur, squeaking thinly. Who is this? Is this for me? Tyoma squealed like crazy and spun around the room, hugging the basket with both hands. The puppy, frightened, pressed her round ears back and hid deep in her shelter.
What a charmer, Charocka, Charushka—let's call her that,—Mom suggested.
Need I say that from that day on, Chara and Tyoma were inseparable. She, as soon as her little paws grew stronger, raced around the apartment with funny yapping, playfully tried to nip everyone's heels, and then scurried under Tyoma's bed. The poodle won herself a place at Tyoma's feet on the bed in a battle with Mom, and at night she rarely returned to her basket.
He even begged his parents to buy him a special backpack and often carried Charushka with him on walks and visits. The dog was with Tyoma almost always: when he bathed, she sat on the washing machine and squeaked nervously if he tried to dive underwater. When Mom taught him to read and write, she lay quietly on a pouf by the table and, I must say, was always very patient in her waiting.
But when they got outside, there was sometimes real chaos! Chara raced around Tyoma with loud barking, deliberately growled when he tried to catch her, and had even learned to bring him a thrown tennis ball. Yes, he was happy! This was his first real friend, who could never be offended, betray, or forget…
And now this friend was gone. And it was because of some cursed car, heaps of which raced around the yard paths all day, sometimes scaring the residents! It seemed to Tyoma now like some huge angry octopus, stretching its tentacles right into his apartment. He waited almost until night for Dad to come back and bring Chara home. He couldn't believe she was really gone.
Finally, Mom put him to bed on the condition that she'd wake him as soon as Dad appeared. Tyoma waited and waited, and then unexpectedly dozed off. And then he dreamed that Dad whispered to Mom:
I couldn't leave her there, I buried her myself by the lake.
Mom cried, and Dad awkwardly shuffled around her and secretly wiped his eyes. And suddenly Tyoma understood that he wasn't asleep but actually hearing Mom sobbing, and Dad hugging her shoulders and whispering something in her ear. And again these words:
How do I tell Tyoma?... Maybe we'll say we sent her to a special dog sanatorium for long-term treatment.
His parents finally went to the bedroom, and Tyoma pulled the blanket over his head and tried to be a real man. Sleep wouldn't come to him at all. Suddenly he desperately wanted to jump out of bed, run to his parents, climb into their bed, and cry, cry, cry…
He hugged his fluffy soft teddy bear and took a breath. He was terribly thirsty. But he didn't want to get up and drag himself through the long corridor to the kitchen. And he was a bit afraid of the dark, though he'd never admit it to anyone. He was still thinking about what to do, but his thirst was growing.
Tyoma sighed, quietly got out of bed, and padded barefoot down the corridor. Suddenly some strange sound reached him from the kitchen. It wasn't even a sound, but a light rustling, like the flutter of little wings. Like a small bird was fluttering near him. Tyoma froze. The sound stopped, but then something lightly clinked, and it seemed he heard the splash of water. And suddenly it dawned on Tyoma: It must be Mom—she's also worried and drinking water in the kitchen.
He didn't want to meet his parents now. To avoid showing that he knew everything and breaking down again, but this time uncontrollably, sobbing, hysterically. He crept back to the bedroom and, standing behind the door, waited for Mom to return to herself. Minutes stretched long, but no one came. Tyoma began to slowly freeze: barefoot, after all. And the kitchen became very quiet again. Strange, surely Mom isn't sitting there alone in the dark!—he thought.
And suddenly that fluttering sound again! That's it, a bird definitely flew in through the window—I have to save it,—flashed through his head. Tyoma rushed to the kitchen. He turned on the light, expecting to see an ordinary sparrow on the windowsill, but froze in shock. Under the ceiling right by the lamp shade fluttered a strange creature. At first it seemed to him like a huge white butterfly, but then he realized it was… a small girl with transparent wings on her back!
Tyoma froze in the doorway, unable to tear his eyes away from this creature. He had read the story of Thumbelina, he really liked that fairy tale girl, and he too wanted to play with her and protect her from nasty toads, but he was already quite a big boy, knowing that miracles don't really happen in life! Of course, Father Frost came to him on New Year's with presents, but once Tyoma found his dad's watch on the man's wrist and, looking more carefully, realized that… it wasn't Father Frost at all!
He didn't love New Year's any less, but he completely stopped believing in fairy tales. And now this! The fluttering figure meanwhile landed on the refrigerator. Busily straightening her semi-transparent dress, the girl settled more comfortably and, dangling her legs, stared at Tyoma. And only now did he notice that on her head was a huge white bow with small black speckles.
Like a cabbage butterfly,—he thought. —What a Kapuska!—Tyoma chuckled to himself.
The girl wasn't scary at all and continued to look at him with big radiant eyes.
Who are you?—Tyoma whispered. She, swaying her wonderful bow, squeaked thinly in response:
Kapuska! You named me that yourself.
Can you read my thoughts?
Well, I don't know, I just understand everything you think. We always do…
How?—asked Tyoma.
Well, when we're sent to people.
To people? Where are you from anyway?
I don't know,—the girl swung her legs and smiled.
I can't explain to you where I'm from. Where I live, we're not like I am now. We just circle lightly and freely in a transparent and clean world. We always have peace and light. But there comes a time for each of us when we're sent to people. And people give us names.
When does that happen?—Tyoma was amazed. And why?
It happens… How do I explain it to you… It happens when someone loses a real only friend. And that friend really loved you. We are Messengers of Love. I don't know anything more,—the girl finished. And I don't know what Love is either, but we're supposed to replace it, that's all…
Tyoma sat down on a chair and fell silent. He studied this miracle on the refrigerator and waited for him to wake up and the magical vision to disappear. But he suddenly realized he really didn't want that. It seemed to him that it became a little easier in his heart.
Why aren't you drinking?—Kapuska suddenly squeaked,—you wanted to, and I already poured it.
Tyoma indeed saw a full transparent glass and understood where that strange sound of water pouring came from. He grabbed the glass and… suddenly pulled his hand back.
What if it's enchanted!—the thought flashed. And Brother Ivanushka, who turned into a little goat, came to mind at an awkward moment.
The girl burst into ringing laughter.
Drink, don't be afraid, horns won't grow. By the way, what kind of boy is that? And why did he turn into a little goat?
Tyoma blushed—even though she's a fairy tale girl, still, he didn't want to look like a coward in front of her. He drank the water in one gulp.
The little goat is because that boy drank water from his hoof, don't you know that story?—he said angrily, frowning.
What is a story?—asked the girl. —And can people also manifest?
Manifest? What's that?—Tyoma didn't understand.
Well, I manifested water for you,—answered Kapuska. And here's another example.
Her bow swayed smoothly and a large red car appeared on the table, gleaming with shiny details and winking with headlights.
Just like a real one!—Tyoma gasped. He remembered that he had been dreaming of something like this for a long time but didn't hope to ever get it. He had seen such toys in some TV show. And the show wasn't about Tyoma…
And suddenly he darkened: —A toy, so what! But Chara is gone! Tears welled up in his eyes again. If she laughs now, I'll throw her out the window,—he thought angrily, looking at the quiet girl. What does she know about friends, a magical doll!
The girl suddenly flew lightly off the refrigerator and landed on the table in front of Tyoma. She was the size of Thumbelina herself, it turned out.
Don't cry, you know, your dog died, but she loved you very much and wouldn't want you to be unhappy and cry about her. You won't forget her, I know, but her love will always be with you too.
Tyoma wiped his tears and reached his hand to Kapuska.
Even though you're a girl, you're a good friend, probably,—he touched her bow. It seemed to him that he was petting a silky butterfly wing.
You know, you have an interesting imagination! Thank you for imagining me like this!—she said.
I imagined?
Yes, we appear to people the way they see us in their imagination.
But what are you really like?
I don't know how to explain it to you. We are NOTHING. We take form only when we come to people.
What do you eat? How do you even… live?
Eat? Oh, you mean energy. Yes, I'll show you now.
Kapuska flew up again and began to circle around the lamp. Then she landed on the table again.
That's all, I won't need anything for a long time now.
It seemed to Tyoma that the girl became brighter, and a pleasant warmth came from her.
And you, did you… come to me for how long? They let you go for a while, your… well, your parents?
Kapuska laughed quietly.
Parents? Oh, well that's just for you… We don't have parents like that. We just exist, that's all. And I came to you only until the time when you have a REAL FRIEND or LOVE.
A real friend? I have plenty of friends!—Tyoma jumped up from his chair. Serega from the second entrance, Mishka from class…and suddenly he fell silent.
Friends… He had gotten used to calling all his acquaintances friends. But what is a real friend? Did Mishka help him last winter on the hill when Tyoma flew into prickly bushes on his sled and scratched his whole face? He even laughed, standing at the top of the hill and pointing at Tyoma. Tyoma hit him on the neck for that. And did Serega take him to the lake recently when the boys went there to see white swans that had arrived for a short time? True, Serega was two whole years older than Tyoma, but who asked him to call Tyoma a greenhorn? Yes, Tyoma really had no real friends and he had to admit it.
So you're my friend now?—Tyoma asked again.
That's for you to decide,—came the quiet whisper in response.
****
The sun was shining quite summery through the window when Tyoma opened his eyes. For the first minute he couldn't understand why he felt so heavy in his heart. Then he jumped up and sat on the bed, dangling his bare feet.
Charushka is dead! How could I forget. Tyoma felt something heavy pressing on his chest again, and the sunlight in the room became cloudy and scattered into rainbow spots. Tears fell on their own.
Here we go again!—he suddenly heard from somewhere on the bookshelf. I could die from this! You're taking so much energy from me!
Tyoma rubbed his eyes and peered at the semi-transparent figure.
So you didn't dream me?
No! I'll always be with you now, only you won't always be able to see me,—Kapuska flew in a sunbeam, her wings sparkled in it, and even the bow with speckles seemed to glow. Mom noticed nothing.
The apartment was very quiet, and Tyoma thought his parents had gone somewhere. He peeked out the door—no one in the corridor. On tiptoe he crept to the kitchen and… froze! On the table, gleaming with all its polished parts, stood the wonder-car.
What do I tell my parents? Where did it come from and anyway…!
Tyoma grabbed the car and rushed back to the bedroom.
Kapa! Do something! I can't show it to anyone! Then I'd have to tell them about you too!
Kapuska stared at Tyoma with her huge eyes and said nothing. The car suddenly disappeared, but Tyoma felt its weight and coolness in his hands.
What is this? Where did it go?—he said in shock.
It just became invisible. Whenever you want to play, just think about it, and it will appear again.
And can you make it disappear again?
Kapuska shook her bow:
No, I can't do that. I can only create, not destroy…no, I'm not allowed. I'm what you call a CREATOR! Making invisible what I created—yes, I can do that, so use it!
Then it has to go under the bed, or Mom will see it—there'll be trouble!
Tyoma quickly stuffed the toy in a hidden place and just in time—careful steps sounded in the corridor. Mom looked in the door.
Tyomochka, you're already awake, it turns out. We thought you were talking to someone?
Tyoma took a deep breath and, glancing at the shelf, almost gasped. Kapuska, as if nothing was wrong, was swinging her legs and not planning to disappear.
Mom will see her now and something will happen!
He couldn't even imagine what Mom's reaction would be to such a girl.
But Mom, entering the room, seemed not to notice anything strange or unusual about the semi-transparent fairy tale creature on her son's bookshelf.
Tyoma, why are you quiet?—Mom started again in an artificially cheerful tone. —I want to tell you not to worry about Chara, we sent her to a dog sanatorium for treatment. Maybe for a long time…
Mom, don't, okay?—Tyoma muttered. —I know Chara died, don't worry—I'm a man…
The last words Tyoma spoke already slightly whimpering and wiping tears from his cheek.
Mom grabbed him in her arms and sat on the bed, pressing him to her chest and whispering in his ear:
We'll get you a new puppy, really, you'll see, just don't cry! And we'll never forget our Charocka!
Tyoma fell silent, then, pressing against Mom's chest, slid to the floor.
Never! I don't want any new puppy! There won't be another like Chara! And I already have Kapuska!
Who?—Mom was taken aback.
Ka…,—Tyoma stopped himself. —Well, nobody, I just…,—he looked at the shelf again. Kapa was there and already spreading her wings, bathing them in sunlight. They sparkled and shimmered like mica. Mom noticed nothing.
Okay, dear, let's wash up, and we'll go wake Dad.
Yeah, like he's sleeping!—Tyoma chuckled,—Tell him I'm… doing okay…
***
Summer soon ended, and Tyoma started first grade. So many new things: new classmates, school assignments, responsibilities—Tyoma didn't have enough hours in the day, and only the fairy tale girl-child never left him for a moment. She sat on his shoulder when he went somewhere, played tricks on his shelves when he did homework, slept there and greeted him in the mornings with a quiet rustle of wings. She seemed unaffected by winter frosts, rain, or wind. She only needed to flutter in the light of a lamp or bask in the warmth of the sun.
Tyoma played with Kapa in all his favorite games: he arranged races on the floor with his favorite cars: by the way, there were now many more—Kapa created so many that he didn't know how to fit them under the bed. But now he himself washed the floors in his room—so Mom wouldn't accidentally stumble upon invisible piles of toys. Mom was simply amazed when he announced this to her.
Such a big boy he's become, and so serious!—she proudly told Dad.
One thing worried his parents: for some reason, Tyoma had no close friends. Just schoolmates who stayed there, beyond the school threshold, and never came to his house. And he didn't really want to go with them to the river, or to the skating rink, or just to the yard.
More often he walked alone in the small park next to the house or sat in his room with the door tightly closed. This, I must say, worried his parents very much. Once Tyoma overheard a snippet of their conversation in the kitchen. Mom spoke very quietly to Dad:
Tyoma has changed a lot since Chara died. I'm afraid he'll withdraw completely—he doesn't want to be with anyone. And I've noticed several times—he talks to himself! Maybe he needs to see a doctor?
Dad reassured Mom and said everything would work out, that summer would come soon, and they would go to Grandma's in the village. There's a river there, forest, horses, dogs, and plenty of boys. The boy will get over it, nothing scary!
Tyoma only smiled to himself. You parents don't understand anything: I have such a friend! Even though she's a girl, she knows everything, understands everything, and it's so interesting with her, like with no other boy! And she does such wonders: as much ice cream as you want, and toys, and even computer games that aren't on any website!
Summer finally came. Dad and Tyoma went to the village. Kapuska traveled in his backpack, though Tyoma suspected she didn't really need to. She calmly disappeared and appeared where needed without any trouble. But she was with him, he could whisper secretly, she joked with him, and he, forgetting himself, sometimes laughed at her jokes so much that he scared Dad.
***
In the first days in the village, Tyoma wandered around the area, afraid to go far into the forest, though he really wanted to run to the forest lake. Local boys said there were big crucian carp there, and he absolutely loved fishing. He had only been on a real fishing trip with Dad twice on their river and now he was waiting for it eagerly.
And so early in the morning they were finally on the lake shore. The sun hadn't risen yet, and white mist hung over the water, though some forest birds were already beginning to whistle shyly. Something splashed in the lake, and sleepy dragonflies tested their wings. Kapuska, waiting for the sun, sat in the backpack, wrapped in Tyoma's scarf. Good thing Dad didn't see it, or he'd be amazed why his son had a winter scarf with him in summer!
The fishing was already in full swing, Tyoma had caught five crucian carp and one small pike, when a boy came out of the thick bushes on the shore with a large bag in one hand and a rolled-up fishing rod in the other. The bag seemed quite heavy.
Hello,—he greeted Dad and Tyoma very politely. —Are you still catching? I'm done—nothing's biting anymore!
And he swung the bag importantly to look more solid.
I caught enough for Grandma's whole lunch, I think!
Tyoma at first frowned: think you're so great! But the boy smiled so sincerely and came closer to the water.
What's your name?—he asked Tyoma. —I'm Misha,—and he held out his hand.
Tyoma answered and held out his own. And suddenly he wanted to just flop down on the grass next to Misha and chat, chat about everything! And he would show him his cars, and then they would play the new Tyoma game on the computer "Sea Pirates," which Kapuska had loaded recently.
They went to the village together, especially since the fish really had stopped biting. Misha turned out to be from the same city, and he lived in the next house. Time in the village flew by unnoticed. The boys ran to the forest together, went fishing, ate small but amazingly sweet meadow strawberries. And once they were even allowed to ride on a real horse. True, the village uncle Semyon led it by the bridle.
All this time Kapuska, of course, was with Tyoma. Her mica wings rustled near his ear, he saw their golden glint, but it seemed to him that she had become quieter and paler.
But the day of departure home came. Tyoma and his new friend agreed to meet in the city on the first day off and go to the movies. In the evening of the day he returned, Tyoma sat in his room and for the first time didn't invite Kapuska to play with the cars. He was chatting with Misha on the computer, and they were very animatedly recalling the past trip to the village and making plans for the first school days.
Misha did wrestling and invited Tyoma to think about sports too. Tyoma got so absorbed in communicating with his new friend that he only remembered the air girl in the evening. Turning to her favorite place—the bookshelf—he didn't see anyone there. Something stabbed in his chest—a feeling of sharp loss suddenly returned with new force, like on that terrible evening when Chara died.
Kapuska, where are you?! Don't fly away! I feel bad without you! The room answered with silence… Oh, I'm a traitor!—suddenly clearly occurred to Tyoma. She is my real friend, and me?! I traded her for some stranger boy! I just happened to run into him at that lake—he was just bored fishing alone, adults don't understand everything… And now I'm alone again—who knows if this Misha will want to hang out with me, maybe he has enough friends!
And Misha didn't become dearer to him than this amazing air girl, he felt. Tears welled up in his eyes, Tyoma sat on the bed and sobbed silently into the pillow. Acute loneliness again dressed everything around in grey tones, and the joy of communicating with a new friend faded completely. Suddenly a thin, silvery sound rang out in the room.
It was like the sound of a thin, amazingly melodic string breaking. A soft glow spread over the shelf, and, oh, happiness, a silvery figure fluttered around the lamp! Kapa! Hooray! Tyoma rushed across the room to her and wanted to grab and smother this transparent weightless creature in his arms!
Easy, easy, what are you doing!—Kapuska flew higher, settling on the chandelier under the ceiling. I'm very weak still, I need energy—I came back to you too hard.
Came back to me? Were you gone? Why is it hard for you?—Tyoma rushed to turn on all the lights in the room at once.
I told you, we only replace people's losses of very close beings. And only until a new friend or love appears. We feel this very keenly. We're not allowed to stay with them. We have our Call, which we can't disobey. And it called me because you have a new close person—your new friend. Right?
Tyoma thought. Kapuska was right: after all, he really hadn't parted with Misha almost all summer. And they were good and interesting together. He even forgot about the magical girl for a moment... And what? She disappeared. Everything was right—she had warned him. So why did she come back? Or is Misha not a friend at all? Not real, like all the previous acquaintances?
Why did you come back? You felt bad, they sent me to you again...
Tyoma sighed. Yes, he felt bad, lonely, Kapuska was here again, but… something was still missing…
The doorbell rang in the hallway.
Tyoma, Misha came, greet him,—Mom called.
He didn't want to go. What if Misha scares Kapuska away again? He quietly opened the door to his room and for some reason froze in the doorway. Silently, looking carefully at Tyoma's face, he finally asked quietly:
Tyoma, are you okay? I had a feeling something was wrong, and I decided to come by. Can I help?
Tyoma felt amazing warmth spread in his chest from these simple kind words from, essentially, not such a close and dear boy.
Nothing… Just… I remembered my dog today, the one that died... It happens…
Misha sighed, awkwardly shuffling in the doorway.
You know, I collect stamps about dogs, want to see? I brought my album with me. Dad says it's not cool anymore, but I like it.—Misha smiled shyly.
The whole evening the boys spent together: first they looked through Misha's album, then gradually Tyoma, who had warmed up, began to remember their summer adventures, and soon they were laughing carefree, remembering how Misha slid off the slippery shore into the water, trying to pull out a large pike that had miraculously gotten on his hook. It was already dark when they finally realized it was late and Misha had to go home.
Already saying goodbye, standing in the doorway, Misha suddenly looked back.
Tyoma, did you really miss your dog?—Tyoma was confused... —Let's go to the movies tomorrow, okay?
Misha looked at him hopefully.
Yes, of course,—Tyoma answered hastily.
The door had closed long ago, and he still stood in the corridor, not understanding what was happening to him. Misha is a great guy. He felt that something strong and reliable was growing between them, something Dad had spoken about more than once.
Artyom, I will be truly happy, and so will you, if you have a real loyal friend in your life!
But what about Kapuska?—Tyoma suddenly remembered. He realized he hadn't heard the gentle rustle of her wings for a long time. The room was empty. Empty was the shelf, the table, no one fluttered around the lamp…
Suddenly a quiet rustle sounded by the window. The window was open and a small butterfly was beating against the glass, appearing from nowhere at this time of year. Tyoma reached out to it, but the butterfly made one last loop and flew out into the night, flashing one last time with a dazzling white wing with round black speckles…
