A soft plush teddy bear had been lying behind the dresser for many years, covered in dust like a blanket. His small worn ear barely peeked out, and no one paid any attention to it. No one knew that Mishka saw everything happening around him with his black button eyes.
There are beautiful red high-heeled shoes — Mama Nadya is collecting toys in a box, and Mishka, as usual, goes unnoticed. Mishutka loves Mama Nadya. She often hums something cheerful, and the bear briefly remembers how joyful things used to be.
Around noon, a dog named Bonya appears in the room — a big cheerful dog. She grabs a bright green ball and chases it around the room, knocking over toys carefully arranged on the shelves with her enormous tail. Of course, not toys like Mishka — different ones: new, needed ones. They aren't covered with a layer of dust and are proud that they get wiped down every Saturday.
Sometimes Mishka thought that if he were found, he would also take a place on the shelf, surely next to a new robot or building set. Long ago, he even tried to secretly crawl out from behind the old dresser, to be spotted, to be remembered, to be rejoiced over, washed and combed. But over the years, he only managed to show the tip of his ear, and that wasn't enough.
But now he knew that no one needed him anymore, and he was content with little: he watched through a crack from under the dresser at life in the room. Maybe it was good that everyone forgot about him. After all, despite everything, Mishutka was home: he wasn't thrown out on the street or given to someone else.
In the evening, Mishka hears his favourite sound — Sanya's laughter. She always laughs so loudly that her giggles reach even the most remote corners. Sanya walks around the house in striped socks. Sometimes they're different colours, like today, for example. On her left foot is a pink sock with white stripes, and on her right foot is a white sock with pink stripes.
And then it's time to go to bed. It's the saddest time. Mishka remembered well how many years ago Sanya was so tiny and fragile, and he was her favourite plush friend. The little girl, barely taller than him, would cuddle the teddy bear to herself while sleeping and with pleasure nibble on his long-suffering ear. But Mishutka never complained; he loved sleeping on a soft pillow and being covered with a warm blanket.
Mishka remembered how Sanya grew up. She used to host the best tea parties in the world of toys! So caring, kind, and gentle, she would pour tea for everyone invited to the table, even for Bonya. And he had the biggest cup with three spoonfuls of sugar.
When Sanya got a bit older, she loved putting her plush friend to bed. Yes, he got his own toy bed. And every evening the girl would read him her favourite book and say that she would never forget him, even when she went to school or became all grown up and worked in a balloon shop. She promised to take him to work with her. And Mishka would fall asleep, and his button eyes would smile. He believed Sanya.
And now Sanya is all grown up: she goes to school, packs her backpack every morning. Sometimes a pencil falls and rolls right under the dresser. Mishka thinks this is the moment, and the girl will finally see her old friend, but Sanya just takes another one. And then the door closes behind her.
And Sanya goes to bed alone. And doesn't read to anyone at night. And Mishka falls asleep in his cosy home right on the floor, blown by wind from the open window.
Then a new day comes. Sanya goes to school, and Mama Nadya's red shoes appear. Today she's not alone. From the very morning, Bonya is playing in the room. This time the dog has grabbed a terribly squeaky doll, and Mama quickly takes it away from the dog.
Mishka knows that Bonya won't give up and will definitely find a new victim among Sanya's toys. A couple of seconds later, the restless dog is already chasing pencils around the room. Another pencil ends up under the dresser. A big fluffy dog paw boldly reaches under the dresser. And at that very moment, Mishka feels his ear in the dog's mouth.
It's not easy to pull Mishka out, but Bonya is stubborn. She growls. Just a little bit more, and the ear will tear off. Mama Nadya comes to the rescue in time and chases away the playful dog.
Hundreds of thoughts rush through Mishka's head at once. He's been found! He's in Mama Nadya's hands. She looks at him in surprise, as if seeing him for the first time. But he remembers her! He loves her red shoes! And then she asks the most important question for Mishutka:
