In a very old library there stood a large magical bookshelf. It could determine how well a person could read and, based on that, would offer them a book to read. All you had to do was say: "What should I read?", and the cabinet doors would open with an intelligent creak, and on the shelf lay a book selected by it.
In bygone times, there were queues at this amazing cabinet in libraries, but over time people began to read less and less. Books took a back seat, now replaced by electronic versions located in the depths of the endless Global Network. Now there was no need to stand in line at the bookshelf, but simply to select the desired catalogue in a virtual environment, and sometimes even simpler, just search for a book or desired summary on a website. The library had fewer and fewer visitors and it was closed. The library's property was put up for sale.
And so one antique collector became interested in the cabinet, whose fame had spread far beyond the city in which it was located. Since no one had approached this unique piece of furniture for a long time, everyone had forgotten that it was magical. The cabinet was sold for a pittance.
The collector lived in a large house. He loved antique things very much and decorated his home with them. The collector had never before thought about the functional capabilities of his purchases. But when the cabinet was delivered to him at home, he decided to see what was inside, but he could not open it. Then he installed it in his office simply as a piece of décor.
One evening, the collector's son, little Peter, came into his father's office and wanted to play there. He saw an electronic book on his father's desk.
What should I read?
The boy asked thoughtfully.
And suddenly the cabinet doors opened and on the shelf lay books with fairy tales "Kolobok" and "The Turnip". The boy was frightened and ran to call his parents. When they entered the office, they saw an open cabinet with books.
How did you open it?
The collector asked his son in surprise.
I didn't touch it. It opened by itself.
I tried for a long time to open it, but nothing worked. Remember, maybe you accidentally pressed something on it?
I'm telling you, I didn't touch this cabinet. I didn't even approach it. I wanted to play with your electronic book, and when I picked it up, I simply asked out loud what I should read. That's when the cabinet opened.
The six-year-old boy explained.
Amazing.
Exclaimed the collector.
When the boy took the fairy tales about Kolobok and the Turnip from the cabinet, the piece of furniture closed and they could not open it again. The boy really liked the books, they were quite colourful and the font was just right for him. He ran to his room and began to read the fairy tales.
Meanwhile, the collector could not understand how the cabinet had opened by itself. He invited a furniture assembly specialist, but he too could not open the cabinet. Then he decided to ask the library workers what kind of strange antique he had bought. But none of the current library workers could tell him anything useful. But one of the workers advised him to contact the librarian who had retired long ago — Ilya Petrovich.
With difficulty, the collector managed to find the retiree's address. He came to his home, and Ilya Stepanovich told him that the cabinet was magical.
And how do you open it?
You just have to say: "What should I read?", and the cabinet will select a book for you itself
Answered the retiree.
And why did they sell me such a magical cabinet for a pittance?
The thing is, nowadays people read very few books. So the magical bookshelf became useless to anyone.
Ilya Stepanovich answered with sadness.
The collector returned home and approached the cabinet.
What should I read.
He said carefully.
The bookshelf doors opened, and on the shelf lay a book by A.S. Pushkin "Eugene Onegin".
And indeed, this was the very book that the collector had read long ago as one of the last, but had never finished. He took the book and began to read it, and became so engrossed that he read all night.
In the morning, the collector realized that he and his family had indeed almost stopped reading books. And he decided to change that. Now every evening they visited the magical cabinet and spent 2-3 hours a day reading books. The cabinet seemed to have grown younger, as it had begun a new life!
