The warm spring sun was shining outside, and little Nadia, wanting to play with her friends, approached her mum with a smile.
Can I go outside to play with the kids?
Nadia asked excitedly.
Of course, my dear, but put on your cardigan. The wind is cool and you might catch a cold.
Mum replied caringly.
Okay, Mum.
The girl said happily.
Running quickly down the stairs in the entrance, Nadia found herself in the yard where the kids had already gathered.
Let's play hide-and-seek!
A boy with beautiful freckles shouted.
Let's!
The others cheerfully agreed.
Nadia wanted to hide so well that no one could find her, and she spotted a tree—tall and mighty. Climbing up it, she accidentally caught her cardigan on a branch, and a button tore off from her lovely outfit.
No big deal! The cardigan still looks good!
Nadia thought.
After playing to her heart's content, the girl headed home. After supper, she soon fell asleep, and had a strange dream. Nadia was sitting on a bench when she suddenly heard sobbing and quiet crying. She walked toward where the sounds were coming from. Approaching the tree and looking down at the slightly visible root of the mighty plant, she saw a tiny button.
It seemed to come alive, and its crying made Nadia ask the button:
What are you doing here? Why are you crying? Who hurt you?
I'm lost. My brothers and sisters are far away now, and I'm stuck here. How will I manage without them?
Do you really have brothers and sisters?
Nadia asked thoughtfully.
Yes!
The button answered, sobbing.
We all look so much alike.
The round little thing whispered sadly.
How did you end up here, under this tree?
Nadia persisted.
I was playing so happily, spinning and spinning and... I tore off. And no one picked me up. My family rushed off far away and now I'll never see them again.
The button said sadly.
How can that be?
Nadia cried out in bewilderment.
That's how it is! No one will help me.
The button sighed.
Nadia heard the button's crying grow quieter and quieter, and finally, it disappeared completely.
Waking up, she whispered frantically: It's my fault that the button lost its family. I need to help it.
She jumped out of bed and eagerly ran to the kitchen, where Mum was already preparing breakfast for her daughter.
Mum, I urgently need to go outside!
Nadia exclaimed.
Hold on, sunshine, you can't do that. You need to wash up first, have breakfast, and then you can go outside.
But Mum!
The girl objected, but looking into her mum's eyes, she understood that arguing was pointless.
After washing up and enjoying the delicious treats Mum had prepared, Nadia quickly headed outside. Running to that very tree where she had hidden from her friends yesterday, and which she had seen in her dream, she began searching for the button, slightly out of breath and trembling.
Where is it? I was here yesterday!
Nadia whispered, afraid she wouldn't find the button.
Oh yes! I threw it over there, far away.
The girl remembered.
Rushing away from the tree, Nadia immersed herself in a long search for the button. In her ears rang the button's crying that she had heard in her dream. She was so afraid she wouldn't find what she'd lost, but then her gaze fell on a small twig lying carelessly on the ground. Moving it aside, Nadia saw the cherished little thing.
There it is! I'll help you now.
Nadia rejoiced.
Running home, Nadia thought worriedly: But how will I help the button? I don't know how to sew.
Mum, is sewing difficult?
Her daughter asked.
No. You just need to be diligent and careful. And everything will work out.
Mum answered calmly.
Teach me to sew!
Nadia declared confidently.
Sew? Well, alright, sit at the table, and I'll bring the sewing box.
Mum muttered nervously.
Mum went to the room, and Nadia pulled her chair up to the table and waited impatiently for her sewing lesson.
Opening the box, a magical world of sewing crafts opened before Nadia's eyes. There were threads shimmering in the light, needles carefully pinned to a small cushion, large scissors, and many different ribbons and beads.
Well then, let's begin!
Mum said cheerfully.
They sat at the table for a long time. Nadia desperately tried to learn to sew, constantly thinking about the unfortunate button. She so wanted to help the poor thing, but alas, nothing was working—the thread wouldn't obey the girl, the needle kept pricking her, and the scissors were generally hard to hold.
After much struggle, Nadia finally began to make even stitches, and she quickly sewed the button onto the cardigan.
I'm so glad I learned to sew! And most importantly, I helped the button—now it's with its family.
