What a magical holiday New Year's is!!! And if you don't believe in Grandfather Frost, then I'll tell you a story that happened to me and my dog Laika.
On New Year's Eve, Laika and I went for a walk in the forest. Suddenly a terrible blizzard started. We quickly ran along a familiar path, but the snow turned into a real snowstorm, and we couldn't see anything around us. We wandered for a long time until the blizzard ended.
Suddenly I saw a very, very tall spruce tree. I admired the forest beauty for so long that I didn't notice Laika disappearing. I called for her in vain. My dear dog was nowhere to be found. I decided to climb the tree and look around. I climbed high, high up and noticed that the pinecones on the tree glowed from inside. I leaned towards one pinecone, looked inside and saw a miniature palace.
It was made of precious stones. The windows were crystal, the roof was emerald, and the doors were made of the finest ice that shimmered in different colours. And then something inexplicable happened: the earth and sky spun around me, I started to fall, screamed loudly… and found myself on the threshold of this wonderful palace, only now it was much larger.
The door opened and an old man with a long grey beard came out onto the porch, holding a tall beautiful staff in his hand. His face looked sad — very sad.
Hello, grandfather. Why are you so sad? — I asked.
Hello, my dear. I'm sad because the Snow Creature took my reindeer from me, and now I can't bring gifts to the children. I'm afraid the kids won't wait for me and will stop believing in me.
Oh! You're Grandfather Frost! — I gasped. Remembering how I got here, I added:
And my dog Laika has disappeared.
Tears streamed from my eyes. Grandfather Frost thought for a moment:
It seems to me that this is the Snow Creature's mischief.
But where should I look for it?
Don't worry, — Grandfather Frost comforted me, — I'll give you a magic snowball, it will lead you to the Snow Creature's house, and gloves that will glow as soon as the creature gets close.
Thank you, grandfather!
With these words I set off. Soon the snowball stopped, and the gloves began to glow, I froze in anticipation. A loud roar was heard, the Snow Creature appeared. Instead of a nose, teeth and nails, it had icicles. Looking at me, the Creature began to sing:
I am a terrible, snowy, horrible Creature. Guess three riddles, and take your friends.
Go ahead! — I shouted.
So, the first riddle. A white cloth that covers the whole world.
That's snow.
Correct. Second riddle: it doesn't run itself, and won't let you stand still.
Hmm. That's frost, — I answered.
Rrrr, — the Creature began to get angry. — Then the last, the most difficult one. It grows with its head down, it grows not in summer, but in winter, but as soon as the sun warms up — it cries and dies.
I thought hard. I won't be able to save my friends! I threw my head back so the Creature wouldn't see my tears. Right in front of me hung from the roof… an ICICLE.
It's an icicle! — I exclaimed.
The Creature got angry, hissed and crumbled, turning into ice dust. And Laika and Grandfather Frost's reindeer were already running towards me. I sat on the reindeer, and we galloped to the palace. Laika ran behind us.
Grandfather Frost was waiting for us on the porch.
Thank you, girl. For your courage you deserve a gift, — and handed me a stone that shimmered in all the colours of the rainbow, — this is the Rainbow Stone, it brings happiness.
But how do I get home? — I asked.
I'll sprinkle you with magic snow, you'll fall asleep and wake up at home.
When I woke up, I thought: 'What a wonderful dream I had!'
Wake up, my dear, — my mother smiled above me. — Gifts under the tree are waiting for you.
I rushed to the tree, opened a colourful box and saw… a rainbow stone.
