One evening, when Mom had already turned off the light and only a yellowish nightlight glowed in the room, a delicate melodious chime suddenly rang out. Right in the centre of the room, Anya saw a golden spark, then another. More and more sparks appeared, swirling and whirling like gnats, gradually condensing into a glowing little figure. And suddenly the chime and light disappeared, and in the middle of the carpet stood a small gnome, about the size of a stool.
– How beautiful! – said Anya, who was now sitting up in bed rather than lying down, so she could better observe the sparks.
– Hello, Anya, – said the gnome.
– Hello… – Anya was a bit flustered, – Who are you?
– I'm Fedya from the fairy tale helpers unit, we help the inhabitants of fairy tale lands…
– Oh, how interesting, – exclaimed Anya, – What kind of lands are those? Where are they? How do you get there?
The girl was bouncing on the bed with impatience.
– Wait, Anya! – interrupted the gnome, – I only have ten minutes, and our wizard Elizard said that only an inhabitant of a non-magical land can give the right advice. He says you have different thinking, more suitable. Will you help?
– Of course! – The pillow was now bouncing along with Anya.
– Just listen carefully, it's important not to miss a single detail! High on a mountain there is a cave, and in it lives a dragon…
– A dragon? I'm scared! Don't tell me such scary fairy tales! – Anya pulled the blanket up to her eyes.
– It's not a fairy tale! Well, it is a fairy tale, – the gnome got confused, – but everything with us is a fairy tale… Besides, the dragon is kind, and it's the dragon who needs help! Will you help the dragon?
– Can I think about it?
– Anyechka, – pleaded the gnome, – help is really needed, time is running out, and I haven't explained anything to you yet!
Slowly, from behind the edge of the blanket, the girl's nose appeared, then her chin, then her neck. Then Anya placed her hands on top of the blanket and sighed:
– Well, okay then. I'll help!
– So, – the gnome was pleased, – in the cave the dragon has a wonderful garden, except instead of flowers, precious stones grow there…
– Wow! – Anya had already forgotten her fear and was bouncing on the bed again. – Are they beautiful, these stones? What colour are they? You know, I love pink stones most of all, they're called rubies! And I've always wanted there to be such golden stones! Does your dragon have them? He's magical, he should have them, right?
– Yes, yes… Probably… – the gnome waved his hand distractedly, thinking he was perhaps beyond politeness now. – So, you see, they grow from bottom to top, like crystals, like vines…
– Like vines! Like goats! – the girl was no longer listening to the gnome, precious stones sparkled and shimmered in all colours before her mind's eye. And then she realized that it wasn't them glittering at all, but the little gnome's figure was scattering into sparks, which gradually faded away.
– Well, how did it go? – asked the wizard.
– You see, this girl, she's so timid, so dreamy! And interrupting someone is so rude! Anyway, I didn't manage to tell her anything…
– I hoped that an emotional girl with a lively imagination would be the best option for making contact, but I didn't account for how little time we have, – the wizard thoughtfully turned his hat in his hands, – Don't worry, tomorrow the transition stone will recharge, and you can try talking to the boy.
Yuri had no nightlight; he wasn't afraid of the dark at all and loved when stars shone through the uncurtained window into his bedroom. So when the stars suddenly lit up right on the ceiling of the room, he was very pleased. The stars gently descended and gathered into the shape of a gnome.
– Hello, Yuri! I really need your help, and I only have ten minutes! – Fedya hurried right away.
– How glad I am that you came! – exclaimed Yuri, – I've always dreamed of having a mysterious friend! – and Yuri rushed to embrace him.
But the gnome managed to stop him:
– Stop, don't touch me, or I'll disappear!
The boy lowered his hands sadly, but almost immediately smiled:
– Imagine, I lost a tooth! Yesterday!
Gnome Fedya was confused again, but quickly said:
– Perfect, that means you're already quite grown up, smart, and can help me! Listen carefully and don't interrupt. In our fairy tale land, high on a mountain in a cave, lives a dragon, he's kind, and he grows a garden of precious stones.
– What's his name? – the boy interjected anyway.
– Roma.
– Just like my friend! – Yuri was delighted.
– E-e-e, yes, – continued the gnome, – so, the gemstones in his garden are interconnected, they grow from each other from bottom to top and shine brighter and brighter, and then, one purple stone, growing at a medium height, suddenly began to fade and glow strangely, – the gnome was now in full flow, waving his arms about, – and around it…
Yuri, who until then had been watching the gnome intently and with interest, suddenly said:
– And my dad is going to buy me a remote-controlled car! Can you imagine? A big one! I think you'll fit, and next time I'll be able to take you for a ride!
– Yuri, weren't you listening to me at all? – Fedya was surprised. He was so hurt that tears came to his eyes, and he took off his cap to wipe them away unnoticed.
– And I have a new ball too, a basketball, let me show you!
Yuri crawled under the bed for the ball, and when he emerged, there was no one in the room anymore.
– How are things going? – the wizard asked carefully.
– This boy is probably very lonely, and has no one to talk to…– gnome Fedya nervously crumpled his cap in his hands, and didn't even notice how the pompom fell off and rolled across the floor.
– What makes you think that? The Magic Ball said he has many friends and caring parents.
– He was in such a hurry to share all the news with me that he didn't have time to listen to me…– the gnome noticed the missing pompom, but didn't even bother looking for it.
Elizard tried to cheer him up:
– While you were gone, the ball suggested another candidate, they say a very smart boy!
– Who says? – Fedya was not so easy to convince anymore.
– His mother.
– All mothers say that, – the gnome sat down right on the faintly glowing transition stone and began melancholically pulling threads from his cap; he always did this when he was very upset.
– And his teacher, – continued the wizard, – and his English teacher, and his logic teacher…
– Then okay, – Fedya smiled weakly, – see you tomorrow!
– Hello, Benjamin! – gnome Fedya took off his cap and made a ceremonial bow.
Benjamin was almost seven years old, but everyone in the family called him by his full name from childhood and strictly told everyone they knew, teachers and instructors, to do the same. The wizard had warned the gnome about this in advance, and Fedya tried to be very polite.
– Benjamin, the fairy tale land and dragon Roma really need your help! – continued the gnome.
–So, so! – Benjamin put on his glasses, took a notepad and pencil from his bedside table and prepared to write, – How can I be of service?
– The Magic Ball informed our wizard Elizard that a child from a non-magical land will give the right advice when they hear about our problem.
– Did it say
