Time flies quickly, and our little boy Misha, who seemed to have only recently learned to walk and talk, now attends daycare. Misha really enjoys the daycare—there are many cheerful and smart children there, and he happily plays with them. There are even more interesting and unusual toys in the daycare.
For example, there's a huge bear named Mikhail Potapovich, whom all the children love to hug, or a real big electric car where any child can feel like a driver and give friends rides. There are also animals in the daycare, which Misha loves so much. A big red parrot named Stepan, whom the children have taught to say "Hello." And many small colourful fish living in a glass aquarium.
Misha often watches them and sometimes can spend an entire day doing this. He's given each fish a name and knows exactly who lives where and what seaweed they eat.
One day, when Misha approached the aquarium again, he discovered that among the familiar fish, there were small, unknown little fish swimming around. He called his friends over to the aquarium—a dark-haired curly-haired boy named Alyosha and a funny red-haired girl named Tanya.
Look! The caregivers brought new fish!—he said excitedly to his friends.
How beautiful they are...—Tanya said thoughtfully, examining the newcomers.
They're just so tiny,—added Alyosha with a knowing look.
Just then, Vitalik approached the group of friends. He was the oldest in the group and liked to tease the others.
What are you all looking at?—asked Vitalik.
The caregivers brought new fish,—Misha answered him. He wanted to share the joy with everyone.
Ha, you're silly kids. The caregivers didn't bring the fish, these are the children of the ones who already lived here,—Vitalik laughed at the children.
Children? How?—Tanya became interested.—Where did they come from?
They were born, I guess, I don't know,—answered Vitalik, and he too became interested in Tanya's question.
Let's ask the caregiver?—suggested Alyosha.
The children all went together to the caregiver. Finding Tamara Ivanovna near the parrot, they asked her:
Tamara Ivanovna, where do babies come from?
The caregiver was quite surprised by the unexpected question, but hurried to answer:
Babies appear in mommy's tummy,—she said confidently.
But how do they get there?—asked Tanya in surprise.
To answer this question, the caregiver led the children to a large table. They stood around it, and she took out a box of puzzles and poured them onto the table. Then she said:
Imagine that all the people you know, your moms, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, and you yourselves—are puzzles,—she began. The children picked up puzzle pieces in their hands and nodded their heads.—Each person is unique in their own way, but somewhere on the planet there walks another person who is right for them, just like one puzzle piece fits another. Your mom and dad are two pieces that found each other. When they come together, they give the very best that is in them and create new life. But only if these puzzle pieces fit each other do they create a picture of amazing beauty.
So we are a picture that came together from mom and dad?—asked Misha.
You could say that,—answered Tamara Ivanovna.—Your parents came together and you were created.
Is it the same with fish?—asked attentive Alyosha.
With fish?—clarified the caregiver.
Yes, the ones in the aquarium,—said Vitalik.
Ah, so that's where your questions come from!—laughed Tamara Ivanovna.—Yes, it's the same with fish, except when they find a mate, they get many, many babies all at once, because the mother fish lays them as tiny little eggs.
Wow!—exclaimed the children.—A whole bunch of brothers and sisters at once!
Everyone laughed and ran back to the aquarium. So the children learned where babies come from, and Tamara Ivanovna understood that her children were growing up very quickly.
