In one town there lived a boy named Kolya. He lived with his mum and dad in a small, cosy flat. Kolya went to school, played football and was very fond of animals. On the way to school he would always buy a piece of sausage and feed a kitten that lived on the street near Kolya's house.
Kolya was a good student and had many friends. The boy always helped his parents. Sometimes he would cook dinner by himself, without his mum's help, and lay the table. Kolya could repair a chair on his own and helped his dad service the car.
But the boy had one peculiarity — he believed nothing and was very suspicious.
All the teachers said in unison: "This Kolya will drive us mad! He constantly argues with us and believes nothing!".
And whenever the subject of magic came up, Kolya would laugh so loudly that everyone around would turn to look.
The mischievous boy was 100% certain that there were no such miracles, that it was all made up for small, silly children, and that he was already grown up and clever.
One morning, on his way to school, Kolya, as usual, went into a shop and bought sausages for his shaggy friend. But this time the kitten did not greet Kolya as he usually did. The boy immediately suspected something was wrong. He looked carefully all around the house, but the kitten was nowhere to be found.
Suddenly, Kolya heard a strange sound. It was the kitten mewing somewhere in the distance. Listening carefully, the boy followed the sound and within a minute he saw his little friend under a bench.
The kitten had injured its paw and could not even stand.
Kolya picked it up, held it to his shoulder and said:
Well, how did you manage to hurt yourself? You're still so small and you need to be more careful!
The kitten, as if understanding what Kolya was saying, purred loudly.
Kolya took the sausages out of his rucksack and began to feed his friend. After a while, Kolya hurried off to school.
He couldn't be late, because today there was a new geography lesson and the boy simply had to disbelieve something and argue with the teacher.
But what was to be done with the kitten? Kolya decided to leave it here and take the kitten to the vet on the way back. Let them treat its paw.
The lesson began. The teacher was talking about some geographical discovery, but Kolya couldn't get the injured kitten out of his head. He thought about how the poor little kitten was there all alone and no one could help it. The boy was so tired from worrying that he didn't notice himself falling asleep.
Kolya, wake up!
Suddenly the boy heard, and opened his eyes. Before him he saw a man in white clothes. He had a grey beard, kind eyes, and a beautiful unusual pendant hanging on his chest.
Who are you?
The boy asked suspiciously.
I am the one who will help you! But you must believe me.
Replied the mysterious man.
Believe? Why should I! And anyway, what are you talking about?
Kolya continued to regard the man suspiciously.
I know what you're thinking! You're worried about the kitten with the injured paw, and who is now sitting all alone under the bench.
The man replied.
How do you know that? I haven't told anyone anything!
Kolya was genuinely surprised.
That is — magic.
The man said calmly.
Ha-ha-ha! Magic! Found someone to tell! Magic doesn't exist, it's all fairy tales for little children. And I'm already grown up and I don't believe in any of it.
You don't have to believe. But your disbelief won't make things better for anyone, least of all for the kitten. Now I'm going to tell you some magic words that you must say aloud three times: "Magic exists, magic exists, magic exists". When you say these words, be sure to think about what you want most of all at that moment.
The bell rang and Kolya woke up. It turned out it had all been a dream. Kolya put his textbook and notebook into his rucksack, and his next lesson was maths.
The boy went into the classroom and sat in his seat. But he couldn't get the words of the man from his dream out of his head. And he kept thinking about the kitten that needed help. And so Kolya decided to believe in miracles, if only for a moment.
Magic exists, magic exists, magic exists!
The boy said aloud.
The classroom was noisy, so no one heard these words. Kolya was worried that his classmates and teacher would think he believed in miracles and would laugh at him.
The lessons ended and Kolya hurried to his shaggy friend. Running up to the bench where the kitten was lying, the boy could not believe his eyes.
Instead of his injured little friend, there was a pendant lying there, the same one that hung on the chest of the man with the grey beard.
And suddenly the boy heard from behind: "Meow!".
Kolya quickly turned around and saw the kitten. Its paw was whole, and the kitten was jumping around the boy and wasn't even limping.
Magic does exist!
Kolya whispered and smiled.
