A soft plush teddy bear had been lying behind the chest of drawers for many years now, covered in dust as if by a blanket. His small worn ear barely peeked out, and no one paid any attention to it. No one knew that Mishka could see everything happening around him with his black button eyes.
There are beautiful red high-heeled shoes – this is mum Nadia collecting toys into a box, and Mishka, as usual, goes unnoticed. Mishutka loves mum Nadia. She often hums something cheerful, and the bear briefly remembers how joyful things used to be.
Around midday, a dog called Bonya appears in the room – a big cheerful dog. She grabs a bright green ball and chases it around the room, brushing against the neatly arranged toys on the shelves with her enormous tail. Of course, not like Mishka – different ones: new, needed ones. They are not covered in a layer of dust and are proud that they get wiped down every Saturday.
Sometimes Mishka thought that if he were found, he too would take a place on the shelf, surely next to the new robot or construction set. In the past, he even tried to secretly escape from behind the old chest of drawers, to be spotted, to be remembered, to be rejoiced over, washed and brushed. But over the years, he managed only to show the edge of his ear, and that was not enough.
But now he knew that no one needed him anymore, and he was content with little: he watched through a crack from under the chest of drawers at life in the room. Perhaps it was good that everyone had forgotten about him. After all, despite everything, Mishutka was at home: he had not been thrown out onto the street or given to someone else.
In the evening, Mishka hears his very favourite sound – Sanya's laughter. She always laughs so loudly that even the most remote corners are filled with her giggles. Sanya walks around the house in striped socks. Sometimes they are different colours, like today, for example. On her left foot is a pink sock with white stripes, and on her right – a white one with pink stripes.
And then it is time to go to bed. It is the saddest time. Mishka remembered well how many years ago Sanya was so tiny and fragile, and he was her favourite plush friend. The little girl, barely half a head taller than him, would press the teddy bear to herself as she slept and with relish nibble on his long-suffering ear. But Mishutka never complained; he enjoyed sleeping on a soft pillow and being covered with a warm blanket.
Mishka remembered how Sanya grew up. She would host the best tea parties in the world of toys! So caring, kind and tender, she would pour tea for all the guests at the table, even Bonya. And he had the biggest cup with three spoonfuls of sugar.
When Sanya got a bit older, she loved putting her plush friend to bed. Yes, he got his own toy bed. And every evening the girl would read him her favourite book and say that she would never forget him, even when she went to school or became quite grown up and would work in a balloon shop. She promised to take him with her to work. And Mishka would fall asleep, and his button eyes would smile. He believed Sanya.
And now Sanya is quite grown up: she goes to school, packs her satchel every morning. Sometimes a pencil falls and rolls right under the chest of drawers. Mishka thinks this is the moment, and the girl will finally see her old friend, but Sanya just takes another one. And then the door closes behind her.
And Sanya goes to bed alone. And reads to no one at night. And Mishka falls asleep in his cosy home right on the floor, blown by wind from the open window.
Then a new day comes. Sanya goes to school, and mum Nadia's red shoes appear. Today she is not alone. Bonya has been playing in the room since early morning. This time the dog has grabbed a terribly squeaky doll, and mum quickly took it away from her.
Mishka knows that Bonya will not give up and will definitely find a new victim among Sanya's toys. A couple of seconds later, the restless dog is already chasing pencils around the room. Another pencil ends up under the chest of drawers. A big fluffy dog's paw boldly reaches under the chest. And at that very moment, Mishka feels his ear in the dog's mouth.
It is not easy to pull Mishka out, but Bonya is stubborn. She growls. Just a little more, and his ear will come off. Mum Nadia comes to the rescue in time and drives the playful dog away.
Hundreds of thoughts rush through Mishka's head at once. He has been found! He is in mum Nadia's hands. She looks at him in surprise, as if seeing him for the first time. But he remembers her! He loves her red shoes! And then she asks the most important question for Mishutka:
