On Christmas Eve, a little fairy descended from the heavens to a small town in the Urals, where a snowy winter reigned with biting frosts. The trees were dressed in white fluffy coats, and the snowdrifts were so high that they hindered both cars and people from moving.
It was the fairy's first time coming down to earth, and everything around her was unusual and fascinating. And so the sorceress very much wanted to find herself some friends and fulfil their dreams. Landing on the branch of a tree next to a bird huddled from the cold, the fairy spoke.
Hello! Who are you? Are you frozen?
The red-breasted bullfinch slowly turned its head and looked at the tiny, tiny transparent girl.
Chirp-chirp-chirp, I'm a bullfinch. It's a strong frost outside. I'm cold, I'm hungry. And who are you?
I'm a little fairy, I've come down from the heavens to earth for one night to help my friends. Will you be my friend?
It's rather strange: a bird and a fairy — friends. Does that happen? But if you want, then I'll be your friend!
What do you like to eat? — the curious sorceress asked quietly.
It would be nice to peck at some breadcrumbs or grain and warm up.
The little fairy rose high into the sky, spun round like a top, and the frost began to ease. The street warmed up, and from the sky onto the tree where the bullfinch sat, breadcrumbs and grains began to fall.
Thank you, fairy! Chirp-chirp-chirp! — the bullfinch chirped merrily.
Goodbye! We'll meet again next year! — cried the sorceress as she flew away.
The bullfinch descended from the branch onto the snow and began to peck at the crumbs. Other birds from the winter park joined it.
Where did all this food come from? Where is such abundance? — they chattered over one another.
Magic! — the bullfinch answered them.
The fairy flew on and saw: a ginger cat sitting on the windowsill of a large house, meowing loudly, trembling. And behind the glass, music was playing, and shadows were moving across the wall.
Hello! Who are you? — the fairy asked, sitting down next to the cat.
I'm a cat called Murka, I'm sitting under the window, and my owners are celebrating and have forgotten about me. I meow, but they don't hear. If only they'd open the window vent, I'd quickly jump into the room.
Let's be friends! — the sorceress suggested.
Let's! What's your name?
Fairy.
You're so small, — and the cat licked the new friend with its pink tongue.
I'll go up now and try to open the window vent, and you get ready to jump.
The fairy spun round like a top very quickly and flew to the window vent. The window opened, and Murka jumped inside.
Thank you, friend! — Murka meowed, pressing her nose against the cold glass.
Goodbye! — the fairy replied.
She flew on and saw: it was dark outside, a blizzard was raging, the frost was biting, and a man was sitting alone in the snow near a bus stop. The sorceress flew up to him and perched on his cold nose.
Are you unwell? Are you frozen?
My heart is bad, and I left my medicine at home, — he whispered barely audibly.
How can I help you?
I need to call an ambulance, — the sick man said with difficulty and closed his eyes.
What should I do? — the fairy was flustered. — How do I call an ambulance — I don't know. I need to ask someone.
Just then a city bus pulled up, and passengers got out.
Look, there's a man sitting in the snow over there. Maybe he's fallen asleep? — someone said.
Drunk, probably! — an elderly woman said loudly and angrily.
The fairy flew up to her nose.
Not drunk, but ill, — the sorceress cried out with all her might.
Yes, yes, ill, — the woman suddenly stopped, not understanding where the thin voice in her head had come from. — I'll call an ambulance now and wait for it to arrive.
That's the spirit! You're not a bad person, you're just pretending, — said the fairy and flew high up into the air. The woman heard her words. She looked around, but saw no one.
Christmas. Magic. A miracle... — she said in amazement, dialling '999'.
