And so December arrived, and that night a lot of snow fell, a reminder of the approaching New Year. Mum, as always, came into the children's room in the morning, with a habitual movement of her hand tore off another page from the calendar that hung on the wall near the entrance, and began to wake up her sisters Lisa and Dasha.
Girls!
Said Mum.
Wake up, or you'll be late for school.
Lisa, the older sister, who was already in the third year, jumped out of bed and ran to the window.
Dasha, get up! Look how much snow has fallen!
Mum, is New Year coming soon?
Asked first-year Dasha.
It's already 10 December on the calendar, and there aren't many days left until the New Year holidays.
Mum answered the girls, and went to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
The girls washed, had breakfast, after which everyone got dressed. Mum walked Lisa and Dasha to school, and also went to work. And in the evening, as always, the whole family gathered for dinner.
Mum, can you imagine! Today Olga Nikolayevna told us in Environmental Studies that trees are alive, and that even small damage causes them pain!
Said little Dasha
What does that mean? Even the Christmas tree that we decorate suffers from this every year?
Yes, indeed, trees are alive
Answered Mum Ira
They breathe, drink water, can even get ill like people.
What are we to do now! I really don't want anyone to be sad and suffer when we're having fun!
Lisa joined the conversation.
But if we don't have a Christmas tree, then the holiday won't come, and Father Frost won't come to us.
The younger sister burst into tears.
And Lisa began to feel sad too
Dasha and I started making decorations for the tree, we wanted it to be the most beautiful one this year. And so that Father Frost would bring us the best presents.
Sighed the older sister.
Then Dad Kostya comes into the kitchen.
Why are my girls so sad?
He asked.
Such a wonderful day, so much snow has fallen! Maybe we could all go to the sledging hill together as a family this weekend?
Mum told Dad Kostya everything, and he said encouragingly.
You know, I also feel sorry for the real Christmas trees every year, they need so much strength and time to grow, and people cut them all down in a few days. You know what, tomorrow we'll go to the shop, I actually saw that they brought in a lot of artificial firs today, and we'll choose the most beautiful and fluffy one, which won't be any different from a real one! And Father Frost will be happy that one more tree will remain in the forest. And he'll bring you the very best presents.
And so they did, bought a tree that reached the ceiling, decorated it with homemade decorations, hung a garland, and the New Year beauty shone with multicoloured lights. No one even noticed that it was artificial.
