Filimon the Dragon had quite a good relationship with food. He absolutely loved whistling hot peas, carrot stick salad, juicy pink dragon fruits, and even rainbow soup.
But Filya couldn't stand rissoles. As soon as they were brought to the table, he'd turn up his nose. Simply "ugh" and "yuck", what a smell and taste these rissoles had. It must be said that this dish was highly regarded in the tree, and all the other young dragons were surprised that Filya didn't appreciate rissoles. Nanny was absolutely outraged.
Freshest, most tender, most appetising. Why turn your nose up??
And the old woman glared angrily at Filya the fussy eater. He was rather frightened of her long crocodile snout, and so with a sigh he'd pick at his rissoles and sit at the table longer than anyone else.
Only when Agrafena's patience ran out was he allowed to escape, leaving the cold food on his plate. On one such miserable day, chubby Foma unexpectedly came to Filya's rescue.
Fil, why do you keep fretting over those rissoles? Want me to eat them for you, and you can show nanny a clean plate? Good for you, good for me, and good for her.
Of course I do! Here, eat up!
Filya was delighted. Foma immediately warmed up the rissole with his breath and swallowed it with relish. Pleased with their clever plan, the young dragons rushed out of the kitchen. On the way, Filya showed nanny the empty plate. Now he wouldn't have to sit for two hours over his food. And so it went from that day on.
Whenever rissoles were served for lunch, Foma was there—helping Filya out. But old Agrafena's nose wasn't so long for nothing. And so she soon found out that Filya had been trying to pull the wool over her eyes.
Nanny was cross, but didn't let on. The old woman caught him on his way out with yet another empty plate.
I see, Filimosha, how well you've been eating my rissoles. Look what I've prepared for you—seconds.
Nanny spoke sweetly. And handed him a warm paper bag.
Eat another rissole, make an old woman happy.
Filya turned completely green.
All right, only... er... I'll have it later... afterwards.
The dragon lied.
Take it, just don't forget to return the empty bag to me. I'll need it again.
Agrafena winked. Filya had to urgently find Foma.
I've already eaten three whole rissoles today—Agrafena brought me seconds herself. I can't manage any more—I'm stuffed.
What am I going to do with it? Nanny said to return the bag empty!
Empty? Well then, just chuck it, that rissole, and you'll have an empty bag.
Said Foma and, struggling to get airborne, flew off. So Filya did just that, and then went to see nanny. He watched as the pleased old woman opened the bag.
Why didn't you eat the rissole? Forgot, I suppose?
Filya nearly fell off the branch! Where did the rissole come from? He'd personally thrown it under the tree himself... Nothing for it, he had to take the bag back. Filya ran straight to Foma.
He was also surprised by the new rissole, but decided to help anyway and, gathering his strength, ate it. This time, before returning the bag, Filya thought to look inside. The rissole was there.
He had to subject it to a new test—throwing it in the stream. But neither the cold stream, nor his friend Fedya's reliable trunk, nor a pile of leaves—nothing helped.
The rissole appeared in the bag again and again. Filya tried to stamp on it and even asked an adult acquaintance to incinerate it, all to no avail.
And in the evening Agrafena passed sentence—no other food until he ate the rissole. Filya went to the nursery without supper. He slept poorly and in the morning, with no choice, had to make a firm decision—to eat this wretched rissole right in front of nanny.
At breakfast the dragon timidly trudged over to Agrafena, Foma gave him an encouraging push in the back, and Fedya winked.
Agrafena grinned with her whole mouth, pointed Filya to the nearest table, and then sat down beside him and waited.
The young dragon held his breath so as not to smell the rissole, and opened the bag. Strangely, it was hot inside. The rissole popped out onto the plate so fresh and lovely that the hungry young dragon drew in air through his nose in surprise.
He suddenly smelt its amazing rissole aroma. And immediately took a bite from the side. It was so delicious!
Hungry Filya gobbled up the rissole in one go and looked at nanny in bewilderment. She laughed uproariously, ruffled his spiky scruff and went off to wash up.
And Filya quietly peeked into the bag and pulled out the next rissole. The bag turned out to have a secret, and the rissoles—were truly first-rate!
