For all schoolchildren from first graders to high school seniors, the favorite school time is vacation. Fall, winter, spring and especially summer vacations. Students look forward to their first fall vacation the most. After all, no one wants to start studying again after a long summer.
Autumn slush outside the window is no obstacle to having a good rest with friends. It gets dark early, there are plenty of lessons at the beginning of the year, and even more homework. That's why the last days before vacation drag on and on. After all, the more you wait for something, the harder it is to wait for it.
Gosha is in fifth grade. He already knows mathematics, Russian language, literature and history quite well. And of course he loves studying, but he always looks forward to vacation more than other kids.
Every year a week before vacation, Gosha draws a special calendar in which he marks how many days have passed and how many are left. This year was no exception. A huge calendar on an A3 sheet hung right above the boy's bed so that every morning when he woke up, he could mark the arrival of a new day, bringing the long-awaited holiday closer.
He remembered well how yesterday before sleep he looked at the calendar and realized that tomorrow was the last day before the break. Gosha couldn't sleep that night. His head was already spinning with events of tomorrow, when he would go to school for the last time before vacation, see his teachers and some friends, and then…
The alarm clock rang loudly and clearly in the morning. At first Gosha wanted to stay in bed a little longer, but remembering what day it was, he woke up instantly and cheerfully left the room. Today nothing could spoil his mood, neither the house cat that bit his leg, nor the tea he spilled at breakfast.
After finishing his morning chores, Gosha packed his backpack, put on his school uniform for the last time and was heading to school when he decided to take one last look at his favorite calendar. Entering the room, he was surprised to find that the calendar was not on the wall. Gosha called out to his mom, who was drinking tea in the kitchen:
Mom, do you know where my calendar went?
What calendar, Gosha? — answered mom, — Hurry up, it's almost nine o'clock, you'll be late for school again.
Gosha didn't argue with his mom, but the missing calendar was very unusual news for him. Although even this news couldn't spoil the boy's mood. He smiled and left the house heading to school.
The school day dragged on unusually long. Lessons followed one after another and only one thought warmed Gosha all this time: "Just a little more and vacation. Just a bit longer." Almost all the lessons passed this way. Gosha half-listened to the teachers, didn't really write down assignments, but when on the last lesson, which was math that Gosha didn't like, he heard from the teacher: "Write down your homework for tomorrow," he immediately perked up and asked:
Tamara Ivanovna, what do you mean for tomorrow?
The class laughed at Gosha's question.
As usual Sidorov, for tomorrow. What exactly don't you understand? — she asked in bewilderment.
But tomorrow… Tomorrow we don't have school? — said Gosha confidently. He understood that Tamara Ivanovna had confused something and would now say she made a mistake.
Maybe Sidorov doesn't study, but the rest of the class definitely writes down the assignment. What are you making up again, Gosha?
You're confused about something, Tamara Ivanovna, tomorrow is vacation! — said Gosha, not understanding why the whole class had gone quiet.
What kind of "vacation"? — the teacher asked with interest.
Vacation is rest, days off. A whole week, like usual in the fall. Today is the last school day, and tomorrow nobody goes to school! — the boy explained enthusiastically.
Gosha, are you clowning around again? Making up things that don't exist? I've never heard the word "vacation" before. Does anyone in the class know what Sidorov is talking about?
No one responded. Everyone looked with surprise and interest at Gosha and then at Tamara Ivanovna.
Guys, what's wrong with you? Masha, you should know, — the boy turned to his red-haired friend, — you were planning to go to camp for a week.
Gosha, I don't understand what you're talking about, — came the girl's voice.
Then you, Tolik, we were going to go to the bike park during vacation, remember? — he turned to his desk neighbor, a chubby boy named Tolik.
Gosha, it's not funny anymore, stop it. I remember the bike park, but about these, what you call them "vaca…something" I don't remember anything.
Tamara Ivanovna, are you playing a trick on me? — Gosha asked in horror, — guys, how could you all forget about the existence of vacation? Look!
Gosha opened his diary to the page with the schedule for the quarter, hoping to show the class the line with the word "vacation," but saw nothing.
The class burst out laughing, and Gosha couldn't stay in place anymore, he ran out into the hallway. Just then, the school bell rang, and students started coming out of the classrooms. Gosha ran down the hallway asking everyone he met if they knew what "vacation" was, everyone shook their heads no, some passed by laughing, and others watched Gosha with long studying looks.
Out of breath, Gosha stopped. He remembered how he didn't find his favorite calendar that morning, and also what the students in class had said. It seemed that vacation really didn't exist, and he had made it all up himself. He sat by the window, watching schoolchildren trudge home, when his friend Masha came up to him:
Gosha, tell me what these "vacations" of yours are, — she asked.
Vacation is when big days off appear in the middle of the school year. When you can walk every day and don't have to do homework, when everyone goes to the movies and plays video games. When you can go to sleep whenever you want and don't have to wake up early… — the boy said dreamily and a little sadly.
It sounds like some kind of fairy tale, to be honest. But I wish vacations really existed.
It's not a fairy tale! They do exist! — Gosha flared up. He himself was already starting to doubt that he was right.
Okay, I believe you, honestly, let's go to class, no point sitting here.
Wasn't math the last one? — the boy asked in horror.
What makes you think that? There are still three more lessons, and the same tomorrow, and three tests the day after…
Masha didn't finish. The school bell rang deafeningly loud. Gosha even closed his eyes from the sound.
Gosha, Gosha! Georgy, wake up quickly! — he heard his mother's voice.
When Gosha opened his eyes, he was in his room. First thing, he checked if the calendar was in place. It was hanging on the wall.
Mom, what is "vacation"? — asked Gosha to make sure.
Good morning to you too, already thinking about vacation? Son, vacation is tomorrow, and today it's time to go to school, or you'll be late.
Still, answer me, — Gosha persisted.
Vacation is what all schoolchildren wait for so long, but what flies by like a dream, — mom said with a smile and added, — why are you so worried? Usually you're glowing with happiness on the last day of school.
Oh, just had a nightmare, — said Gosha happily. Now he was sure that everything was in its place.
The last school day flew by unnoticed and that evening Gosha, Masha and Tolik were heading home and sharing grand vacation plans with each other. So that a week later they could tackle their studies with renewed energy.
