Lyuba is a girl who lives in a tall apartment building with her mom and dad. She's already quite grown up and goes to kindergarten. Lyuba is very sweet, mischievous, and makes friends easily. Almost all the girls in kindergarten want to play with her, but the boys tease her and sometimes even pull her thin blonde braids.
When asked, "What's your name?" Lyuba always answers, "My name is Lyubov (Love)." That's what her parents taught her to say. But Lyuba doesn't know what love actually is.
Recently, she lost a baby tooth, and boys from the older group came up with a new game. They started calling her different nicknames: Lyubka-no-teeth or Lyubik-tooth. The girl was very upset. And when she asked the kids to stop name-calling, they just laughed.
Lyuba used to like it when people called her by her full name, and even the teachers often called her Lyubov instead of Lyuba. Now it seemed to her that the boys were laughing at her because of this mysterious "Lyubov." And the girl didn't want to hear her own name anymore.
Mom noticed that her usually cheerful, restless daughter had become sad. On the way home from kindergarten, she asked:
My dear Lyubov, why are you sad? What happened?
Don't call me that! The boys from the older group keep teasing me, – Lyuba didn't hide her hurt from her mother.
Teasing? They're hurting your feelings? – mom was very surprised, since her daughter never had problems with other children.
They're mangling my name! – Lyuba said indignantly.
And now you don't want me to call you Lyubov? – mom asked, puzzled.
I don't want to. I don't like my name, – Lyuba answered and wondered: how would people call her now?
What nonsense! You have a beautiful name, it suits you very well.
Lyubov, Lyubov! But what is love anyway? – the girl asked.
Mom didn't know how to properly explain to her daughter the meaning of such an important word. How could she convince the girl that her name meant the most wonderful feeling in the world? After thinking for a moment, she said:
Do you like playing with your friends?
Of course!
And which game brings you the most pleasure? When do you laugh the most?
When I play tag with Tanya! She tries to catch me, and I quickly dodge. And then we switch! – the girl shared.
Well, love is what you feel when you think about tag. Or about friends, for example, about Tanya.
So I love playing tag?
Yes, you do. But that's only one side of love. Your dad and I love you, and you love us. That's the love between parents and children, it's quite different. Not like the love for friends and games. And there's also love for boys. The very ones who pull your braids.
I definitely don't love them! – Lyuba hastened to assure her mother.
And love isn't always mutual. And it doesn't always come right away, – mom laughed.
Where can I find it, this love?
Finding it isn't so easy. And it's even harder to keep it and carry it through your whole life.
Will I be able to find it?
You will, my sunshine, you just need to look hard!
Mom saw that Lyuba had cheered up. She no longer worried about the teasing. Now she understood that her name was extraordinary!
The daughter thought for a long time about her mother's words: "You just need to look hard!" She decided that she had to find love no matter what, and right away! But where?
Lyuba started her search in the kitchen: maybe there was something she loved there? Cabinets, shelves, dishes – nothing! Then her eyes stopped on a box of chocolates lying on the table. "That's it!" – thought the girl.
Lyuba always liked chocolate candies, but mom and dad wouldn't let her eat a lot at once. They always hid the sweets as high as possible so their daughter couldn't reach them. "What luck! I love candy!" – thought Lyuba and, quickly taking one from the box, put it in her mouth. How wrong she was! It was dark chocolate... The feeling disappeared instantly.
"No, I won't find love here, I need to keep looking," – thought the girl and went to her room. The children's room was filled with toys. Lyuba decided she definitely loved them, but which ones exactly? Dolls in bright outfits? She hadn't liked them as much as before for a long time. Blocks, construction sets, stuffed animals? Then the girl remembered that long ago she had a bear that she always took to bed with her. Where was it?
Lyuba started opening boxes and drawers, checking shelves in the closet, but the bear was nowhere. Maybe under the bed? Success! The girl pulled out a dusty teddy bear with one paw and a worn ear.
There you are! – she said to the bear. She used to like hugging the teddy bear and chewing its ear before sleep. She was sure she loved this toy more than the others. But now... Now it was just an ordinary plush bear. "So I won't find love here either," – Lyuba was upset.
Suddenly mom came into the room. She asked her daughter to clean up the toys and added:
Don't be sad, you'll find your love. Better tidy up and go play with the other kids, play tag with Tanya.
That's right! – Lyuba exclaimed, – I do love tag!
The girl quickly gathered the scattered things, got dressed, and ran outside. Tanya lived in the neighboring entrance. Lyuba easily remembered her apartment number: "22" – like two swans. She was about to ring the intercom when she heard strange sounds. Something was squeaking very close by. Lyuba looked around and saw a fluffy little bundle right by the door.
It was a small kitten that was meowing pitifully and trembling. It was cold outside, and the kitten was freezing badly. Dirt clung to its orange fur with spots.
Looking at the tiny creature, Lyuba felt a strange feeling: she wanted to warm it, protect it from the cold and wind. The girl quickly took off her warm scarf, even though she knew her mother would be upset, and carefully wrapped up the little animal. Forgetting why she had come to see Tanya, Lyuba hurried home.
Mom, look who I found! – she said, barely entering the apartment.
How small he is. He probably was just born recently, – mom took the kitten from the girl and began to examine it carefully.
Will we keep him? I so want to take care of him!
Of course we will! You see, I told you that you would find your love!
Thank you! – the girl hugged her mother and took the kitten. He had already warmed up and was now looking around with interest. Strangely enough, he didn't try to escape. On the contrary, the kitten settled comfortably in the arms of his new owner.
What will you name him? – asked mom.
I'll call him Lubik! And let the boys tease all they want!
The kitten was washed and fed. Lyuba took care of him herself. And the boys in kindergarten became jealous that she had a new friend – the kitten Lubik – and stopped name-calling. And a new tooth quickly appeared where the old one had fallen out.
That's how Lyuba understood what love is.
