Petya loved playing online games very much.
Why did you even buy him that tablet! He'll play even more! ― grandma was indignant.
Almost every child has a tablet these days, and nothing happens... ― Dad objected.
And on a phone everything is tiny, with those games of his he'll ruin his eyesight! ― Mom added.
Grandma just sighed and went off to the kitchen. At first Petya played games infrequently. He did his homework and tidied up around the house. But then his favorite game entered a tournament season. That's when things really took off!
Petka, did you hear that there's going to be a tournament in our game soon? ― Vadik shouted excitedly, running up to his friend.
Nope, what's a tournament?
Wow, you're really clueless! ― Vadik was surprised. ― It's a championship! You can become a super cool fighter! Ugh, I probably won't be able to take part. Mom won't let me play that much!
How long do you have to play? ― Petya asked with interest.
At least five hours! The competitions go on for about two days. You have to win every battle. And that's hard: you know what fighters there are!
Petya came home with only one thought: what could he come up with so that they'd let him take part in this tournament. Petya even prepared promises for Mom and Dad: study well, tidy his room, always walk Rex, clean the hamsters' cage and all that sort of thing.
Only grandma was at home. Aunt had fallen ill, and the parents had gone to visit her. They wouldn't be back for two days! Petya was delighted: grandma wasn't as strict as Mom and Dad. This time the tournament would surely be his!
After a tasty lunch, Petya washed his plate and, looking into grandma's eyes, quietly asked:
Grandma, can I?
Can you what?
Well, play a little on the tablet... I have a tournament today.
Well, if it's a tournament, then of course! ― grandma smiled. ― But only a little.
Of course, of course! ― Petya grabbed the tablet and settled comfortably on the sofa.
The game captivated the boy; he saw and heard nothing around him. The battles were tough. He managed to defeat only three fighters and started the game over, when grandma appeared in the doorway of the children's room:
Petya, you promised only a little, and an entire hour has already passed! Okay, that's enough, finish up!
Grandma, dear, just one more minute, the last battle!
Five minutes, Petya, five minutes!
But after five minutes Petya didn't even think of putting the tablet away. He lost the battle again and got really angry: he wanted to be the winner, or at the very least take second place, so that Vadik would turn green with envy. Let him know what a cool fighter he is!
And when grandma looked into the room again, the boy pretended not to hear her remarks. Yes, he knew grandma would be upset, but he'd apologize later, and right now the battle is what matters most! Grandma came in several times, but Petya either stayed silent or just waved his hand: I'm busy. Eventually grandma couldn't take it anymore:
Petya, I'm tired of telling you it's time to stop your game! Your eyes are already square! Are you listening to me?
The boy said nothing.
Petya...
Oh, leave me alone! "Petya, Petya"... Petya ate the bear!
How can you talk like that... ― grandma said in a trembling voice.
I'll talk however I want! This is my apartment, and I'm the boss here! If you don't like it ― leave! ― the boy shouted the last words loudly, then jumped up from the sofa and slammed the door of his room shut in front of grandma.
He thought that grandma would come in to scold him again, but he heard only quiet footsteps behind the door.
She must have gone to the kitchen, ― he thought, ― good. I'll just finish the game, and then apologize. Right now there's no time for that: a battle is a battle!
Petya got completely absorbed in the game. How much time passed, he didn't know. The tournament hadn't ended yet, but the tablet's battery died. The boy remembered he had left the charger in the living room.
Oh well, ― Petya said to himself, ― I'll go get the charger, stop by the kitchen to see grandma, apologize and continue!
Petya stretched: all his muscles had stiffened from sitting in one position for so long. He opened the door of his room and was surprised: the hallway had different wallpaper, and everything was different.
Did grandma redo everything here in a couple of hours or what? ― he said.
But when the boy entered the kitchen, there was no grandma at all. There was only a girl about eight years old. She was sitting at the table, stuffing candy into her cheeks.
Who are you? ― Petya asked.
Faya, ― said the girl, ― and you, mister, must be the plumber?
What plumber? And I'm not your mister, I'm only a couple of years older than you!
Ha-ha! ― the girl laughed merrily. ― You're quite the joker! Do I look like a grandma?
Stop pulling my leg, ― Petya got angry, ― who are you, and where is my grandma?
What grandma? ― the girl asked.
Inna Grigoryevna is my grandma! Explain to me how you got here, did your grandma let you in?
I live here! ― the girl pouted offendedly. Then, recalling something, she added. ― Inna Grigoryevna... I've heard that somewhere... Oh, I remember! My dad told me. That's my great-grandmother. He also said she disappeared before he was born. Her eldest grandson offended her. He got so caught up in a game on his tablet that he didn't see or hear anyone. His parents ― my grandma and grandpa ― tried to bring him to his senses, they called doctors, but it was all useless. They even discovered a new illness called "zombicomp". Since then nobody goes into the room of this boy, who, by the way, is my uncle. The doctor said he doesn't even need food, since he has moved into the virtual world. They even hung a sign on his door: "Do Not Enter!"
Petya was horrified:
And grandma, where did she disappear to?
Nobody has seen her since that evening. Wait, you're not from that room with the sign? Are you my uncle from the virtual world?
Petya didn't answer. He ran out of the kitchen and burst into his room. Glancing at himself in the mirror, he didn't see a boy. A tired, pale grandpa was looking back at him from the mirror.
What have I done! ― Petya cried. ― Because of some stupid game grandma disappeared! Grandma, my dear grandma...
Petya, sobbing, fell onto the bed and, exhausted by his helplessness, fell asleep.
Petya, Petya...
Someone gently touched his shoulder. Opening his eyes, Petya saw his grandma.
Grandma, dear, you're back!
I never went anywhere, I just sat in the kitchen so as not to bother you...
You're not bothering me... Grandma, forgive me, I didn't mean to offend you, honestly!
Grandma smiled:
I'm not angry with you, Petya.
And the boy thought: "How good that it was just a dream!".
Petya, from time to time, can still play some game. But now he remembers that it's just a game, and the real world is much more interesting!
