While Marisha, as the new acquaintance was called, was heating the kettle and slicing the cake roll, Vasya nervously emptied the entire candy bowl out of excitement.
Marish, — Vasya asked with his mouth full, — How did you find out that you also have a computer Mouse living in your computer, or rather a Mouse?
Marisha poured tea into cups, placed a plate with cake roll on the table, sat down next to Vasya and answered:
You see, my dad Sasha travels on long business trips for work. And not just trips, but for a year or two at a time. And mom and I always went with him. We live in different cities, in different apartments. Mom is an artist. It doesn't matter to her where she paints. But even she got tired. She said she's staying in St. Petersburg. There are lots of exhibitions there. And dad took me with him. Well, I've already changed five schools since I was six years old! At first it was easier, but then, when I grew up a bit, I started making friends with other kids. In each city — girlfriends, friends. We'd just become friends, and then there's a new move. You know how hard it is to say goodbye to friends?
Vasya carefully nodded and glanced at the Mouse, worried that he might reproach him for yesterday's actions. But the Mouse was animatedly chatting with the Ant.
I kept quiet, — Marisha continued, — I didn't want to upset dad. He bought me a computer, and I corresponded with all my friends through the internet. But you can't go on a hike with friends on the internet, and you can't invite them to your birthday party! Although I have over two hundred classmates in "Odnoklassniki"! And they really are classmates, not like usual — the neighbor on the right, the neighbor on the left, a distant cousin and her mom! And once I deleted my birthday from my profile. And nobody congratulated me on my birthday, nobody even remembered! — the girl sniffled indignantly, — I got so upset that I put my head on the table and cried at the computer!
Yes, yes, yes, yes! — chattered the Ant, — I remember, I remember! I was sitting in the computer at that moment, drawing whiskers and glasses on her friends in "Odnoklassniki". And I felt so sorry for her that I reached out from the screen and stroked her head.
Aha, — Marisha smiled, — I jumped from fright, lifted my head, and this miracle is looking at me from the screen! — she tugged the Ant's braid, she squeaked, pulled her hand away, and they both laughed.
Why are you laughing? — asked the Mouse.
Because I'm the Ant! — answered the Ant and smiled mischievously.
Vasya and the Mouse exchanged glances and fell silent, not understanding what was so funny.
Okay, I'll explain, — said Marisha, — You see, my Mouse is a mischievous girl, and when she gets angry, sparks literally fly everywhere! And often, as a joke, I pull her braids. And when you touch her braids, they're like thin wires, and they give you a shock — not strong, but so ticklish! I get goosebumps all over! So I first called her Mouse Goosebumps, and then she just became — the Ant!
Vasya reached out his hand to the Mouse's head, just in case, but his hair was stiff but not prickly and definitely didn't shock. Then he carefully touched the Ant's braids with his fingers.
Ouch! — there was a snap across his fingers.
Vasya pulled his hand back, and the four of them laughed merrily together!
At that moment, the apartment door opened and Uncle Sasha came in.
Oh, daddy! — Marisha ran to greet him, — We have guests! By the way, this is for you!
Vasya froze in fear and glanced at the Mouse and the Ant. But they had vanished without a trace! The boy stood up from the table and hung his head guiltily, pushing the ball closer with his foot.
Well, hello there, guest, — Uncle Sasha said sternly, hung his jacket on the coat rack in the hallway, and entered the kitchen, - Daughter, pour me some tea. You've already had two cups, I see.
The Mouse and the Ant, of course, hadn't cleaned up their cups!
Have you been visiting long? — asked Uncle Sasha.
Well, this morning, as soon as mom went to work, I came right over! — Vasya began anxiously, — I came right over to apologize. It was me who broke the light bulb on the pole yesterday! And then my ball fell on your car. It's my fault…
Well, I told you to come with your father! We could have discussed your behavior together, — Uncle Sasha said sternly.
Vasya looked away and said quietly:
Well, I know… I don't have a dad. It's just me and mom. And I didn't want to upset her.
Uncle Sasha fell silent and looked carefully at the boy. Then he sighed for some reason and continued in a calmer voice:
I see! Of course, you can't upset your mom. So nobody can box your ears? And nobody to screw in the light bulb on the pole?
Vasya shook his head and said:
Well… if needed, you can box my ears…
And the boy turned his ear, burning with shame, toward him.
Uncle Sasha laughed until tears streamed down his face!!! Marisha laughed after him, and then, hesitantly, Vasya joined in.
Okay, I won't box your ears, — Uncle Sasha said in a reconciliatory tone, patting Vasya on the shoulder, — I can see you're a good boy. And I'll screw in the light bulb myself. But then you'll help me out!
I'm ready! — Vasya raised his hand, — I can do a lot. And I'm strong, and…. — brave, Vasya wanted to add, but remembered his cowardice from yesterday and fell silent, looking down.
Perfect! Come over with your mom for dinner this evening. I'll talk to her about school. Marisha is your age, maybe you'll go to the same class. Besides, I can see you've already become friends, right?
Marisha clapped her hands. She and Vasya exchanged glances and smiled.
Okay, — Vasya agreed, — Then I'll run home now. I need to call mom. And we'll come this evening.
Perfect! — Uncle Sasha slapped his knees.
Vasya and Marisha went into her room. The Mouse and the Ant were looking at them from under the table, smiling slyly. Vasya picked up the Mouse, took his ball, and, winking at Marisha, ran home. He needed to prepare for the evening.
When mom came home from work, Vasya honestly confessed everything to her. How he broke the lamp, that he went to apologize today, and about the dinner invitation. But he didn't tell her about his Mouse or the Ant.
Mom threw up her hands in indignation:
Vasya! You should have been put in the corner and had your ears boxed! And now we're being invited to dinner!
Mom, well, Uncle Sasha needs help choosing a school for his daughter, — Vasya said cunningly, — Well, as neighbors should do!?
Mom affectionately ruffled her son's hair, smiled and said:
- As neighbors should: don't break street lights and don't damage cars! Okay, go change, and I'll go to the store for a cake. We can't show up empty-handed.
Half an hour later, Vasya and his mom were already sitting at the neighbors' table having dinner. Uncle Sasha, as it turned out, could cook very deliciously! He even managed to bake an apple pie, so Vasya and Marisha had something to enjoy!
Vasya didn't bring the Mouse with him. After all, it was an "official visit", so to speak!
Marisha suddenly spit out her tea and burst out laughing!
Oh, excuse me! — she covered her mouth with her hand.
Vasya, his mom, and Uncle Sasha looked at her in confusion, wondering what was wrong.
Marisha squeaked again and laughed. Vasya blinked in surprise. But a minute later he figured it out when he felt small hands tickling his feet! The Ant!!! — Vasya squeaked and laughed too.
His mom looked at him sternly and said:
Vasily, how do you behave at the table like that?!
But Vasya and Marisha, flushed from laughter, couldn't stop. Because of this Ant, they had "caught the giggles", as they say!
Uncle Sasha thoughtfully smoothed his hair and calmly said:
Alright, kids. Go to the room. I see your mood has really lifted from all the sweets. We'll sit here and discuss some school matters.
Vasya and Marisha bolted from the table and ran to the room. There they immediately began searching for the Ant. When they looked under the bed, they saw a laughing face. But not just one, but two! Next to the Ant, the Mouse was laughing merrily!
What are you doing here? — Vasya said in surprise, — How did you get here?
Through the computer network! — answered the Mouse, — The Ant taught me!
The Ant proudly raised her nose. Vasya was about to scold them, but saw that Marisha was smiling calmly and didn't.
Why are you misbehaving? — asked Marisha, — We got sent away from the table because of you! We didn't even get to try the cake!
Oh, come on! — waved the Ant, — We're sitting here hungry anyway, and we're still having fun!
Footsteps were heard in the hallway.
Quick, into the computer! Take the Mouse home and go to sleep! — commanded Marisha. And the Ant, reluctantly, dragged the Mouse by the hand to the desk, and they dissolved in the blue glow of the computer. Vasya's mouth fell open in surprise!
Uncle Sasha came in.
Well? Has the fun stopped? Or are you sad in the room without cake and tea? Come to the kitchen, Tatyana Ivanovna has already cut the cake and poured the tea.
The rest of dinner passed in calm conversation. It was decided that Vasya's mom and Marisha's dad would go to the school principal tomorrow and ask for Marisha to be in the same class as Vasya. The kids, pleased, exchanged glances and winked at each other.
Already at home, Vasya quickly showered, brushed his teeth, kissed his mom goodnight, and went to his room.
Mouse! — he called, — Mouse!
But the Mouse didn't answer. Vasya turned on the computer, but there was just the usual screensaver, nobody was making funny faces from the screen.
Are you offended? — Vasya asked into the emptiness. Silence again, — Okay, don't be offended! Tomorrow I'll buy you a crossword puzzle and a book of poems. You can enjoy them, okay? — silence in response.
Vasya yawned widely.
You think about it, and tell me tomorrow. Okay? — the boy's eyes were closing. It had been a long and emotionally intense day.
Vasya crawled under the blanket, wrapped himself up warmly and fell into a sweet sleep until morning.
In the morning, Vasya heard his mom humming something in the kitchen. He didn't want to get up. He waited until the front door slammed. Mom had gone to work. Vasya lay around for a few more minutes and jumped out of bed.
Mouse, I'm awake! Stop being offended. Come out, you coward, let's make up!
But the Mouse still didn't jump out from under the bed with a wild cry, like usual. Even when they fought, he never refused a book as a peace offering.
Vasya looked around the whole apartment again. Empty. He quickly pulled on shorts and a shirt and, without washing, ran to Marisha's.
The girl met him with tears in her eyes.
Vasya, my Ant is gone!
Now Vasya was truly frightened!
And my Mouse is gone.
The girl blinked in confusion.
Come in.
In Marisha's room they sat on the couch.
- So! Last night the Ant went to see the Mouse home through the computer network. They dissolved at the computer.
Oh! — the girl pressed her palms to her face in fright, — I know what happened! They got lost in the computer network! In the Kingdom of the World Wide Web!
Vasya didn't understand anything Marisha said, but the girl continued:
You see, the Ant and I have been friends for a long time and often in the evenings, when dad falls asleep, we'd sneak into the computer and walk through the Kingdom of the World Wide Web. It's really cool and beautiful there. The kingdom is ruled by Princess Webina, and we need to ask her for help!
How?! — Vasya and the Mouse had never walked through the world wide web.
Come on! — Marisha pulled him by the hand to the desk, - We can't waste time!
She quickly turned on the computer, but instead of the usual loading, she clicked on a button unknown to Vasya — the entrance to the Kingdom of the World Wide Web. The computer buzzed, Marisha took Vasya's hands and whispered:
Don't be afraid!
Colorful balls and stars swirled around the children, everything became purple with golden rays of light! Then a bright flash! Vasya squeezed his eyes shut in fear and only opened them when Marisha let go of his hands. What he saw amazed him: it felt like they were weightless, yet they stood firmly on their feet.
Everything around shimmered with different colors, weightless paths branched off in different directions, everything buzzed, crackled, sparkled with silver stars and there was no end to this riot of colors!
We're here. We need to go that way! — Marisha waved her hand in one direction. And she ran boldly along a narrow path. Vasya hesitated to step on it, but he didn't want to fall behind Marisha. One step, another, his feet didn't sink into the void. And he ran after the girl.
The path went upward. Around them buzzed some glowing insects, more like flying letters from the Russian and English alphabet. You had to swat them away, they flew to the side and, buzzing angrily, formed different words.
One more pass and Vasya gasped! Right before them appeared the Kingdom of the World Wide Web — the Internet. It was built from various holograms, laser beams shone in different directions, and in the middle stood a huge tower with a star on top.
Let's go straight to the princess! — said Marisha.
Vasya suddenly remembered that he hadn't washed or combed his hair this morning and was wearing a wrinkled shirt and shorts. But there was no turning back. He had to find the Ant and the Mouse!
The laser beams in front of them parted, forming a rainbow, then the northern lights. They entered a wonderful garden. There were sun fountains here, unknown birds sang, enormous flowers of unseen beauty grew. The branches of trees swayed like seaweed, and a tiny dog ran toward them.
Cursor, sweetie! — Marisha picked up the dog, — Where is your mistress? Take us quickly to Princess Webina!
Vasya first heard pleasant singing and only then saw Princess Webina. She floated through the air and held something like a computer keyboard in her hands, like a harp! But when she pressed the buttons, a sad, quiet melody played, and the princess sang to it. She floated through the air, her hair flowing in different directions, and instead of legs, like an octopus, thin wires spread out in different directions. The princess's skin was pale blue, and it seemed like she glowed like phosphorus.
Princess Webina! — cried Marisha, and the princess turned to her voice, — We urgently need your help!
The princess placed her musical instrument on the edge of a pale blue star fountain and floated toward the children.
