Dragon Filimon had a pretty good relationship with food. He loved whistling hot peas, carrot stick salad, juicy pink dragon fruits, and even rainbow soup.
But Filya couldn't stand cutlets. As soon as they were brought to the table, he'd turn up his nose. Just "ugh" and "yuck," what a smell and taste these cutlets had. It should be said that this dish was highly regarded in the tree, and all the other young dragons were surprised that Filya didn't appreciate cutlets. The nanny was particularly indignant.
The freshest, most tender, most appetizing. Why turn up your nose??
And the old woman would glare angrily at Filya the non-eater. He was a bit afraid of her long crocodile snout, so with a sigh he would pick at his cutlets and sit at the table longer than anyone else.
Only when Agrafena's patience ran out would he be allowed to escape, leaving the cold food on his plate. On one of those miserable days, chubby Thomas unexpectedly came to Filya's rescue.
Fil, why do you keep moping over those cutlets? Want me to eat them for you, and you can show the nanny a clean plate? Good for you, good for me, good for her.
Of course I do! Here, eat!
Filya was delighted. Thomas immediately warmed up the cutlet with his breath and swallowed it with relish. Pleased with their scheme, the little dragons quickly ran out of the kitchen. On the way, Filya showed the nanny his empty plate. Now he wouldn't have to sit for two hours over his food. And so it went from that day on.
Whenever cutlets were served for lunch, Thomas was right there—helping Filya out. But old Agrafena's nose wasn't so long for nothing. And so she soon found out that Filya was trying to pull the wool over her eyes.
The nanny got angry, but didn't show it. The old woman caught him on his way out with another empty plate.
I see, Filimosha, how well you've been eating my cutlets. Look what I've prepared for you—seconds.
The nanny spoke sweetly. And handed him a warm paper bag.
Eat one more cutlet, make an old woman happy.
Filya turned completely green.
Okay, but... um... I'll have it later... in a bit.
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 Thomas.
I ate three whole cutlets today—Agrafena brought me seconds herself. I can't eat anymore—I'm stuffed.
What should I do with it? The nanny said to return the bag empty!
Empty? Well, just throw it away, the cutlet, and you'll have an empty bag.
Thomas said and, struggling to get airborne, flew away. So Filya did just that, then went to the nanny. He watched as the satisfied old woman opened the bag.
Why didn't you eat the cutlet? Forgot, probably?
Filya almost fell off the branch! Where did the cutlet come from? He had personally thrown it under the tree himself... Nothing to be done, he had to take the bag back. Filya ran straight to Thomas.
He was also surprised by the new cutlet, but decided to help anyway and, gathering his strength, ate it. This time, before returning the bag, Filya thought to look inside. The cutlet was there.
He had to subject it to a new test—throw it in the stream. But neither the cold stream, nor his friend Freddy's reliable chest, nor a pile of leaves—nothing helped.
The cutlet appeared in the bag again and again. Filya tried to stomp on it and even asked an adult acquaintance to incinerate it, all to no avail.
And in the evening Agrafena delivered her verdict—no other food until he ate the cutlet. Filya went to the nursery without dinner. He slept poorly and in the morning, with nothing else to do, had to make a firm decision—to eat this wretched cutlet right in front of the nanny.
At breakfast the dragon timidly trudged over to Agrafena, Thomas gave him an encouraging push from behind, and Freddy winked at him.
Agrafena grinned with her whole mouth, pointed Filya to the nearest table, then sat down next to him and waited.
The little dragon held his breath so as not to smell the cutlet, and opened the bag. Strangely, it was hot inside. The cutlet popped out onto the plate so fresh and lovely that the hungry little dragon was so surprised he inhaled through his nose.
He suddenly smelled its amazing cutlet aroma. And immediately took a bite from the side. It was so delicious!
Hungry Filya devoured the cutlet in one go and looked at the nanny in bewilderment. She laughed thunderously, ruffled his prickly scruff, and went to wash the dishes.
And Filya quietly peeked into the bag and pulled out the next cutlet. The bag turned out to have a secret, and the cutlets—were truly first-class!
