Once upon a time there lived a little girl named Masha. Together with her mother, she often went to the store for groceries, and passing by the toy department, she would freeze and gaze at the beautiful dolls, large construction sets, and stuffed animals.
And so, once again, when mother and daughter went to the store, Masha saw a beautiful stuffed panda. It was huge, black and white, fluffy, as if alive, looking at Masha and smiling at her. Masha so wanted this wonder to live at her home, in her room. Especially since her birthday was coming soon, and this was exactly the gift she so wanted to receive for the long-awaited magical holiday.
The girl began to cry and begged her mother to buy her this toy immediately. But mother had so many bags in her hands, and no money left after shopping, so she promised her daughter that she would buy her this toy a little later, on Masha's birthday.
Coming home, the girl could not forget about the beautiful panda she had seen in the store window.
Masha approached her mother once more and said:
Mommy, couldn't we go right now and buy that wonderful toy? After all, tomorrow they might sell it to another girl, and then I'll be left without a present at all.
My sunshine, we will definitely buy you that panda when your birthday comes. Right now it's nighttime, the store is already closed.
Masha looked sadly at her mother and went to her room. And then Masha decided to go to the store and buy the toy herself. Of course, she wouldn't go anywhere now, it was night outside, but tomorrow the girl would definitely think of something and set off for her dream to the children's toy store.
Morning came, and mother took Masha to kindergarten. As usual, all day the children in the group learned to write, read, count, made various crafts and played with toys. And then came time for the afternoon nap. All the children put on their wonderful pajamas, folded their clothes on chairs and lay down in their beds. Masha also settled in comfortably to fall asleep quickly, but the beautiful stuffed panda kept running through her head.
Without thinking long, and seeing that all the children were already fast asleep in their beds, Masha decided to quietly, imperceptibly crawl out from under the blanket and set off for her dream to the toy store. Slipping past the teacher unnoticed, the girl headed along the familiar road to the store where she and her mother often visited. Masha ran along the path for a long time, but still could not see that very counter with a pile of bright toys.
And then evening came, it became quite cold outside and almost dark. Masha got scared and decided to return to kindergarten after all, so she wouldn't be scolded. But turning around, the girl realized she was lost. She had never seen any of the stores and other houses that surrounded her now, so she didn't know which way to go.
Masha walked along, crying, and suddenly a grandmother approached her and asked:
Little girl, why are you wandering the streets alone in the evening? Where is your mother?
I'm lost. I was looking for my favorite toy store, and I must have walked past it. Now I don't know where to go.
Masha answered.
Let's figure this out. What's your name?
The grandmother asked.
Masha.
And who do you live with?
With my mother.
Do you go to school or kindergarten?
Yes, I go to kindergarten.
What's it called?
My kindergarten is called "Strawberry," and our house with mom is very close by.
Well then, I know where that is, let's go and I'll take you to kindergarten, and we'll sort things out there.
After some time, Masha and the grandmother were already approaching the kindergarten. And suddenly Masha saw her mother, who was sitting on the porch crying bitterly.
Masha rushed to her and shouted loudly:
Mommy, my dear, I'm here, don't cry!
Daughter, where have you been? I've been beside myself with worry!
The tearful mother answered, rushing toward Masha.
Mommy, I wanted that beautiful panda we saw in the store so much that I decided to buy it for myself no matter what. I left kindergarten by myself and went after it, but I got lost. This kind grandmother showed me the way and brought me here. It was so scary outside, unfamiliar men and women all around, it got really cold, and I thought I would never see you again! Mommy, I was so frightened, please don't scold me, I'll never do it again!
Mother hugged the girl and wiped away her tears. The next day they went to the store together and bought that very panda that the girl had liked so much. From that day on, Masha never went outside without her mother's permission, she always held her hand and didn't run away.
And if Masha really wanted something very much, she would tell her mother about it, and they would go together for the toy she liked. The girl understood that if she ran away like that, one day she might get lost forever and never see her beloved mother and her friends from kindergarten, with whom she played so happily, again.
