One evening, when mom had already turned off the light and only a yellowish nightlight was shining in the room, suddenly a delicate melodious ringing sound was heard. Right in the center of the room, Anya saw a golden spark, then another one. There were more and more sparks, they swirled and whirled like gnats, gradually condensing into a glowing figure. And suddenly the ringing and light disappeared, and in the middle of the carpet stood a small gnome, about the size of a stool.
– How beautiful! – said Anya, who was no longer lying down but sitting up in bed to better observe the sparks.
– Hello, Anya, – said the gnome.
– Hello… – Anya was a bit embarrassed, – Who are you?
– I'm Fyodor from the fairy tale helpers squad, we help the inhabitants of fairy tale lands…
– Oh, how interesting, – exclaimed Anya, – What kind of lands are those? Where are they? How do you get there?
The girl was bouncing on the bed with impatience.
– Wait, Anya! – interrupted the gnome, – I only have ten minutes, and our wizard Elizard said that only a resident of a non-magical land can give the right advice. He says you have different thinking, more suitable. Will you help?
– Of course! – The pillow was bouncing along with Anya.
– Just listen carefully, it's important not to miss a single detail! High on a mountain there is a cave, and a dragon lives in it…
– A dragon? I'm scared! Don't tell me such scary fairy tales! – Anya pulled the blanket up to her eyes.
– This is not a fairy tale! Well, it is a fairy tale, – the gnome got confused, – but everything with us is a fairy tale… Besides, the dragon is kind, and he's the one who needs help! Will you help the dragon?
– Can I think about it?
– Anya, – pleaded the gnome, – help is very much needed, time is running out, and I haven't explained anything to you yet!
Slowly from behind the blanket appeared the girl's nose, then her chin, then her neck. Then Anya put her hands on top of the blanket and sighed:
– Well, okay then. I'll help!
– So, – the gnome was delighted, – in the cave the dragon has a wonderful garden, only instead of flowers, precious stones grow in it…
– Wow! – Anya had already forgotten her fear and was bouncing on the bed again. – Are these stones beautiful? What color are they? You know, I love pink stones the most, they're called rubies! And I've always wanted there to be such golden stones! Does your dragon have them? He's magical, he should have them, right?
– Yes, yes… Probably… – the gnome waved his hand distractedly, thinking he was running out of time for politeness. – So, you see, they grow from bottom to top, like crystals, like vines…
– Like vines! Like goats! – the girl was no longer listening to the gnome, precious stones sparkled and shimmered in all colors before her inner eye. And then she realized that it wasn't them shining at all, but the gnome's figure was scattering into sparks, which gradually faded.
– Well, how did it go? – asked the wizard.
– You see, this girl, she's so timid, so dreamy! And interrupting someone is so rude! Anyway, I didn't manage to tell her anything…
– I hoped that an emotional girl with a lively imagination would be the best option for making contact, but I didn't account for us having so little time, – the wizard thoughtfully turned his hat in his hands, – Don't worry, tomorrow the transition stone will recharge, and you can try talking to the boy.
Yura didn't have a nightlight, he wasn't afraid of the dark at all and loved when stars shone through the uncurtained window into his bedroom. So when the stars suddenly lit up right on the ceiling of the room, he was very happy. The stars smoothly descended and gathered into the shape of a gnome.
– Hello, Yura! I really need your help, and I only have ten minutes! – Fyodor hurried right away.
– How happy I am that you came! – exclaimed Yura, – I always dreamed that I would have a mysterious friend! – and Yura rushed to hug him.
But the gnome managed to stop him:
– Stop, don't touch me, or I'll disappear!
The boy dropped his hands sadly, but almost immediately smiled:
– You know what, I lost a tooth! Yesterday!
Gnome Fyodor was confused again, but quickly said:
– Perfect, so you're already quite grown up, smart, and can help me! Listen carefully and don't interrupt. In our fairy tale land, high on a mountain in a cave, lives a dragon, he's kind, and he grows a garden of precious stones.
– What's his name? – the boy still interjected.
– Roma.
– Just like my friend! – Yura was delighted.
– E-e-e, yes, – continued the gnome, – so, the gems in his garden are interconnected, they grow from each other from bottom to top and shine brighter and brighter, and then, one purple stone, growing at a medium height, suddenly began to fade and shimmer strangely, – the gnome was now in full swing, waving his hands, – and around it…
Yura, who until then had been watching the gnome intently and with interest, suddenly said:
– And my dad is going to buy me a remote control car! Can you imagine? A big one! I think you'll fit, and next time I can give you a ride!
– Yura, weren't you listening to me at all? – Fyodor was surprised. He was so hurt that tears came to his eyes, and he took off his hat to wipe them away unnoticed.
– And I have a new ball too, a basketball one, let me show you!
Yura crawled under the bed for the ball, and when he emerged, there was no one in the room anymore.
– How are things going? – the wizard asked carefully.
– This boy is probably very lonely, and he has no one to talk to…– gnome Fyodor nervously crumpled his hat in his hands, and didn't even notice how the pom-pom fell off and rolled across the floor.
– What makes you think that? The Magic Ball said he has many friends and caring parents.
– He was in such a hurry to share all the news with me that he didn't have time to listen to me…– the gnome noticed the missing pom-pom but didn't even bother looking for it.
Elizard tried to cheer him up:
– While you were gone, the ball suggested another candidate to me, they say a very smart boy!
– Who says? – Fyodor was not so easy to convince anymore.
– His mother.
– All mothers say that, – the gnome sat down right on the barely glowing transition stone and began melancholically pulling threads from his hat, he always did this when he was very upset.
– And his teacher, – continued the wizard, – and his English teacher, and his logic teacher…
– Then okay, – Fyodor smiled weakly, – see you tomorrow!
– Hello, Benjamin! – gnome Fyodor took off his hat and made a ceremonial bow.
Benjamin was almost seven years old, but everyone in the family called him by his full name from childhood and strictly ordered everyone they knew, teachers and instructors to do the same. The wizard had warned the gnome about this in advance, and Fyodor tried to be very polite.
– Benjamin, the fairy tale land and dragon Roma really need your help! – continued the gnome.
–Well, well! – Benjamin put on his glasses, took a notepad and pencil from his bedside table and prepared to write, – How can I be of service?
– The Magic Ball told our wizard Elizard that a child from a non-magical land will give the right advice when they hear our problem.
– Did it say
