On one of the sunniest and warmest summer days, I was walking alone through the city. Why alone? Because all my friends had scattered: some to the countryside, some to camp, some here and there, in general.
I wandered through courtyards and streets, and then stumbled into an old park. Several years ago it had been abandoned and now the park was becoming overgrown. Benches, lamp posts, and paving stones were covered with clinging ivy. The grass had grown higher than my knees. The branches of the trees were tightly woven together and didn't let any sunlight through onto the narrow paths.
A strange place. And why haven't I been here before?
I thought and took a step deeper into the park.
Walking a bit further, I noticed a small bench on which a mangy, thin, and old cat was sleeping soundly. I don't know why I did it, but I quietly tiptoed up to the sleeping cat and suddenly shouted – WOOF!
The poor creature jumped up, bristled, and ran away with a wild cry.
I burst out laughing. I laughed so long, replaying that moment over and over in my head, that my stomach hurt. After laughing my fill, I sat on the very spot where the cat had been sleeping just minutes before and, tilting my head back, began to look up.
Ahem-ahem.
I heard a quiet cough and turned my head.
Young man, could you give up your seat to an old wanderer?
Looking at the empty bench where only I was sitting, with plenty of free space, I involuntarily answered:
No, I won't give up my seat.
Oh, how rude! And what are teachers teaching children these days!
The old man groaned, standing next to me.
Mathematics, Russian, literature, biology, and other subjects!
I shouted, not knowing why.
Well, yes, yes... they teach sciences now, but aren't you taught the rules of etiquette, kindness, and simple politeness?
The old man asked.
They teach it, but I'm not interested!
Then, if you're kind, why did you chase away the old cat? If you're polite, why did you refuse to give up your seat to an old wanderer?
I chased away the cat because I wanted to, and I didn't give up my seat to you because there are plenty of free seats here and I don't see the need to get up.
Well, yes... exactly.
With these words, the old man licked his hand, ran it through his gray hair and smoothed it down, then quietly, very quietly, almost silently approached the bench and sat down.
My mouth fell open in surprise.
Uncle, why did you just lick your hand?
I asked barely audibly.
Unfortunately, feline habits remain in human form.
What do you mean by feline habits?
Because I'm a cat!
That can't be! That doesn't happen! You're lying!
I cried out and immediately jumped off the bench.
Everything is possible and everything happens. You just need to listen to your teachers. I am a teacher who wants to teach you a lesson in diligence, good manners, and proper behavior.
The wanderer said, and in that very second his eyes flashed with green fire! These were real cat eyes!
You're not a teacher at all...
I muttered.
This old man amazed me. He frightened me because I didn't believe in miracles, and this was a real miracle.
Do you even know who teachers are and how they came to be?
No...
I said uncertainly.
Sit down next to me, I'll tell you now.
I sat down next to him and began to listen.
Long, long ago, when people didn't even know who teachers were, a kitten was born in a small basket woven from hay. The kitten was born intelligent.
He wandered everywhere and fed on various information. Many families took this kitten to themselves. Especially those with small children.
Sometimes, when children cried and couldn't sleep for a long time, the kitten, and later the cat, would approach them and begin to purr various stories about the past and future, about the infinite and eternal.
In different families, he learned a lot of new information and gained new knowledge. Once, after living with an astrologer's family, he ended up with a milkmaid who had a little girl about six years old.
And one time, when everyone had already gone to bed, and the little child couldn't sleep and, without blinking, was staring out the dark window, looking at the stars and the huge moon, the cat approached her and wanted to tell her about those night lights burning in the sky. He wanted to tell her how the world itself came to be, but he couldn't do it because he was a cat, and cats don't talk!
Then, frustrated, he ran out into the street, sat in the middle of the road, and began to reproach himself for not being able to help in any way. And yet he knew so much!
The full moon illuminated his dark fur with its dim rays and hid behind a cloud, and at that very moment a miracle happened!
The small animal turned into a human.
Frightened by his transformation, the cat hid in a corner between two large stones and sat there for several minutes. Then, thinking everything through and understanding what had happened, he climbed out and headed toward the house.
Knocking on the old and slightly crooked door, he waited for an answer. A tearful woman opened the door. She was very pale and practically exhausted.
I know what happened to you, and I want to help! Here, brew this and give it to your child every day. He will get better, trust me. With these words he left.
Said the man-cat and handed the woman a bunch of grass.
After this incident, the cat often turned into a human to help those in need of his help. He taught the young so there would be more intelligent and experienced people who could help others. The students grew up and began to teach others themselves. So year after year passed, and century after century. Many different teachers came and went, and many young students became elderly elders.
This is how it came to be that adults teach the young so that they can replace them when their time comes.
Everything changed. People changed, science changed, the world changed, but only the cat remained unchanged. He continued to study various sciences by observing others, and then gave lessons to small children and middle-aged people in human form.
In this way, a small creature, a grain in the vast world, who wanted to help one child, helped everyone.
What happened to the cat now?
Interrupting the old man, I asked.
How impatient you are!
The old wanderer said with a slight reproach.
Where is he now?
I continued to press for an answer.
Wait a little and you'll find out everything.
Okay, I'm sorry, I won't do that again.
I said guiltily.
There we go! So... where was I...
For many centuries the cat wandered the world. He taught many and made many his students, who then became teachers for other less educated people.
But why did he live so long?
Unable to resist another mystery, I asked and immediately bit my lip.
Well, I'll answer that question. The thing is, cats have many lives and that's why he lived so long.
Ahhh, so that's it, now I understand! Wait, hold on, but why "lives"? Is he still alive?
He wandered and wandered, but couldn't find a person worthy of inheriting all his knowledge and becoming like him. The wisest wanderer - an old man who would be happy to share his knowledge with others.
Without paying attention to what I asked, the old man continued his story.
Time passed, years took their toll, and the young and agile cat turned into an old and mangy tomcat. The young and handsome young man turned into an old and decrepit old man.
One generation replaced another, and then a third. Now the cat is very old. He hardly walks. He is very weak, but he continues to observe the various developments of the world, people, and technology. He continues to care for children and never stops believing that all children will be grateful to have the opportunity to learn and become scholars.
With these words, the old man winked at me and right before my eyes turned into that very old and mangy cat that I had frightened so much. Before I could recover, the cat's trail had already disappeared. I tried to find him. I ran through the park, looked in the bushes, scanned the clearing, but couldn't find him.
Thank you... for the story... now I understand so much.
I said quietly and headed home.
Many years have passed since then, but I still remember that cat and sometimes, when a cat walks down the street, I involuntarily try to see if it's that mangy cat, if it's that old man.
But, unfortunately, these are ordinary cats that pass by, although, who knows, maybe they're not ordinary at all, but some kind of teachers or professors.
I am very grateful for that story. I have completely changed and now I have a wonderful life!
Be grateful to your teachers, because they instill in us the knowledge that is so needed in this world!!
