The days were becoming shorter and cooler, and the nights longer and colder. Summer was ending, and autumn was approaching. The sun's rays were less hot, and they often had to break through the clouds that covered the sky to reach the earth. Dark clouds gathered more and more frequently, pouring rain on the slightly yellowing leaves on the trees and the drying grass, sometimes with brief showers, sometimes with prolonged rains.
This morning began with a light drizzle. The entire sky was covered with a gray veil, and cold water droplets fell to the ground. The wind occasionally lifted fallen leaves and swirled them as if in a dance.
Second-grader Mila sat by the window and watched everything happening through the rain-splattered glass. The drizzle gradually stopped. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds and flooded everything around with bright light. A rainbow appeared. It looked like a colorful bridge stretching into the distance against the brightening sky.
Sparrows flew out of their shelters, began chirping merrily and hopping in the puddles. Mila watched them and smiled. She also wanted to go to the yard.
At that moment, her friend Sonya had already appeared on the playground. And Mila, having made up her mind to go for a walk, asked her mother for permission. She put on rubber boots and ran out to the yard. The girls greeted each other joyfully.
They walked together through the puddles, splashes flying in all directions, and Sonya and Mila laughed merrily and jumped, not afraid of getting their feet wet.
Suddenly they stopped and fell silent, listening. From under the steps of a wooden gazebo on the playground came a pitiful meowing. The girls exchanged glances and, without saying a word, ran toward the sound. At that moment, a cute little face appeared from under the gazebo steps, followed by the source of the noise itself. It was a gray kitten with light blue eyes.
Its fur was slightly wet; it stretched its back and arched, shaking water off itself. The fur fluffed up and it looked like a gray ball of fluff. The girls squealed in surprise as splashes from the kitten flew in their direction. Then they laughed, charmed by its beauty.
The kitten shivered a little and meowed pitifully again.
You must be hungry.
Said Mila.
I'll bring you some sausage.
Or maybe you're thirsty.
Suggested Sonya.
I'll bring you some milk.
And the girls ran each to their own home. After telling their mothers about their discovery, they took food and drink and returned to the yard. The kitten obediently waited for them in the same place. Mila gave him a sausage, Sonya placed a saucer of milk. He ate and drank everything eagerly. He must have been very hungry. Then he sat down and began to wash himself. What a neat and clean kitten.
After tidying himself up, he began to run and play. The little one climbed a tree, then came down, played with a fallen leaf, moving it with his little paws. Then the kitten chased a dragonfly, hoping to catch it by its transparent wings.
But the dragonfly flew up, and the kitten, miscalculating the trajectory, suddenly dropped to the ground on all four paws. The girls happily played along with him and had fun.
At that moment, a loud meow was heard:
Meow-meow!
A large cat, the same gray color as the kitten, was approaching him and meowing loudly. The kitten looked at her in confusion and ran to meet her. The cat licked him on the face and meowed something again.
It turned out that the kitten had gone for a walk on his own without telling his mother, and she scolded him for it. Now she had found him and was taking him to their cat home. And both of them waved their fluffy tails goodbye to the girls.
At that moment, from two neighboring houses came:
Mila!
Sonya!
The girls' mothers, opening their windows, were calling their daughters home. Evening was approaching, and the girls still needed to do their homework and read books. Sonya and Mila said goodbye to each other and, satisfied with their walk, went home. And, unlike the kitten, they always asked their parents for permission when they went to the yard.
Read fairy tales and you too will obey your mothers and be neat and attentive.
