Old sailor. Read fairy tales and stories of Viktor Dragunsky: "The Old Sailor"

Be smart, go to bed, and next Sunday I will take you to the dacha, to Klyazma. We'll go by train. There is a river there and a dog, and all three of us will ride on a boat.

And I immediately lay down, and covered my head, and began to think about next Sunday, how I would go to the dacha, and run barefoot on the grass, and see the river, and maybe they would let me row, and the oarlocks would ring, and the water would be gurgle, and drops, transparent as glass, will flow from the oars into the water. And I will make friends there with a little dog, Bug or Tuzik, and I will look into his yellow eyes, and I will touch his tongue when he sticks it out from the heat.

And I lay like that, and thought, and heard Marya Petrovna's laughter, and fell asleep imperceptibly, and then for a whole week, when I went to bed, I thought the same thing. And when Saturday came, I brushed my shoes and my teeth, and took my penknife, and sharpened it on the stove, because you never know what kind of stick I'll cut myself, maybe even a walnut one.

And in the morning I got up before everyone else, and got dressed, and began to wait for Marya Petrovna. Dad, after having breakfast and reading the newspapers, said:

Let's go, Deniska, to Chistye, let's take a walk!

What are you, dad! And Marya Petrovna? She will come for me now, and we will go to Klyazma. There is a dog and a boat. I must wait for her.

Dad paused, then looked at mom, then shrugged his shoulders and began to drink a second glass of tea. And I quickly finished my breakfast and went out into the yard. I walked at the gate so as to see Marya Petrovna at once when she came. But she was gone for a long time. Then Mishka came up to me, he said:

Let's go to the attic! Let's see if pigeons are born or not...

You see, I can't... I'm leaving for the country for a day. There is a dog and a boat. Now one aunt will come for me, and we will go with her by train.

Then Mishka said:

Blimey! Or maybe you can take me too?

I was very glad that Mishka also agreed to go with us, after all, it would be much more interesting for me with him than with Marya Petrovna alone. I said:

What a conversation! Of course, we will take you with pleasure! Marya Petrovna is kind, what does it cost her!

And we began to wait together with Mishka. We went out into the alley and stood and waited for a long time, and when any woman appeared, Mishka always asked:

And again a minute later:

But they were all unfamiliar women, and we got bored, and we were tired of waiting so long.

The bear got angry and said:

I'm sick of!

And I waited. I wanted to wait for her. I waited until dinner time. During dinner, papa said again, as if by the way:

So you're going to Chistyye? Let's decide, otherwise my mother and I will go to the cinema!

I said:

I'll wait. After all, I promised her to wait. She can't come.

But she didn't come. But I was not at Chistye Prudy that day and did not look at the pigeons, and when my father came from the cinema, he ordered me to leave the gate. He put his arm around my shoulders and said as we walked home:

It will still be in your life. And the grass, and the river, and the boat, and the dog ... Everything will be fine, keep your nose up!

But when I went to bed, I still began to think about the village, the boat and the dog, only as if I were walking there not with Marya Petrovna, but with Mishka and dad or Mishka and mom. And time flowed, it passed, and I almost completely forgot about Marya Petrovna, when all of a sudden one day, please! The door opens and she enters herself. And the earrings in the ears tinkle-tinkle, and with mom smack-smack, and the whole apartment smells of something dry and sweet, and everyone sits down at the table and starts drinking tea. But I didn't go out to Marya Petrovna, I was sitting at the closet, because I was angry with Marya Petrovna.

And she sat as if nothing had happened, that's what was amazing! And when she drank her favorite tea, she suddenly, for no apparent reason, looked behind the cupboard and grabbed my chin.

Are you so gloomy?

Nothing, I said.

Come on, get out,” said Marya Petrovna.

I feel good here too! - I said.

Then she burst out laughing, and everything on her gleamed with laughter, and when she laughed, she said:

What will I give you...

I said:

Do not need anything!

She said:

Don't need a sword?

I said:

Budennovskaya. Real. curve.

Blimey! I said:

Do you have?

There is, she said.

And you don't need her? I asked.

What for? I am a woman, I did not study military affairs, why do I need a saber? I'd rather give it to you.

And it was evident from her that she did not feel sorry for the saber. I even believed that she was actually kind. I said:

And when?

Tomorrow, she said. - Here tomorrow you will come after school, and the saber is here. Here, I'll put it right on your bed.

Well, all right, - I said and got out from behind the closet, and sat down at the table and also drank tea with her, and walked her to the door when she left.

And the next day at school, I barely sat through the end of the lessons and ran home headlong. I ran and waved my arm - I had an invisible saber in it, and I chopped and stabbed the Nazis, and protected the black guys in Africa, and cut down all the enemies of Cuba. I chopped cabbage out of them. I fled, and at home a saber, a real Budennov saber, was waiting for me, and I knew that, in case of anything, I would immediately sign up as a volunteer, and since I have my own saber, they would definitely accept me. And when I ran into the room, I immediately rushed to my cot. There was no saber. I looked under the pillow, rummaged under the covers and looked under the bed. There was no saber. There was no saber. Marya Petrovna did not keep her word. And the saber was nowhere to be found. And it couldn't be.

I went to the window. Mom said:

Maybe she will come?

But I said

No, mom, she won't come. I knew it.

Mom said:

Why did you crawl under the cot? ..

I explained to her:

I thought: what if she was? Understand? Suddenly. This time.

Mom said:

Understand. Go eat.

And she came up to me. And I ate and again stood at the window. I didn't want to go into the yard.

And when dad came, mom told him everything, and he called me to him. He took a book off his shelf and said:

Come on, brother, read a wonderful book about a dog. It's called "Michael - Brother Jerry". Jack London wrote.

And I quickly settled down next to my dad, and he began to read. He reads well, just great! Yes, the book was valuable. It was the first time I heard such an interesting book. Dog adventure. How one boatswain stole it. And they went on a ship to look for treasures. And the ship belonged to three rich men. The Old Mariner showed them the way, he was a sick and lonely old man, he said that he knew where countless treasures lay, and promised these three rich people that they would each receive a whole bunch of diamonds and diamonds, and these rich people fed the Old Mariner for these promises. And then it suddenly turned out that the ship could not reach the place where the treasures were, due to lack of water. This, too, was arranged by the Old Mariner. And the rich had to go back unsalted slurping. The old Mariner got his living by this deceit, because he was a wounded poor old man.

And when we finished this book and began to remember it all again, from the very beginning, dad suddenly laughed and said:

And this one is good, Old Sailor! Yes, he is just a deceiver, like your Marya Petrovna.

But I said

What are you, dad! It doesn't look like it at all. After all, the Old Mariner lied to save his life. After all, he was lonely, sick. And Marya Petrovna? Is she sick?

Good, dad said.

Well, yes, I said. “Because if the Old Mariner had not told lies, he would have died, poor fellow, somewhere in the port, right on the bare stones, between boxes and bales, in an icy wind and pouring rain. After all, he did not have a roof over his head! And Marya Petrovna has a wonderful room - eighteen meters with all amenities. And how many earrings, trinkets and chains she has!

Because she is a petty-bourgeois woman, said my father.

And although I didn’t know what a petty-bourgeois woman was, I understood from my father’s voice that it was something bad, and I said to him:

And the Old Sailor was noble: he saved his sick friend, the boatswain - that's one thing. And you still think, papa, because he only deceived the damned rich, and Marya Petrovna deceived me. Explain why she's lying to me? Am I rich?

Forget it, - said my mother, - do not worry so much!

And dad looked at her and shook his head and fell silent. And we lay together on the sofa and were silent, and I was warm next to him, and I wanted to sleep, but just before going to bed, I still thought:

“No, this terrible Marya Petrovna cannot even be compared with such a person as my dear, kind Old Sailor!”

Marya Petrovna often comes to tea with us. She is all so full, the dress is pulled tight over her, like a pillowcase on a pillow. She has different earrings dangling in her ears. And she smells something dry and sweet. Whenever I hear this smell, my throat immediately constricts. Marya Petrovna always, as soon as she sees me, immediately begins to pester: who I want to be. I have already explained it to her five times, and she keeps asking the same question. Wonderful. When she first came to us, it was spring in the yard, the trees all blossomed, and the windows smelled of greenery, and although it was already evening, it was still light. And so my mother began to send me to bed, and when I did not want to go to bed, this Marya Petrovna suddenly said:
- Be smart, go to bed, and next Sunday I will take you to the dacha, to Klyazma. We'll go by train. There is a river there and a dog, and all three of us will ride on a boat.
And I immediately lay down, and covered my head, and began to think about next Sunday, how I would go to the dacha, and run barefoot on the grass, and see the river, and maybe they would let me row, and the oarlocks would ring, and the water would be gurgle, and drops, transparent as glass, will flow from the oars into the water. And I will make friends there with a little dog, Bug or Tuzik, and I will look into his yellow eyes, and I will touch his tongue when he sticks it out from the heat.
And I lay like that, and thought, and heard Marya Petrovna's laughter, and fell asleep imperceptibly, and then for a whole week, when I went to bed, I thought the same thing. And when Saturday came, I brushed my shoes and my teeth, and took my penknife, and sharpened it on the stove, because you never know what kind of stick I'll cut myself, maybe even a walnut one.
And in the morning I got up before everyone else, and got dressed, and began to wait for Marya Petrovna. Dad, after having breakfast and reading the newspapers, said:
— Let's go, Deniska, to Chistye, let's take a walk!
- What are you, dad! And Marya Petrovna? She will come for me now, and we will go to Klyazma. There is a dog and a boat. I must wait for her.
Dad paused, then looked at mom, then shrugged his shoulders and began to drink a second glass of tea. And I quickly finished my breakfast and went out into the yard. I walked at the gate so as to see Marya Petrovna at once when she came. But she was gone for a long time. Then Mishka came up to me, he said:
- Let's go to the attic! Let's see if pigeons were born or not ...
- You see, I can’t ... I’m leaving for the village for a day. There is a dog and a boat. Now one aunt will come for me, and we will go with her by train.
Then Mishka said:
- Blimey! Or maybe you can take me too?
I was very glad that Mishka also agreed to go with us, after all, it would be much more interesting for me with him than with Marya Petrovna alone. I said:
- What can be a conversation! Of course, we will take you with pleasure! Marya Petrovna is kind, what does it cost her!
And we began to wait together with Mishka. We went out into the alley and stood and waited for a long time, and when any woman appeared, Mishka always asked:
- This?
And again a minute later:
— That one?
But they were all unfamiliar women, and we got bored, and we were tired of waiting so long.
The bear got angry and said:
- I'm sick of!
And left.
And I waited. I wanted to wait for her. I waited until dinner time. During dinner, papa said again, as if by the way:
"So you're going to the Pure ones?" Let's decide, otherwise my mother and I will go to the cinema!

I said:
- I'll wait. After all, I promised her to wait. She can't come.
But she didn't come. But I was not at Chistye Prudy that day and did not look at the pigeons, and when my father came from the cinema, he ordered me to leave the gate. He put his arm around my shoulders and said as we walked home:
“It will still be in your life. And the grass, and the river, and the boat, and the dog ... Everything will be fine, keep your nose up!
But when I went to bed, I still began to think about the village, the boat and the dog, only as if I were walking there not with Marya Petrovna, but with Mishka and dad or Mishka and mom. And time flowed, it passed, and I almost completely forgot about Marya Petrovna, when all of a sudden one day, please! The door opens and she enters herself. And the earrings in the ears tinkle-tinkle, and with mom smack-smack, and the whole apartment smells of something dry and sweet, and everyone sits down at the table and starts drinking tea. But I didn't go out to Marya Petrovna, I was sitting at the closet, because I was angry with Marya Petrovna.
And she sat as if nothing had happened, that's what was amazing! And when she drank her favorite tea, she suddenly, for no apparent reason, looked behind the cupboard and grabbed my chin.
- Are you so gloomy?
“Nothing,” I said.
"Come on, get out," said Marya Petrovna.
- I feel good here too! - I said.
Then she burst out laughing, and everything on her gleamed with laughter, and when she laughed, she said:
"What can I give you...
I said:
- Do not need anything!
She said:
- Don't need a saber?
I said:
— What?
— Budennovskaya. Real. curve.
Blimey! I said:
- Do you have?
“Yes,” she said.
"But you don't need her?" I asked.
- What for? I am a woman, I did not study military affairs, why do I need a saber? I'd rather give it to you.
And it was evident from her that she did not feel sorry for the saber. I even believed that she was actually kind. I said:
- And when?
“Yes, tomorrow,” she said. - You'll come tomorrow after school, and the saber is here. Here, I'll put it right on your bed.
“Well, all right,” I said, and crawled out from behind the closet, and sat down at the table and also had tea with her, and walked her to the door when she left.
And the next day at school, I barely sat through the end of the lessons and ran home headlong. I ran and waved my arm - I had an invisible saber in it, and I chopped and stabbed the Nazis, and protected the black guys in Africa, and cut down all the enemies of Cuba. I chopped cabbage out of them. I fled, and at home a saber, a real Budennov saber, was waiting for me, and I knew that, in case of anything, I would immediately sign up as a volunteer, and since I have my own saber, they would definitely accept me. And when I ran into the room, I immediately rushed to my cot. There was no saber. I looked under the pillow, rummaged under the covers and looked under the bed. There was no saber. There was no saber. Marya Petrovna did not keep her word. And the saber was nowhere to be found. And it couldn't be.
I went to the window. Mom said:
“Perhaps she will come again?”
But I said
— No, mother, she will not come. I knew it.
Mom said:
- Why did you climb under the cot? ..
I explained to her:
- I thought: what if she was? Understand? Suddenly. This time.
Mom said:
- Understand. Go eat.
And she came up to me. And I ate and again stood at the window. I didn't want to go into the yard.
And when dad came, mom told him everything, and he called me to him. He took a book off his shelf and said:
- Come on, brother, read a wonderful book about a dog. It's called "Michael - Jerry's Brother". Jack London wrote.
And I quickly settled down next to my dad, and he began to read. He reads well, just great! Yes, the book was valuable. It was the first time I heard such an interesting book. Dog adventure. How one boatswain stole it. And they went on a ship to look for treasures. And the ship belonged to three rich men. The Old Mariner showed them the way, he was a sick and lonely old man, he said that he knew where countless treasures lay, and promised these three rich people that they would each receive a whole bunch of diamonds and diamonds, and these rich people fed the Old Mariner for these promises.

And then it suddenly turned out that the ship could not reach the place where the treasures were, due to lack of water. This, too, was arranged by the Old Mariner. And the rich had to go back unsalted slurping. The old Mariner got his living by this deceit, because he was a wounded poor old man.
And when we finished this book and began to remember it all again, from the very beginning, dad suddenly laughed and said:
“But this one is good, Old Sailor!” Yes, he is just a deceiver, like your Marya Petrovna.
But I said
- What are you, dad! It doesn't look like it at all. After all, the Old Mariner lied to save his life. After all, he was lonely, sick. And Marya Petrovna? Is she sick?
“Healthy,” Dad said.
“Well, yes,” I said. “Because if the Old Mariner had not been lying, he would have died, poor fellow, somewhere in the port, right on the bare stones, between boxes and bales, in an icy wind and pouring rain. After all, he did not have a roof over his head! And Marya Petrovna has a wonderful room - eighteen meters with all conveniences. And how many earrings, trinkets and chains she has!
“Because she is a petty-bourgeois,” Papa said.
And although I didn’t know what a petty-bourgeois woman was, I understood from my father’s voice that it was something bad, and I said to him:
“And the Old Mariner was noble: he saved his sick friend, the boatswain, that’s one thing. And you still think, dad, because he only deceived the damned rich, and Marya Petrovna deceived me. Explain why she's lying to me? Am I rich?
“Forget it,” said Mom, “you shouldn’t worry so much!”
And dad looked at her and shook his head and fell silent. And we lay together on the sofa and were silent, and I was warm next to him, and I wanted to sleep, but just before going to bed, I still thought:
“No, this terrible Marya Petrovna cannot even be compared with such a person as my dear, kind Old Sailor!”

Marya Petrovna often comes to tea with us. She is all so full, the dress is pulled tight over her, like a pillowcase on a pillow. She has different earrings dangling in her ears. And she smells something dry and sweet. Whenever I hear this smell, my throat immediately constricts. Marya Petrovna always, as soon as she sees me, immediately begins to pester: who I want to be. I have already explained it to her five times, and she keeps asking the same question. Wonderful. When she first came to us, it was spring in the yard, the trees all blossomed, and the windows smelled of greenery, and although it was already evening, it was still light. And so my mother began to send me to bed, and when I did not want to go to bed, this Marya Petrovna suddenly said:
- Be smart, go to bed, and next Sunday I'll take you to the dacha, to Klyazma. We'll go by train. There is a river there and a dog, and all three of us will ride on a boat.
And I immediately lay down, and covered my head, and began to think about next Sunday, how I would go to the dacha, and run barefoot on the grass, and see the river, and maybe they would let me row, and the oarlocks would ring, and the water would be gurgle, and drops, transparent as glass, will flow from the oars into the water. And I will make friends there with a little dog, Bug or Tuzik, and I will look into his yellow eyes, and I will touch his tongue when he sticks it out from the heat.
And I lay like that, and thought, and heard Marya Petrovna's laughter, and fell asleep imperceptibly, and then for a whole week, when I went to bed, I thought the same thing. And when Saturday came, I brushed my shoes and my teeth, and took my penknife, and sharpened it on the stove, because you never know what kind of stick I'll cut myself, maybe even a walnut one.
And in the morning I got up before everyone else, and got dressed, and began to wait for Marya Petrovna. Dad, after having breakfast and reading the newspapers, said:
- Let's go, Deniska, to Chistye, let's take a walk!
- What are you, dad! And Marya Petrovna? She will come for me now, and we will go to Klyazma. There is a dog and a boat. I must wait for her.
Dad paused, then looked at mom, then shrugged his shoulders and began to drink a second glass of tea. And I quickly finished my breakfast and went out into the yard. I walked at the gate so as to see Marya Petrovna at once when she came. But she was gone for a long time. Then Mishka came up to me, he said:
- Let's go to the attic! Let's see if pigeons were born or not ...
- You see, I can’t ... I’m leaving for the village for a day. There is a dog and a boat. Now one aunt will come for me, and we will go with her by train.
Then Mishka said:
- Blimey! Or maybe you can take me too?
I was very glad that Mishka also agreed to go with us, after all, it would be much more interesting for me with him than with Marya Petrovna alone. I said:
- What can be a conversation! Of course, we will take you with pleasure! Marya Petrovna is kind, what does it cost her!
And we began to wait together with Mishka. We went out into the alley and stood and waited for a long time, and when any woman appeared, Mishka always asked:
- This?
And again a minute later:
- That one?
But they were all unfamiliar women, and we got bored, and we were tired of waiting so long.
The bear got angry and said:
- I'm sick of!
And left.
And I waited. I wanted to wait for her. I waited until dinner time. During dinner, papa said again, as if by the way:
- So you're going to Chistyye? Let's decide, otherwise my mother and I will go to the cinema!

I said:
- I'll wait. After all, I promised her to wait. She can't come.
But she didn't come. But I was not at Chistye Prudy that day and did not look at the pigeons, and when my father came from the cinema, he ordered me to leave the gate. He put his arm around my shoulders and said as we walked home:
- It will still be in your life. And the grass, and the river, and the boat, and the dog ... Everything will be fine, keep your nose up!
But when I went to bed, I still began to think about the village, the boat and the dog, only as if I were walking there not with Marya Petrovna, but with Mishka and dad or Mishka and mom. And time flowed, it passed, and I almost completely forgot about Marya Petrovna, when all of a sudden one day, please! The door opens and she enters herself. And the earrings in the ears tinkle-tinkle, and with mom smack-smack, and the whole apartment smells of something dry and sweet, and everyone sits down at the table and starts drinking tea. But I didn't go out to Marya Petrovna, I was sitting at the closet, because I was angry with Marya Petrovna.
And she sat as if nothing had happened, that's what was amazing! And when she drank her favorite tea, she suddenly, for no apparent reason, looked behind the cupboard and grabbed my chin.
- Are you so gloomy?
“Nothing,” I said.
"Come on, get out," said Marya Petrovna.
- I feel good here too! - I said.
Then she burst out laughing, and everything on her gleamed with laughter, and when she laughed, she said:
What will I give you...
I said:
- Do not need anything!
She said:
- Don't need a saber?
I said:
- What?
- Budennovskaya. Real. curve.
Blimey! I said:
- Do you have?
“Yes,” she said.
- Don't you need it? I asked.
- What for? I am a woman, I did not study military affairs, why do I need a saber? I'd rather give it to you.
And it was evident from her that she did not feel sorry for the saber. I even believed that she was actually kind. I said:
- And when?
“Yes, tomorrow,” she said. - Here tomorrow you will come after school, and the saber is here. Here, I'll put it right on your bed.
- All right, - I said and got out from behind the closet, and sat down at the table and also drank tea with her, and walked her to the door when she left.
And the next day at school, I barely sat through the end of the lessons and ran home headlong. I ran and waved my arm - I had an invisible saber in it, and I chopped and stabbed the Nazis, and protected the black guys in Africa, and cut down all the enemies of Cuba. I chopped cabbage out of them. I fled, and at home a saber, a real Budennov saber, was waiting for me, and I knew that, in case of anything, I would immediately sign up as a volunteer, and since I have my own saber, they would definitely accept me. And when I ran into the room, I immediately rushed to my cot. There was no saber. I looked under the pillow, rummaged under the covers and looked under the bed. There was no saber. There was no saber. Marya Petrovna did not keep her word. And the saber was nowhere to be found. And it couldn't be.
I went to the window. Mom said:
- Maybe she will come?
But I said
- No, mother, she will not come. I knew it.
Mom said:
- Why did you climb under the cot? ..
I explained to her:
- I thought: what if she was? Understand? Suddenly. This time.
Mom said:
- Understand. Go eat.
And she came up to me. And I ate and again stood at the window. I didn't want to go into the yard.
And when dad came, mom told him everything, and he called me to him. He took a book off his shelf and said:
- Come on, brother, read a wonderful book about a dog. It's called "Michael - Brother Jerry". Jack London wrote.
And I quickly settled down next to my dad, and he began to read. He reads well, just great! Yes, the book was valuable. It was the first time I heard such an interesting book. Dog adventure. How one boatswain stole it. And they went on a ship to look for treasures. And the ship belonged to three rich men. The Old Mariner showed them the way, he was a sick and lonely old man, he said that he knew where countless treasures lay, and promised these three rich people that they would each receive a whole bunch of diamonds and diamonds, and these rich people fed the Old Mariner for these promises.

And then it suddenly turned out that the ship could not reach the place where the treasures were, due to lack of water. This, too, was arranged by the Old Mariner. And the rich had to go back unsalted slurping. The old Mariner got his living by this deceit, because he was a wounded poor old man.
And when we finished this book and began to remember it all again, from the very beginning, dad suddenly laughed and said:
- And this one is good, Old Sailor! Yes, he is just a deceiver, like your Marya Petrovna.
But I said
- What are you, dad! It doesn't look like it at all. After all, the Old Mariner lied to save his life. After all, he was lonely, sick. And Marya Petrovna? Is she sick?
“Healthy,” Dad said.
“Well, yes,” I said. “Because if the Old Mariner hadn’t told lies, he would have died, poor fellow, somewhere in the port, right on the bare stones, between boxes and bales, in an icy wind and pouring rain. After all, he did not have a roof over his head! And Marya Petrovna has a wonderful room - eighteen meters with all amenities. And how many earrings, trinkets and chains she has!
“Because she is a petty-bourgeois,” Papa said.
And although I didn’t know what a petty-bourgeois woman was, I understood from my father’s voice that it was something bad, and I said to him:
- And the Old Sailor was noble: he saved his sick friend, the boatswain - that's one thing. And you still think, papa, because he only deceived the damned rich, and Marya Petrovna deceived me. Explain why she's lying to me? Am I rich?
- Yes, forget you, - said my mother, - do not worry so much!
And dad looked at her and shook his head and fell silent. And we lay together on the sofa and were silent, and I was warm next to him, and I wanted to sleep, but just before going to bed, I still thought:
“No, this terrible Marya Petrovna cannot even be compared with such a person as my dear, kind Old Sailor!”

Victor Dragunsky Old Navigator Deniska's stories for children. Read the story of the Old Sailor Gadyukin Dragunsky from the book of Deniska's stories for children. Text of the work online

old sailor

Be smart, go to bed, and next Sunday I will take you to the dacha, to Klyazma. We'll go by train. There is a river there and a dog, and all three of us will ride on a boat.

And in the morning I got up before everyone else, and got dressed, and began to wait for Marya Petrovna. Dad, after having breakfast and reading the newspapers, said:

Let's go, Deniska, to Chistye, let's take a walk!

What are you, dad! And Marya Petrovna? She will come for me now, and we will go to Klyazma. There is a dog and a boat. I must wait for her.

Dad paused, then looked at mom, then shrugged his shoulders and began to drink a second glass of tea. And I quickly finished my breakfast and went out into the yard. I walked at the gate so as to see Marya Petrovna at once when she came. But she was gone for a long time. Then Mishka came up to me, he said:

Let's go to the attic! Let's see if pigeons were born or not ...

You see, I can’t… I’m leaving for the village for a day. There is a dog and a boat. Now one aunt will come for me, and we will go with her by train.

Then Mishka said:

Blimey! Or maybe you can take me too?

I was very glad that Mishka also agreed to go with us, after all, it would be much more interesting for me with him than with Marya Petrovna alone. I said:

What a conversation! Of course, we will take you with pleasure! Marya Petrovna is kind, what does it cost her!

And we began to wait together with Mishka. We went out into the alley and stood and waited for a long time, and when any woman appeared, Mishka always asked:

And again a minute later:

But they were all unfamiliar women, and we got bored, and we were tired of waiting so long.

The bear got angry and said:

I'm sick of!

And I waited. I wanted to wait for her. I waited until dinner time. During dinner, papa said again, as if by the way:

So you're going to Chistyye? Let's decide, otherwise my mother and I will go to the cinema!

I said:

I'll wait. After all, I promised her to wait. She can't come.

It will still be in your life. And the grass, and the river, and the boat, and the dog ... Everything will be fine, keep your nose up!

And she sat as if nothing had happened, that's what was amazing! And when she drank her favorite tea, she suddenly, for no apparent reason, looked behind the cupboard and grabbed my chin.

Are you so gloomy?

Nothing, I said.

Come on, get out,” said Marya Petrovna.

I feel good here too! - I said.

Then she burst out laughing, and everything on her gleamed with laughter, and when she laughed, she said:

What will I give you...

I said:

Do not need anything!

She said:

Don't need a sword?

I said:

Budennovskaya. Real. curve.

Blimey! I said:

Do you have?

There is, she said.

And you don't need her? I asked.

What for? I am a woman, I did not study military affairs, why do I need a saber? I'd rather give it to you.

And it was evident from her that she did not feel sorry for the saber. I even believed that she was actually kind. I said:

And when?

Tomorrow, she said. - Here tomorrow you will come after school, and the saber is here. Here, I'll put it right on your bed.

Well, all right, - I said and got out from behind the closet, and sat down at the table and also drank tea with her, and walked her to the door when she left.

I went to the window. Mom said:

Maybe she will come?

But I said

No, mom, she won't come. I knew it.

Mom said:

Why did you crawl under the cot? ..

I explained to her:

I thought: what if she was? Understand? Suddenly. This time.

Mom said:

Understand. Go eat.

And she came up to me. And I ate and again stood at the window. I didn't want to go into the yard.

And when dad came, mom told him everything, and he called me to him. He took a book off his shelf and said:

Come on, brother, read a wonderful book about a dog. It's called "Michael - Brother Jerry". Jack London wrote.

And when we finished this book and began to remember it all again, from the very beginning, dad suddenly laughed and said:

And this one is good, Old Sailor! Yes, he is just a deceiver, like your Marya Petrovna.

But I said

What are you, dad! It doesn't look like it at all. After all, the Old Mariner lied to save his life. After all, he was lonely, sick. And Marya Petrovna? Is she sick?

Good, dad said.

Well, yes, I said. “Because if the Old Mariner hadn’t told lies, he would have died, poor fellow, somewhere in the port, right on the bare stones, between boxes and bales, in an icy wind and pouring rain. After all, he did not have a roof over his head! And Marya Petrovna has a wonderful room - eighteen meters with all amenities. And how many earrings, trinkets and chains she has!

Because she is a petty-bourgeois woman, said my father.

And although I didn’t know what a petty-bourgeois woman was, I understood from my father’s voice that it was something bad, and I said to him:

Forget it, - said my mother, - do not worry so much!

“No, this terrible Marya Petrovna cannot even be compared with such a person as my dear, kind Old Sailor!” .......................................................................................................

Victor Dragunsky

old sailor

Maria Petrovna often comes to us for tea. She's all so plump, her dress is stretched tightly, like a pillowcase on a pillow. She has various earrings dangling in her ears, and she perfumes herself with something dry and sweet. Whenever I hear this smell, my throat immediately constricts. Maria Petrovna always, as soon as she sees me, immediately begins to pester who I want to be and which girl in the class I like best. No, that's all! I've already explained it to her five times, but she keeps laughing and shaking her finger at me! Wonderful. When she first came to us, it was spring in the yard, the trees all blossomed, and the window smelled of greenery, and although it was already evening, it was still light. And so my mother began to send me to bed, and when I did not want to go to bed, this Maria Petrovna suddenly said:

Be smart, go to bed, and next Sunday I will take you to the dacha, to Klyazma. We'll go by train. There is a river there and a dog, and all three of us will ride on a boat ...

And I immediately lay down, and covered my head, and began to think about next Sunday, how I would go to her dacha, and run barefoot on the grass, and see the river, and maybe they would let me row, and the oarlocks would ring, and the water will gurgle, and drops, transparent as glass, will flow from the oars into the water. And I will make friends there with a little dog - Bug or Tuzik, and I will look into her yellow eyes, and I will touch her tongue, so beautiful and pleasant, when she sticks it out from the heat.

And so I lay and thought, and heard Maria Petrovna's laughter, and imperceptibly fell asleep, and then for a whole week, when I went to bed, I thought the same thing, and when Saturday came, I cleaned my shoes and teeth, and took my penknife, sharpened him on the stove, because you never know what kind of stick I will carve for myself in the forest, maybe even a walnut one. And in the morning I got up before everyone else, got dressed and began to wait for Maria Petrovna. Dad, after having breakfast and reading the newspapers, said:

Let's go, Deniska, to Chistye, let's take a walk?

But I told him:

What are you, dad! And Maria Petrovna? She will come for me now, and we will go to Klyazma. There is a dog and a boat. I must wait for her.

Dad paused, then looked at mom, then shrugged his shoulders and began to drink a second glass of tea. And I quickly finished my breakfast and went out into the yard. I walked at the gate so as to see Maria Petrovna at once when she came. But she was gone for a long time. Then Mishka came up to me, he said:

Let's go to the attic! Let's see if pigeons were born or not ...

And I said to Mishka:

You see, I can’t… I’m leaving for the village for a day. There is a dog and a boat. Now one aunt will come for me, and we will go with her by train.

Then Misha said:

Blimey! Or maybe you can take me too?

I was very glad that Mishka also agreed to go with us, after all, it would be much more interesting for me with him than with Maria Petrovna alone. I said:

What can be the conversation? Of course, we will take you with pleasure! Maria Petrovna is kind, what is she worth?!

And we began to wait together with Mishka. We went out into the alley and stood and waited for a long time, and when any woman appeared, Mishka always asked:

And again a minute later:

But these were all unfamiliar women, and we got bored, hot, and tired of waiting so long.

The bear got angry and said:

I'm sick of!

And I waited. I wanted to wait for her. I waited until dinner time. During dinner, papa said again, as if by the way:

So you're going to Chistyye? Let's decide, otherwise my mother and I will go to the cinema!

I said:

I'll wait. After all, I promised to wait for her. She can't come.

But she didn't come. But I was not at Chistye Prudy that day and did not look at the pigeons. And paw, when he came from the cinema, told me to leave the gate. He put his arm around my shoulders and said:

There will be another village in your life, and there will be grass, and a river, and a boat, and a dog ... Everything will be fine, keep your nose up.

And time flowed ... It passed, and I almost completely forgot about Maria Petrovna, when suddenly one day - bang-bang! Please! The door opens and she enters herself. And the earrings in my ears tinkle-tinkle, and with my mother a kiss, smack-smack, and the whole apartment smells of something dry and sweet, and everyone sits down at the table, and ha-ha-ha, and ho-ho-ho, and start drinking tea. But I did not go out to Maria Petrovna, I was sitting at the closet, because I was angry with Maria Petrovna. And she sat as if nothing had happened, that's what was amazing! And when she drank her favorite tea, she suddenly, for no reason at all, climbed up to me and grabbed my chin.

Are you so gloomy?

Nothing, I said.

Come on, get out,” said Maria Petrovna.

I feel good here too! - I said.

Then she burst out laughing, and everything on her gleamed with laughter. And when she laughed, she said:

What will I give you...

I said:

Do not need anything!

She said:

Don't need a sword?

I said:

Budennovskaya. Real. curve.

Blimey! I said:

Do you have?

There is, she said.

Do you need it yourself? - I said.

But she smiled.

Why should I? I am a woman, I did not study military affairs, why do I need a saber? I'd rather give it to you.

I said:

And when?

Yes, tomorrow,” she said, and it was evident from her that she did not feel sorry for the saber. I even thought that she must be a stupid woman, since she voluntarily gives up the saber. And she goes on:

Tomorrow you will come after school, and the saber is here. Here, I'll put it right on your bed.

Well, okay, I said.

He crawled out from behind the cupboard, sat down at the table, and also drank tea with her and accompanied her to the door when she left.

And the next day at school, I barely sat through the end of the lessons and ran home headlong. I ran and swung my right hand, I had an invisible saber in it, and I chopped and stabbed the Nazis, and protected the black guys in Algeria, and cut down all the enemies of Cuba. I chopped cabbage out of them. It was while I was running home, still as if. But a saber was waiting for me at home, a real, Budyonnovsky saber, and I knew that in which case I would immediately sign up as a volunteer, and since I have my own saber, they would definitely accept me. And then I will be a hero, I will go to Cuba, and Fidel Castro will appear with me in the newspaper, and we will both stand there in the photo, brave and cheerful, I with a saber, and he with a beard.

And when I ran into the room, I immediately ran to my cot. There was no saber. I looked under the pillow, rummaged under the covers and looked under the bed. There was no saber. There was no saber! Maria Petrovna did not keep her word. And there was no saber anywhere and could not be, because sabers do not fall from the sky ...

I went to the window. Mom said:

Maybe she will come?

But I said

No, mom, she won't come. I knew it.

Mom said:

Why did you crawl under the cot? ..

I explained to her:

I thought: what if she was? Understand? Suddenly. This time.

Mom said:

Understand. Go eat.

And she came up to me. And I ate and again stood at the window.

I didn't want to go into the yard.

And when dad came, mom told him everything, and he called me to him. He took a book off his shelf and said:

Come on, brother, read a wonderful book about a dog called "Michael - Jerry's brother." Jack London wrote.

I quickly settled down next to my dad, and he began to read. He reads well, just great. And yes, the book was great! It was the first time I heard such an interesting book. Dog adventure. How one boatswain stole it. And they went on a ship to look for treasures. And the ship belonged to three rich men. The Old Mariner showed them the way, he was a sick and lonely old man, he said that he knew where countless treasures lay, and promised these three rich people that they would each receive a whole bunch of diamonds and diamonds, and these rich people fed the Old Mariner for these promises. And then it suddenly turned out that the ship could not reach the place where the treasures were, due to lack of water. This, too, was arranged by the Old Mariner. And the rich had to go back without salty slurping. The old Mariner got his living by this deceit, because he was a wounded poor old man. And when we finished this book and again began to remember it all from the very beginning, dad suddenly laughed and said:

And this one is good! Old Sailor! Yes, he is just a deceiver, like your Marin Petrovna.

But I said

What are you, dad? It doesn't look like it at all. After all, the Old Mariner lied to save his life. After all, he was lonely, sick. And Maria Petrovna? Is she sick?

Healthy as a bull, - said dad.

Well, yes, - I said, - because if the Old Mariner had not been lying, he would have died, poor fellow, somewhere in the port, right on the bare stones, between boxes and bales, in an icy wind and pouring rain. After all, he did not have a roof over his head. And Maria Petrovna has a wonderful room of eighteen meters with all conveniences. And how many earrings, trinkets and chains she has!