Vladimir Kuleba
Once upon a time there lived "Grandfather" and "Baba"
“Protect us, Central Committee and Lubyanka,
There is no one else to protect us!”
Stanislav Kunyaev
Valya and Vanya
And how they lived together! They came to work in the transport department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine almost at the same time, helping each other to comprehend the basics of a difficult and very specific hardware science. Specificity is good, but much more important is to remain human: not to be mean, not to set each other up, not to pawn each other. On the contrary - to insure, to help out when necessary - to lend a shoulder. Life in the device is not sugar, one of the few outlets is to constantly feel that there is a decent person nearby, in the same room. Then you can safely consider yourself lucky! They thought they were both lucky! Fate could have decided differently. And so - chess at lunchtime, and families on vacation at a holiday home in Gantiadi, in sunny Abkhazia, the Land of the Soul.
Have a rest! Katrans were caught, before dinner they were served in the summer kitchen, the whole holiday home gathered for gatherings under the moon. In the village they took local wine from a friend of Grandfather Chavchavadze, or even chacha, sweet tomatoes, allspice, cilantro, hot pita bread, fresh from the fryer, peaches, grapes - beauty, indeed - the Country of the Soul! Everyone together, with the children, went to Lake Ritsa, wearing black cloaks, riding horses, belted with cartridges, like in the movies, taking photographs at the pass. Caucasian shashlik in the restaurant “Poplavok”, almost on the water, on the lake itself, just stretch out your hand - water. It’s cold, really, eight degrees, you can’t buy it.
We arrived in Kyiv in September - it was uncomfortable: it was raining, the wind was blowing, driving yellowed autumn leaves through the streets. And they are black, rested, people on the streets look around, shake their heads. Impressions for the whole year. Lucky, needless to say. Yes, everyone who has pulled a tedious bureaucratic burden will tell you how difficult it is to find a vacation together, at the same time, when in the same department you have to replace a colleague.
And they got apartments in a brand new TsEK building on Chkalova at the same time; they only regretted that they were on different floors. But they moved together, first they moved Valentin one Saturday, and then, a week later, Ivan. We made a special decision to go for walks twice. To be honest, we could have done it in one go. The mansions we got were gorgeous - large, spacious, with an improved layout, balconies in every room, and a glassed-in loggia in the kitchen! The wives couldn't be happier, they even cried a little. A four-room one - for Valentin, his daughter is already married, so there are two families, and a three-room one - for Ivan, his little one was in the ninth grade then.
In the houses of the Council of Ministers and the Central Council of Ministers, it is a well-known fact that after moving in there is no need to do any repairs: everything is licked, adjusted, and scrubbed clean. And the old furniture, against the background of light walls with exemplary whitewash, even for an exhibition, of course, did not look good. The wives unanimously decided not to take this junk into the new house. So, they have new troubles.
And here I was lucky: Ivan, while still working in the Kiev City Party Committee, was close to the director of Kievmebel, Nikolai Prystaiko. Then - not like now - if only you had money, go and buy what you want. One company for the whole of Kyiv, the whole city goes there to pay homage to the director.
There was nothing to do, and they, having previously called each other, went to the base - to the very outskirts, to the settlements, at the end of Obolon. Of course, not empty-handed - they took a liter of Finnish vodka, in their buffet - various shortages such as carbonate, loin, smoked meats, which had not been seen in ordinary stores for a long time. Nikolai turned out to be a good guy, and they agreed that in a week their wives would come here, show them samples of furniture and help them choose. At that time, who remembers, in order to purchase a basic sofa in a store - those who wanted to sign up in a queue, went to check in every week for two years, and even then they did not always achieve a positive result. If you missed your turn at least once, didn’t show up for roll call - hello! So furniture and everything else for the new apartments was obtained together.
In the evenings we went to each other’s houses for tea or dinner, or even a glass of wine. Now, remembering those times of blessed memory, you ask yourself: could this really have happened? Just like that, easily, in slippers and dressing gowns, snooping several times into one apartment or another? In the mornings, they would tap the pipe lightly with the edge of a coin or a knife, so that the neighbors wouldn’t swear, even though they were all from the same job—it was all the more inconvenient. Such a conditioned signal: we go out, they say, we’ll meet on the street.
Their house, like many of the Tsek's, is geographically located almost in the center, but very unfortunately - in a deep hole in front of Victory Square. It is extremely inconvenient to get to any direction. And there is no public transport - just walk downhill on foot! Maybe when they were choosing a construction site, they expected that everyone would drive a car—either a business car or a personal car. At that time, those who owned a car for personal use were disparagingly called “private owners.” In their building, for all 320 apartments, there are three or four cars, two of which are wheelchair accessible. The right to call a service Volga was exercised starting with the deputy head of the department. The house on Chkalov Street was occupied mainly by instructors and sector heads.
So there was no other alternative, as their new Secretary General M. S. Gorbachev liked to say. We had to get there on foot. Of the public transport in their microdistrict, only bus 71 ran - very rarely and along an inconvenient route, with stops at every pole. But the strategists from the construction department of the Central Committee could easily choose any site in Kyiv, no district executive committee would argue - why bother, it’s more expensive for yourself! Ivan and Valentin often discussed this problem, especially on the way home, and even in inclement weather, each time losing forty minutes of time. Valentin once said that this is being done on purpose - it seems that the house stands on a general basis, and not everyone will see it - it does not catch the eye, so that unnecessary conversations about the supposed privileges for party workers, the nomenklatura, do not arise. It may be so, but their 16-story elegant tower looked very pompous against the backdrop of the old, tattered, long-not-repaired facades of the nearby brick “Stalin” and “Khrushchev” buildings.
Then, much later, they realized: everything that was within the competence of managing the affairs of the Central Committee - an omnipotent and uncontrollable monster organization that had completely and completely disintegrated by that time - was done carelessly, in a messy manner, just out of sight and out of mind. Some boss got into a government-issued Volga with a souped-up engine, and within five to ten minutes he was there. He takes one look at the site: it seems like a good place, how long did it take us to get here from Khreshchatyk, five minutes? What else do you need? We approve! People dream about this all their lives! And the fact that someone will suffer, both in the snow and in the rain, cursing this boss - that’s his problem. We don’t care and forget – it doesn’t concern us.
Dereza goat
Russian folk tale.
Once upon a time there lived a grandfather, a woman, and a granddaughter, Masha. They had neither a cow, nor a pig, nor any cattle - just a goat. Goat, black eyes, crooked leg, sharp horns. Grandfather loved this goat very much. Once the grandfather sent the grandmother to graze the goat. She grazed and grazed and drove home. And the grandfather sat down at the gate and asked:
My goat, goat, black eyes, crooked leg, sharp horns, what did you eat, what did you drink?
“I didn’t eat, I didn’t drink, my grandmother didn’t tend to me.” As I ran across the bridge and grabbed a maple leaf, that’s all my food.
The grandfather got angry with the grandmother, shouted and sent his granddaughter to graze the goat. She grazed and grazed and brought her home. And the grandfather sits at the gate and asks:
- My goat, goat, black eyes, crooked leg? sharp horns, what did you eat, what did you drink? And the goat responded: 
“I didn’t eat, I didn’t drink, my granddaughter didn’t graze me, she ran across the bridge, grabbed a maple leaf - that’s all my food.”
The grandfather got angry with his granddaughter, shouted, and went to graze the goat himself. Passed, passed, fed him enough and drove him home. And he ran forward, sat down at the gate and asked:
- My goat, goat, black eyes, crooked leg, sharp horns, did she eat well, did she drink well? 
And the goat says:
“I didn’t drink, I didn’t eat, but as I ran across the bridge I grabbed a maple leaf - that’s all my food!”
The grandfather got angry with the liar, grabbed the belt, and started hitting her on the sides. The goat barely escaped and ran into the forest.
She ran into the forest and climbed into the bunny’s hut, locked the doors, and climbed onto the stove. And the bunny was eating cabbage in the garden. The bunny came home - the door was locked. The bunny knocked and said:
- Who occupies my hut, who doesn’t let me into the house?
And the goat answers him:
“I’m a goat-dereza, half flanked, bought for three pennies;
The bunny got scared and started running. He hid under a bush and cried, wiping away his tears with his paw.
A gray wolf walks past, teeth clicking.
-What are you crying about, little bunny, what are you shedding tears about?
- How can I, a little bunny, not cry, how can I, a gray one, not grieve: I built myself a hut on the edge of the forest, and a goat climbed into it and won’t let me go home.
- Don’t worry, little bunny, don’t worry, little little one, let’s go, I’ll kick her out. 
The gray wolf approached the hut and screamed:
- Go, goat, from the stove, free the bunny’s hut!
And the goat answers him:
“I’m a goat, I’ve got half a side striped, I bought it for three pennies, as soon as I jump out, as soon as I jump out, I’ll kick you, stab you with my horns, and the pieces will go down the back streets!”
The wolf got scared and ran away!
The little bunny sits under a bush, cries, wiping away his tears with his paw. A bear is coming, a thick leg. Trees and bushes are crackling all around.
- What are you crying about, little bunny, what are you shedding tears about?
- How can I, a little bunny, not cry, like a gray one, how can I not grieve: I built a hut on the edge of the forest, but a dereza goat climbed in and won’t let me go home. 
The bear went to the hut and let’s roar:
- Let's go, goat, from the stove, free the bunny's hut!
Koga answered him:
- As soon as I jump out, as soon as I jump out, as soon as I kick with my feet, stab with my horns, pieces will go down the back streets!
The bear got scared and ran away.
The bunny is sitting under a bush, crying more than ever, wiping away his tears with his paw. Who will help my little gray bunny? How can I drive out a dereza goat?
There comes a cockerel, a red comb, in red boots, spurs on his feet, a braid on his shoulder.
- Why are you, little bunny, crying so bitterly, why are you so gray and shedding tears?
- How can I not cry, how can I not grieve, I built a hut on the edge of the forest, a goat got in there and won’t let me go home.
- Don’t worry, little bunny, I’ll kick her out.
- I chased - I didn’t kick out, the wolf chased - didn’t kick me out, the bear chased - didn’t kick me out, where are you? 
Petya, kick me out!
- Let's go see, maybe we'll kick you out!
Petya came to the hut and shouted:
“I’m coming, I’m coming quickly, I have spurs on my feet, I’m carrying a sharp scythe, I’ll cut off the goat’s head!” Ku-ka-re-ku!
The goat was scared and would fall off the stove! From the stove to the table, from the table to the floor, and out the door, and run into the forest! They only saw her.
And the bunny began to live again in his hut, on the edge of the forest. He chews a carrot and sends his regards to you.
That’s the end of the fairy tale, and whoever listened, well done.
artist A. Savchenko
Comic script with songs. Perfect for display on stage in honor of the Day of the Elderly, Village Day, April Fool's Day and other holidays.
The action takes place in a village hut. Elderly spouses, resigned to old age, are ready to submit to illness and even laziness. Deciding that they definitely need helpers, they call in the good offices workers. However, the services turn out to be not so kind and necessary. As a result, the main characters come to the conclusion that old age will have to wait...
The script lasts 30-35 minutes. Contains 5 musical numbers.
Characters:
GRANDMA. She pretends to be old and weak, but in reality she is still young.
GRANDFATHER. He’s also an expert at pretending to be sick, especially when he needs to chop wood.
MARYA-TEMPTER, aka MARY-TEMPTER. Full-time employee of the good escort services bureau.
SISTER ALENUSHKA. The office worker is not very kind. Has a goat brother.
EMELYA FOR A WEEK. Conversation worker. Professional interlocutor.
VARVARA KRASA – A SHARP BRAID. Too hard-working, that's why she's unmarried. And she’s unmarried because she’s hard-working.
The scene is a village hut. Grandma and grandfather are sitting on benches..
GRANDFATHER. Look, old lady, what's there behind the window? Morning or evening?
GRANDMA. Are you old, what evening? The day has just started! We haven’t even eaten porridge yet!
GRANDFATHER. I don't want porridge! I'm tired of it!
GRANDMA. Look at him, good people! He's tired of my porridge!
GRANDFATHER. I'm tired of it! Every day it’s just porridge and porridge! I want dessert!
GRANDMA. What other dessert? What were you thinking, old man?
GRANDFATHER. Such a dessert! Dessert!
GRANDMA. Should I bake some pies?
GRANDFATHER. And I'm tired of your pies! I saw this dessert on TV... It's called... (remembers) Ti...ri...mi...si... Ti...ri...mi...that's it... Ah, I remembered! Ti-ri-mi-su!
GRANDMA. What kind of tirimisa is this? Never heard of it!
GRANDFATHER. Oh, you village! I haven’t heard anything other than pies! This is so yummy!
GRANDMA. Where can I get it for you? It's on TV! And in our general store, only “Dunka’s joy” is sold!
GRANDFATHER. So go buy it! I wanted something sweet!
GRANDMA. Go yourself. And my lower back was seized (he pretends to wince and holds his back).
GRANDFATHER (gets up, but immediately also grabs his back, sits down again, and groans demonstratively). And I got it! What are we going to do?
GRANDMA. Let's play staring contest! Who will outlook who! And whoever loses will go to hell in the general store!
GRANDFATHER. The fool found it! I know your staring contest, forever like a hatchling, you won’t blink until the evening! Come on, better play cards! The fool is the messenger!
GRANDMA. I know your cards! You cheat with your trump cards, but I remain a fool!
GRANDFATHER. So whether you have trump cards or not, it’s all the same! Stupid!
GRANDMA (menacingly). Right now I’ll hit you with a rolling pin!
GRANDFATHER (conciliatory). Well, okay, okay... Come on, then we'll count.
GRANDMA. Let's! (Counts). The month came out of the fog, took a knife out of his pocket... (Suddenly stops). Have you sharpened your knife?
GRANDFATHER. What's the knife for? We ran out of grub anyway, except for the cereal. Cook your porridge, it doesn't need a knife!
GRANDMOTHER (calmly). I keep counting! (Continues counting). I will cut, I will beat... You should go to the store! (Points to grandfather). In! You got it, so take your string bag and go to the general store!
The grandfather reluctantly gets up and begins to get ready, but again pretends to grab his back.
GRANDFATHER. Oh! It's entered again!.. I can't reach it! Go to the general store yourself!
GRANDMOTHER (also pretending to grab her back). Oh! And I got shot! And I can't get there! Come on, grandfather, get ready!
GRANDFATHER (holds his back, walks with a limp). Issho got a stabbing in my leg! Oh!..
GRANDMOTHER (also begins to limp). Ay!..
GRANDFATHER. Oh-oh-oh!..
GRANDMA. Oh no no no!..
Both pretend to be lame and sick and lie down on benches. They lie in silence for a while. Then they start talking.
GRANDFATHER. Listen, grandma... How are you there?
GRANDMA. Yes, while I’m lying down, it’s nothing... As soon as I get up, sciatica begins! How are you, grandpa?
GRANDFATHER. Similar symptoms. What are we going to do?
GRANDMA. I heard that there is such an office. It's called the Good Offices Bureau. They help old people - to go to the store, to the post office to get pensions, to tidy up the house...
GRANDFATHER (feigningly groans). Oh!.. Yes, I’ll somehow crawl for the pension myself... I’ll crawl there!
GRANDMA. Oh, don't make a mistake, old man! He's crawling for his pension! Yes, you gallop after her like a gray horse! Then you just start crawling, like a snake, from your stash and back!
GRANDFATHER. You'll make a fortune! You will find it in the chimney too!
GRANDMA. And what can’t you find if the stove is not heated again! There's no one to chop the wood!
GRANDFATHER. I'm telling you, it hit me in the back! I wish I could get treatment...
GRANDMA. Why didn’t it go down your throat when he whipped my rub?
GRANDFATHER. What kind of rubbing?! I didn’t drink any rubbing!
GRANDMA. Who drank then, brownie?
GRANDFATHER (scratching the top of his head). What kind of rubbing?.. The one that was in the attic?
GRANDMA. In the attic!
GRANDFATHER. In an old felt boot?
GRANDMA. In felt boots!
GRANDFATHER. Left felt boot, with a patch?
GRANDMA. Yes, he’s the only one there, the felt boot! How do I know - left or right?!
GRANDFATHER (stands up sharply, “rightly” indignant). So first you decide, left or right! And then make false accusations!
GRANDMA. But what a waste of time? I lapped up the rub, but there was nothing to treat the tapericha with!
GRANDFATHER. So, go to the store... Buy a chekushok!
GRANDMA. What a joke!
GRANDFATHER. So, off to the grind! Well, here’s some faq for a snack.
GRANDMA. You drank, you and shkandybai. And I have radiculitis.
Grandfather and Grandmother lie silently again. Finally, Grandfather can't stand it.
GRANDFATHER. Hey, old man... What should we do? There are no provisions, the stove is not heated, the grinding has run out... Come on, call for services!
GRANDMA. Come on! Take your phone book, call, why are you lying there?
Grandfather gets up, takes out the phone book, and starts leafing through it.
GRANDFATHER (searches in the directory). There is a FAQ here... Oh! I'll call you Snow Maiden... Hey, old lady, maybe we can call Snow Maiden for ourselves?
GRANDMOTHER (angrily). I'll call you! I've already called, my dog!
GRANDFATHER (justifies himself). So, that was a long time ago, I forgot...
GRANDMA. But I didn’t forget! Oh, well, look for a service bureau, otherwise I’ll take a rolling pin!..
GRANDFATHER. Yes, I am, I am... (Finds). In! Found! Hvirma... good offices... "Fairy Tale"!
GRANDMA. Call someone! And it’s better to have two at once, so that they can get it done faster!
GRANDFATHER. Sister A-le-nush-ka and brother Iva-nush-ka. Just as ordered!
GRANDMA. So dial! Or are your fingers curled?
GRANDFATHER. I'm dialing! (Into the phone). Ale! So kind services? We need sister Alyonushka... And brother Ivanushka! We wait!
Music is playing. Sister Alyonushka appears on the stage with a suitcase. She joyfully throws her arms around Grandfather and Grandmother.
SISTER (hugs like family, speaks enthusiastically and elatedly). Hello, sister! Hello, brother! How are you alive and well?
GRANDMOTHER (to Grandfather). Look, old... And really, like relatives! (To his sister, he speaks willingly, complains). How healthy they are! Everything hurts, but my chest just burns and burns! No porridge to cook, no garden to weed!
GRANDFATHER. Again - my back is jammed! I can’t chop wood!
SISTER (with feigned sympathy). Burns, you say? The hour is not certain, a heart attack will happen! And you, brother, just behold, paralysis will break you!
GRANDFATHER. Oh, it'll break! How it will break! I would like to chop some wood...
GRANDMA. And to the store, honey, to the store!
SISTER. Wait a minute with the wood! Would you rather tell me – have you written a will?
GRANDMA. What do you care?
SISTER. I'm so worried about you! The hour is not certain, a heart attack, paralysis... But there is no will!
GRANDFATHER. So we have no one to write to!
SISTER. How is this not for anyone? What about my brother and I? Most importantly, write, and we won’t leave you!
GRANDMA. Why didn’t you bring your brother with you? We ordered two!
A goat's bleating is heard from behind the scenes.
SISTER. Yes, there he is, waiting in the yard!
Sister Alyonushka sings a song.
SONG OF SISTER ALENUSHKA (to the tune of “Ay-yay-yay”)
1.
The years have flown by, ah-ah-ah.
You're out of fashion, ah-ah-ah.
No more health
Cow's milk
Grandma, pour some for Grandpa.
Only that little grandfather, ah-ay-ay,
He doesn’t want milk, ay-yay-yay.
He hides his stash
And the pressure is jumping,
See you soon tomorrow.
Chorus:
Oh, as long as you are conscious,
We are still relatives,
Write a will
Write to me.
GRANDMOTHER (to Grandfather, quietly). Oh, old man, somehow I don’t like these relatives!
GRANDFATHER (just as quietly). So, we know the deal... Goats! (To my sister). So, we changed our minds!
SISTER (upset). How are you alone? Heart attack, paralysis... And there’s no one to go to the store!
GRANDMA. Let's go! So, go home, honey! (Pushes Sister out). And don’t forget to untie your brother from the fence!
SISTER (retreats). Well, if anything, write! (Leaves).
GRANDMA. Call your friend's office, old man! Hurry up!
GRANDFATHER. I'm reading! Husband for an hour!
GRANDMOTHER (with interest). How's that?!
GRANDFATHER. No way! If I’m going to die, then call me, even for an hour, even for two!
GRANDMA. Well, read on, don’t slow down!
GRANDFATHER. So there are so many rooms here! (is reading). Grandchildren for an hour...
GRANDMA. We can't afford grandchildren for an hour! Dividing the inheritance again? Read on!
GRANDFATHER. You're welcome for an hour... How's it going? Your mother... are we going to call you from the other world?
GRANDMA. Fuck you! Read on, I say!
GRANDFATHER. Meet me for an hour...
GRANDMOTHER (interested). How's that?
GRANDFATHER. How how? Wash the bones of the whole village, and then fight among themselves! Reading Next! (Is reading). Mary-ya - art-kus-ni-tsa... Five hundred greens per hour...
GRANDMA. Five hundred green – what’s the FAQ?!
GRANDFATHER. Who the hell knows. Maybe he pickles five hundred cucumbers an hour!.. Or spuds five hundred potato bushes!..
GRANDMOTHER (incredulously). At one o'clock?!
GRANDFATHER. At one o'clock! She's an artist!
GRANDMA. That's the deal! Oh, well, spin the device!
GRANDFATHER (dials a number on the phone). Ale! So the Artisan? Urgent call!
The Artificer appears on the stage. She is in a short sundress, brightly made up, and behaves provocatively. Grandfather immediately becomes interested.
ARTIST (To Grandfather, languidly). Well, hello, baby! Did you call the artist?
GRANDFATHER (gets dignified, forgets about his sore back). Called!
GRANDMOTHER (looks sternly at Grandfather, wipes him off, speaks with suspicion). Are there any documents?
ARTIST. But of course!
GRANDMA. Oh, well, show me!
ARTIST (takes out a certificate from under the elastic band of her fishnet stocking). Please! Agent Mary!.. (To Grandfather, with a playful smile). Do you want to rest, grandpa?
GRANDFATHER (flirts). So, that's it... I'd like to tidy up the house...
ARTIST (significantly). Shall we play maid?
GRANDFATHER. Well, something like this! Wash the floors there (leans down, shows - as if washing the floor with his hands) ... Wipe away the dust in the attic! If you have a FAQ, I’ll send it!
GRANDMOTHER (pushes grandfather, shows him her fist). Let him go to the store! And I’ll show you the maid (also leans over, imitating Grandfather)!
ARTIST. So, retired citizens... You first decide what you want! My rate is hourly.
GRANDMOTHER (to the Mistress). Don't interfere!
GRANDFATHER (intercedes). Why don't you interfere with the FAQ?! Let him interfere! Maybe I want to see what this girl can do for us!
GRANDMOTHER (runs into grandfather). Tie your lip! And I myself will figure out who is good for what! (To the Artisan). Can you build the oven?
ARTIST (indignantly). What?!
GRANDMA. How about churning the butter?
ARTIST. Wha-oh?!
GRANDMA. How about milking a cow?!
ARTIST. Are you crazy, woman?!
GRANDMA. What kind of artist are you, Marya?! You're a loafer!
ARTIST. I am Marya the mistress. This is my work nickname. But in fact... (to Grandfather, playfully) I am Mary the Temptress!
GRANDMA. How's that? Kusaissi, shtol?
ARTIST. Well, I can bite... Sometimes!..
The artist sings a song.
SONG OF MARYA THE ARTIST (to the tune of “Valenki”)
Old grandfather, old man,
And like a scarlet flower.
Nothing that looks bad
If only the root doesn't dry out!
Chorus:
Old, yes old,
You are like a scarlet flower.
The full lyrics of the song are in the full version of the script.
Dear readers! If you are interested in this script and want to receive the full version, then write to:
[email protected].
The conditions for purchasing the full version are almost symbolic. Details in personal correspondence.
Thank you in advance for your attention and interest in my work!
With warmth and sincere respect, Evelina Pizhenko.
SNOW MAIDEN
Once upon a time there lived a grandfather and a woman. They lived and lived and grew old.
And they didn’t have children. And they were very sad about it. One winter there was knee-deep snow. The kids ran out into the street to play. They ride sleds and throw snowballs. And then they began to sculpt a snow woman. The old man looked at them from the window, looked and said to the woman:
- Well, old woman, shouldn’t we go for a walk in the young snow?
And the old woman answered:
- Well, old man, let's go. Let's fashion our own daughter, Snow Maiden, out of snow.
And so they did. Let's go to the garden and let's sculpt the Snow Maiden. We sculpted the arms, legs, and head. The eyes were made from light ice floes, the eyebrows were drawn out with charcoal. Nice Snow Maiden! The old people look at her and can’t get enough of her.
And suddenly the Snow Maiden grinned, raised her eyebrow, raised her hand, took one step or two, and walked quietly through the snow to the hut. Then the grandfather and woman were delighted, they ran after her into the hut, they didn’t know where to put her or what to treat her with. So the daughter Snegurochka remained to live with her grandfather and grandmother.
The Snow Maiden is growing by leaps and bounds. Every day he becomes smarter and sweeter. Grandfather and grandmother cannot be happier with her. They bought her morocco boots and a satin ribbon for her braid. Day and night - a day away. So winter has passed, spring has come. The sun began to warm up. Streams flowed from under the snow. It dripped from the roof. All the guys are very happy. Only the Snow Maiden is sad - she sits in the corner, does not look at the light.
Her only joy is when dark clouds come into the sky and a chill blows her away. The old woman looks at her and shakes her head.
- Who offended you, daughter?
– No one was offended, mother.
- Maybe he’s not feeling well?
The Snow Maiden is silent, but tears are rolling down her white cheeks.
Summer has arrived here. The sun is shining, the earth is blooming. The girls are going to go for a walk in the forest and the Snow Maiden’s name is:
- Go with us!
The Snow Maiden is afraid to go beyond the threshold.
“It’s hot,” he says, “the sun will bake your head.”
– Just tie a scarf around your head, and it won’t hurt.
The Snow Maiden would not have gone, but the old people persuaded her:
- Go, daughter. Why should you sit alone?
The Snow Maiden obeyed and went with the girls. They pick flowers in the forest, weave wreaths, and she sits in the shade by a cold stream, dipping her feet in the water, waiting for the sun to set.
So the sun has set. Evening has come.
The girls had fun, lit a fire and decided to jump over the fire. One jumped, followed by another, a third.
-Why aren’t you jumping? - her friends tell her. - Are you afraid?
The Snow Maiden gathered her courage, ran and jumped. The girls look - where is the Snow Maiden? She doesn't exist. Only white steam curls over the fire. It curled into a thin cloud, and the cloud flew high, high - to catch up with other clouds.
The Snow Maiden has melted.
Where did the Snow Maiden come from?
Did her parents love her?
Describe the Snow Maiden.
Once upon a time there lived a grandfather and a grandmother. They had a granddaughter Mashenka.
Once the girlfriends got together in the forest to pick mushrooms and berries. They came to invite Mashenka with them.
Grandfather, grandmother, says Mashenka, let me go into the forest with my friends!
Grandfather and grandmother answer:
Go, just make sure you don't lag behind your friends - otherwise you'll get lost.
The girls came to the forest and began picking mushrooms and berries. Here Mashenka - tree by tree, bush by bush - and went far, far away from her friends.
She started calling around and calling them. But my girlfriends don’t hear, they don’t respond.
Mashenka walked and walked through the forest - she got completely lost.
She came to the very wilderness, to the very thicket. He sees a hut standing there. Mashenka knocked on the door - no answer. She pushed the door, the door opened.
Mashenka entered the hut and sat down on a bench by the window.
She sat down and thought:
“Who lives here? Why can’t you see anyone?..” And in that hut lived a huge bear. Only he wasn’t at home then: he was walking through the forest. The bear returned in the evening, saw Mashenka, and was happy.
Yeah,” he says, “now I won’t let you go!” You will live with me. You will light the stove, you will cook porridge, you will feed me porridge.
Masha pushed, grieved, but nothing could be done. She began to live with the bear in the hut.
The bear goes into the forest for the whole day, and Mashenka is told not to leave the hut without him.
“And if you leave,” he says, “I’ll catch you anyway and then I’ll eat you!”
Mashenka began to think about how she could escape from the bear. There are forests all around, he doesn’t know which way to go, there’s no one to ask...
She thought and thought and came up with an idea.
One day a bear comes from the forest, and Mashenka says to him:
Bear, bear, let me go to the village for a day: I’ll bring gifts to my grandparents.
No, says the bear, you will get lost in the forest. Give me some gifts, I'll take them myself!
And that’s exactly what Mashenka needs!
She baked pies, took out a big, big box and said to the bear:
Here, look: I’ll put the pies in a box, and you take them to grandpa and grandma. Yes, remember: don’t open the box on the way, don’t take out the pies. I’ll climb up the oak tree and keep an eye on you!
Okay,” the bear answers, “give me the box!” Mashenka says:
Go out onto the porch and see if it’s raining! As soon as the bear came out onto the porch, Mashenka immediately climbed into the box and placed a plate of pies on her head.
The bear returned and saw that the box was ready. He put him on his back and went to the village.
A bear walks between fir trees, a bear wanders between birch trees, goes down into ravines, and up hills. He walked and walked, got tired and said:
I'll sit on a tree stump
Let's eat the pie!
And Mashenka from the box:
See see!
Don't sit on the tree stump
Don't eat the pie!
Bring it to grandma
Bring it to grandpa!
Look, she’s so big-eyed,” says the bear, “she sees everything!” He picked up the box and moved on. He walked and walked and walked and walked, stopped, sat down and said:
I'll sit on a tree stump
Let's eat the pie!
And Mashenka from the box again:
See see!
Don't sit on the tree stump
Don't eat the pie!
Bring it to grandma
Bring it to grandpa!
The bear was surprised:
That's how cunning! He sits high and looks far away! He got up and walked quickly.
I came to the village, found the house where my grandparents lived, and let’s knock on the gate with all our might:
Knock-Knock! Unlock, open! I brought you some gifts from Mashenka.
And the dogs sensed the bear and rushed at him. They run and bark from all the yards.
The bear got scared, put the box at the gate and ran into the forest without looking back.
Grandfather and grandmother came out to the gate. They see that the box is standing.
What's in the box? - says the grandmother.
And grandfather lifted the lid, looked and couldn’t believe his eyes: Mashenka was sitting in the box - alive and healthy.
Grandfather and grandmother were delighted. They began to hug Mashenka, kiss her, and call her smart.