Having courageously completed a whole bunch of practical chores and homework, Sergei sadly sank into a chair and sighed … “When will spring come?” he thought in confusion, looking out the window. It was already mid-March, but cold and lousy weather stubbornly held on to their positions on the street. […]
Last night he’d had a strange and wonderful dream … One of those dreams which seem so real they become like a true memory when you wake up from them. But surely, this was but a dream …
Suddenly a movement appeared in the air, and a moment later, a huge grey web flew over the children. Olga, still passionately at work, did not notice anything and Elvira was frozen with fear. But Dima was not taken aback. He grabbed his sword and putting all the strength of his spirit into it, he chopped at the web…
That night, a real storm brewed outside the windows. The large trees twisted and turned, and their branches banged and scraped menacingly as if trying to pry their way into the room. Worries and doubts were trying to sneak into their heads.
The children woke in the middle of the night. There was a strange rustling sound coming from their desk. “Listen,” the girl whispered in dismay, “there’s someone there!” The boy listened for a moment, but the sounds had stopped – if they had ever been there …
She invited him in, closing the door behind him, and found a vase for the roses while she asked if he would like some coffee. He placed the box on the table. ‘With pleasure,’ he replied. She felt his eyes on her back as she walked out to the kitchen.