Чудоба, или Приключения Алочки и Васи

It’ll get him rid of snot, – uttered careful granddaughter having sniffled and making a reach for another clove.

Mum and granny giggled. Katya was in a good mood today. She has a good night’s sleep, didn’t grizzle, she helped to prepare festive dinner, and the adults, to her surprise, changed a lot as well. Think, for instance, of her mother. Even when it was her birthday and she was waiting for the guests, she was serious and occupied. Today she was absolutely different – merry, relaxed and extremely beautiful.

– Mummy, – said Katya after having decided to continue the

conversation, – you’re the most beautiful on the face of the earth!

– Even with hair curlers and a bathrobe? – mother was surprised.

– Yes! – answered Katya.

– Well, I’ll have to answer this description! Anyway, the guests are about to come, – pronounced mum untying her apron and looking at the clock. – Wait, I’ll be back soon.

In five minutes the kitchen was full of the Snow Queen’s beauty. Mother was with beaded white shoes, a long blue dress decorated with tinsel and a carved crown on the head, it was difficult to recognize her.

– Wow! – said Baba Galya and Katushka in unison.

– Well, daughter, in this dress we should keep you away from the beet-root! Sit down and relax, I’ll tell you how I amazed all the guests with my surprising costume when I was a child.

Katushka looked into Baba Galya’s eyes very carefully and thought, “I can’t believe that there was a time when grandmother was like me.

Meanwhile, grandmother started her story about the adventures with her brother.

That year the neighbors from the same street invited father, mother, Alochka and Vaska to celebrate the New Year. They had three sons, a year apart in age, a bit elder and younger that Alochka. It was time to go out, but she hasn’t decided yet which dress to put on to pay a visit.

If she puts on a sequined tinseled snowflake dress, these troublemakers will certainly pull the decorations and rip everything. If she chooses the cat costume, she’ll back home without tail. Maybe, the fox costume? No, she’s been fed up with the fox in three years, and, anyway, her hair will sweat et become gummed up under the hat with flaps in the warm house.