tall and adult like Vania’s mother! Maybe, she’s kind and beautiful and gives milk
to kittens as Vania’s mother does. But why are people afraid of her then?..».
He reached the edge of the pinewood. A pure pond with a puddling
Duckling in it came to his view. He was diving in and coming up with a light
laughter. Ashore a Chick was waiting for him, clapping his wing-hands to his
Duckling-friend enthusiastically. He liked the Duckling diving. And every time the
letter came up the water, the chick jumped about and clapped his hands laughing
gladly.
The kitten looked at the baby-Chicken with interest and then at the
Duckling that now was showing only his little yel ow feathery tail. The world
seemed very bright, colourful and wonderful to the little kitten and everything new
he faced cheered him and interested incredibly. He studied every object of his
interest thoroughly, whatever it was. That’s why once he even put his nose into
the alveary. Of course, the bees sent him off their house, but as they were very
kind they didn’t sting the curious kitten. His friend Vanechka told him, that bees
sip honey and buzz crossly because he kept them from their important work. But
if he didn’t, they wouldn’t be angry, buzz and sting. Now the kitten knew it and
watched them working from the sidelines, nestling on a house’s sil and catching
a few rays of sun.
Though, he stil knew nothing about these little feathery nubbins.
- Good afternoon! – Murzik purred and came a little closer. He was a very
well-bred kitten and always wished good day to everyone he met on his way
saying “Good afternoon!”. That’s what his mother-cat taught him as well as her
mother did and so on.
The Chick got distracted from observing the Duckling and said hello back.
