At first Alyosha's gift made him sad. But then he started thinking a lot of himself. "I am better and cleverer than the other children," he thought. And he showed it to the other boys. He was no longer a good and kind boy. He became proud and naughty.
One day a voice inside him said:
"Don't be so bad, Alyosha! Yes, you have this gift. But you are not better than the other children."
But Alyosha didn't listen to that voice. Each day everyone liked him less and less. The headmaster didn't know what to do with him. He told the boy to learn more and more. But it didn't help. Alyosha didn't study at all, but he always knew his homework very well.
One day the headmaster told him to learn by heart twenty pages. But Alyosha was more naughty than usual. So he didn't even open the book.
"Why should I learn something? I've got my magic seed," he thought.
The next day the headmaster opened the book and said:
"Alyosha, please say your lesson."
Alyosha stood up and came up to the headmaster. Everyone looked at him. Alyosha opened his mouth … and nothing happened!
"What is happening?" said the headmaster. "Say your lesson."
Alyosha couldn't say a word. He didn't know the lesson.
"What does this mean, Alyosha?" the headmaster asked. "Why don't you speak?"
Alyosha put his hand in the pocket. The seed wasn't there. It was terrible!
"I'm sorry," said the boy. He started crying.
The headmaster became very angry.
"Go to the bedroom," he said, "and learn your lesson. Now!"
Helpful Words & Notes
how the King keeps his word — как король держит слово.
At first — Сначала.
from time to time — время от времени.
he started thinking a lot of himself — он начал зазнаваться.
to learn by heart — выучить наизусть.
than usual — чем обычно.
Why should I learn something? — С какой стати я должен что-то учить?
Exercises
1 Answer the questions.
1) Did the King keep his word?
2) When did the magic seed help Alyosha for the first time?
3) Was Alyosha happy then?
4) How did the King's present change Alyosha?
5) Why did the headmaster tell him to learn twenty pages by heart?
6) What happened at the History lesson the next day?
2 Match the two parts of the sentences.
1) Alyosha
2) Everyone
