Victor Golyavkin
My good dad
Dedicated to my father
1. I don't want to have lunch
3. On the balcony
4. My dad is going to conduct
5. Dad is there, and we are here
6. Sunday
7. My dad writes music
8. Olympiada Vasilievna and Uncle Gosha
9. Old Man Liverpool and Dad
11. At the dacha
12. My dad and Alyosha
13. Very small chapter
16. Goodbye, dad!
18. I see dad
19. Back home
21. About fathers and about us
22. Two
23. Two letters
24. Goodbye, Uncle Ali
25. On the roof
26. Beethoven! Bang! Mozart!
27. Olympiada Vasilievna and mother
28. I meet Uncle Gosha
29. Carnival
31. Last chapter
1. I don't want to have lunch
I never want to have lunch. I feel so good playing in the yard! I would play in the yard all my life. And I would never have lunch. I don't like borscht with cabbage at all. And in general I don’t like soup. And I don't like porridge. And I don’t really like cutlets either. I love apricots. Have you eaten apricots? I love apricots so much! But then my mother calls me to eat borscht, I have to leave everything: the unfinished house made of sand and Rais, Rasim, Ramis, Rafis - my friends, the Izmailov brothers. My brother Boba loves borscht. He laughs when he eats borscht, and I wince. In general, he always laughs and pokes his nose with a spoon instead of his mouth, because he is three years old. No, I can still eat borscht. And I eat cutlets too. I eat grapes with pleasure! Then they put me at the piano. Perhaps I would eat borscht again. Just don't play the piano.
Ah, Clementi, Clementi, says mom. - Happiness to play Clementi!
Clementi, Clementi! - says dad. - Wonderful sonatina by Clementi! I played Clementi's sonatina as a child.
My dad is a musician. He even composes his own music. But before that he was a military man. He was a cavalry commander. He was riding a horse very close to Chapaev. He wore a hat with a star. I saw my father's checker. It's here, in our chest. This checker is so huge! And so heavy! It’s even difficult to hold it in your hands, let alone wave it in all directions. Oh, if only my dad were a military man! All in belts. Holster on the side. On the other side is a checker. Star on the cap. Dad would ride a horse. And I would walk next to him. Everyone would envy me! Look, look at Petya’s dad.
But dad loves Clementi.
But I do not love. I love to build a house out of sand and I love my friends, four brothers: Rasim, Rafis, Rais, Ramis. What do I need Clementi!
I'm playing. And I ask:
Will not be enough?
Play again, says mom.
Play, play, says dad.
I play, and my brother sits on the floor and laughs. He has a wind-up machine in his hands. He tore the wheels off the car. And rolls them on the floor. And he really likes it. Nobody bothers him. Doesn't force you to play the piano. And that's why he has a lot of fun. He cries very rarely. When something is taken away from him. Or when he gets his hair cut. He doesn't like getting his hair cut at all. I would have been shaggy for the rest of my life. He doesn't pay attention to this. In general, it’s good for him, but bad for me.
Mom and Dad listen to me play. My brother is rolling wheels on the floor. Four brothers are screaming outside the window. They shout in different voices. I see through the window: they are waving their hands. They are calling me. They are bored alone.
Well, that’s it, I say, I played everything.
Just once more,” dad asks.
“I won’t do it again,” I say.
Well, please, says mom.
I won’t, I say, I won’t!
Look at me! - says dad.
I'm trying to get up. I'm putting away the notes.
I will grind you into powder! - Dad shouts.
Don’t do that, says mom.
Dad is worried:
I studied... I played five to six hours a day, right after the Civil War. I worked! And he?.. I will grind him into powder!
But I knew! He won't crush me into dust. He always says that when he's angry. He even tells his mother that. How can he grind us into powder? Moreover, he is our dad.
“I won’t play,” I say, “that’s all!”
Let's see, says dad.
Please, I say.
Let's see, says dad.
This is the third time I'm playing Clementi.
They're finally letting me go! My brother Boba is following me. He lost all the wheels. And now he's bored.
Four brothers are waiting for me in the yard. They wave their arms and shout. My sand house is destroyed. All my work was in vain. And all because of borscht and Clementi! The house was destroyed by Rafis, the younger brother. He cries - his brothers beat him. Nothing to do! And I say:
Nothing. We will build a new house.
I'm taking everyone to Uncle Gosha's store. Uncle Gosha is my father's acquaintance. He lends us everything. He writes down our debt on a piece of paper, and then dad pays him. So good! Dad said so: let them have everything. Whatever they want. As much as they want.
Here we come to the store. Uncle Gosha gives us candy. We can eat them as much as we want. Then dad will pay for everything.
Rais says:
I've already eaten everything.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again. And we collect more candies. He says:
Is not it too much? Come again.
We will definitely come, we say.
Guys surround us in the yard. We give out candy to everyone. We don't have enough candy for everyone. For example, Kerim without sweets. Masha Nikonova and Sashok.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again.
Please, we ask, I’m sorry. But we didn't have enough candy here. What to do? We are all very upset. We need a little more candy. So that there is enough for everyone.
Why a little bit! - says Uncle Gosha. - Take it! And come again.
He gives us sweets and everyone is happy. Now all the kids had enough candy.
It was already getting dark outside. The lights came on. Soon the whole sky will be filled with stars. This is the sky in our city. Our city is the most beautiful. Although I have not been to other cities. There is a boulevard in our city. There is the sea, ships and boats. And the island is visible in the distance. And oil rigs at sea. I would go to the boulevard now, but do you hear? Mom calls us for dinner.
And I'm going to dinner. So all day long. I have to eat all day!
I ate dinner, but that's not all. They lead me back to the piano. Dad is not at home, and I say:
I'm over it.
Start from here,” mom asks, “with this line.”
“I’ve had enough,” I say, “that’s all!”
“We’ll wait for dad,” says mom.
Victor Golyavkin
My good dad
Dedicated to my father
3. On the balcony
4. My dad is going to conduct
5. Dad is there, and we are here
6. Sunday
7. My dad writes music
8. Olympiada Vasilievna and Uncle Gosha
9. Old Man Liverpool and Dad
11. At the dacha
12. My dad and Alyosha
13. Very small chapter
16. Goodbye, dad!
18. I see dad
19. Back home
21. About fathers and about us
22. Two
23. Two letters
24. Goodbye, Uncle Ali
25. On the roof
26. Beethoven! Bang! Mozart!
27. Olympiada Vasilievna and mother
28. I meet Uncle Gosha
29. Carnival
31. Last chapter
1. I don't want to have lunch
I never want to have lunch. I feel so good playing in the yard! I would play in the yard all my life. And I would never have lunch. I don't like borscht with cabbage at all. And in general I don’t like soup. And I don't like porridge. And I don’t really like cutlets either. I love apricots. Have you eaten apricots? I love apricots so much! But then my mother calls me to eat borscht, I have to leave everything: the unfinished house made of sand and Rais, Rasim, Ramis, Rafis - my friends, the Izmailov brothers. My brother Boba loves borscht. He laughs when he eats borscht, and I wince. In general, he always laughs and pokes his nose with a spoon instead of his mouth, because he is three years old. No, I can still eat borscht. And I eat cutlets too. I eat grapes with pleasure! Then they put me at the piano. Perhaps I would eat borscht again. Just don't play the piano.
Ah, Clementi, Clementi, says mom. - Happiness to play Clementi!
Clementi, Clementi! - says dad. - Wonderful sonatina by Clementi! I played Clementi's sonatina as a child.
My dad is a musician. He even composes his own music. But before that he was a military man. He was a cavalry commander. He was riding a horse very close to Chapaev. He wore a hat with a star. I saw my father's checker. It's here, in our chest. This checker is so huge! And so heavy! It’s even difficult to hold it in your hands, let alone wave it in all directions. Oh, if only my dad were a military man! All in belts. Holster on the side. On the other side is a checker. Star on the cap. Dad would ride a horse. And I would walk next to him. Everyone would envy me! Look, look at Petya’s dad.
But dad loves Clementi.
But I do not love. I love to build a house out of sand and I love my friends, four brothers: Rasim, Rafis, Rais, Ramis. What do I need Clementi!
I'm playing. And I ask:
Will not be enough?
Play again, says mom.
Play, play, says dad.
I play, and my brother sits on the floor and laughs. He has a wind-up machine in his hands. He tore the wheels off the car. And rolls them on the floor. And he really likes it. Nobody bothers him. Doesn't force you to play the piano. And that's why he has a lot of fun. He cries very rarely. When something is taken away from him. Or when he gets his hair cut. He doesn't like getting his hair cut at all. I would have been shaggy for the rest of my life. He doesn't pay attention to this. In general, it’s good for him, but bad for me.
Mom and Dad listen to me play. My brother is rolling wheels on the floor. Four brothers are screaming outside the window. They shout in different voices. I see through the window: they are waving their hands. They are calling me. They are bored alone.
Well, that’s it, I say, I played everything.
Just once more,” dad asks.
“I won’t do it again,” I say.
Well, please, says mom.
I won’t, I say, I won’t!
Look at me! - says dad.
I'm trying to get up. I'm putting away the notes.
I will grind you into powder! - Dad shouts.
Don’t do that, says mom.
Dad is worried:
I studied... I played five to six hours a day, right after the Civil War. I worked! And he?.. I will grind him into powder!
But I knew! He won't crush me into dust. He always says that when he's angry. He even tells his mother that. How can he grind us into powder? Moreover, he is our dad.
“I won’t play,” I say, “that’s all!”
Let's see, says dad.
Please, I say.
Let's see, says dad.
This is the third time I'm playing Clementi.
They're finally letting me go! My brother Boba is following me. He lost all the wheels. And now he's bored.
Four brothers are waiting for me in the yard. They wave their arms and shout. My sand house is destroyed. All my work was in vain. And all because of borscht and Clementi! The house was destroyed by Rafis, the younger brother. He cries - his brothers beat him. Nothing to do! And I say:
Nothing. We will build a new house.
I'm taking everyone to Uncle Gosha's store. Uncle Gosha is my father's acquaintance. He lends us everything. He writes down our debt on a piece of paper, and then dad pays him. So good! Dad said so: let them have everything. Whatever they want. As much as they want.
Here we come to the store. Uncle Gosha gives us candy. We can eat them as much as we want. Then dad will pay for everything.
Rais says:
I've already eaten everything.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again. And we collect more candies. He says:
Is not it too much? Come again.
We will definitely come, we say.
Guys surround us in the yard. We give out candy to everyone. We don't have enough candy for everyone. For example, Kerim without sweets. Masha Nikonova and Sashok.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again.
Please, we ask, I’m sorry. But we didn't have enough candy here. What to do? We are all very upset. We need a little more candy. So that there is enough for everyone.
Why a little bit! - says Uncle Gosha. - Take it! And come again.
He gives us sweets and everyone is happy. Now all the kids had enough candy.
It was already getting dark outside. The lights came on. Soon the whole sky will be filled with stars. This is the sky in our city. Our city is the most beautiful. Although I have not been to other cities. There is a boulevard in our city. There is the sea, ships and boats. And the island is visible in the distance. And oil rigs at sea. I would go to the boulevard now, but do you hear? Mom calls us for dinner.
And I'm going to dinner. So all day long. I have to eat all day!
I ate dinner, but that's not all. They lead me back to the piano. Dad is not at home, and I say:
I'm over it.
Start from here,” mom asks, “with this line.”
“I’ve had enough,” I say, “that’s all!”
“We’ll wait for dad,” says mom.
Dad comes. He's cheerful. He holds two large boxes. There are tangerines in these boxes.
In June and suddenly tangerines?!
“I got it with difficulty,” says dad.
He opens the drawers.
1. I don't want to have lunch
I never want to have lunch. I feel so good playing in the yard! I would play in the yard all my life. And I would never have lunch. I don't like borscht with cabbage at all. And in general I don’t like soup. And I don't like porridge. And I don’t really like cutlets either. I love apricots. Have you eaten apricots? I love apricots so much! But then my mother calls me to eat borscht, I have to leave everything: the unfinished house made of sand and Rais, Rasim, Ramis, Rafis - my friends, the Izmailov brothers. My brother Boba loves borscht. He laughs when he eats borscht, and I wince. In general, he always laughs and pokes his nose with a spoon instead of his mouth, because he is three years old. No, I can still eat borscht. And I eat cutlets too. I eat grapes with pleasure! Then they put me at the piano. Perhaps I would eat borscht again. Just don't play the piano.
Ah, Clementi, Clementi, says mom. - Happiness to play Clementi!
Clementi, Clementi! - says dad. - Wonderful sonatina by Clementi! I played Clementi's sonatina as a child.
My dad is a musician. He even composes his own music. But before that he was a military man. He was a cavalry commander. He was riding a horse very close to Chapaev. He wore a hat with a star. I saw my father's checker. It's here, in our chest. This checker is so huge! And so heavy! It’s even difficult to hold it in your hands, let alone wave it in all directions. Oh, if only my dad were a military man! All in belts. Holster on the side. On the other side is a checker. Star on the cap. Dad would ride a horse. And I would walk next to him. Everyone would envy me! Look, look at Petya’s dad.
But dad loves Clementi.
But I do not love. I love to build a house out of sand and I love my friends, four brothers: Rasim, Rafis, Rais, Ramis. What do I need Clementi!
I'm playing. And I ask:
Will not be enough?
Play again, says mom.
Play, play, says dad.
I play, and my brother sits on the floor and laughs. He has a wind-up machine in his hands. He tore the wheels off the car. And rolls them on the floor. And he really likes it. Nobody bothers him. Doesn't force you to play the piano. And that's why he has a lot of fun. He cries very rarely. When something is taken away from him. Or when he gets his hair cut. He doesn't like getting his hair cut at all. I would have been shaggy for the rest of my life. He doesn't pay attention to this. In general, it’s good for him, but bad for me.
Mom and Dad listen to me play. My brother is rolling wheels on the floor. Four brothers are screaming outside the window. They shout in different voices. I see through the window: they are waving their hands. They are calling me. They are bored alone.
Well, that’s it, I say, I played everything.
Just once more,” dad asks.
“I won’t do it again,” I say.
Well, please, says mom.
I won’t, I say, I won’t!
Look at me! - says dad.
I'm trying to get up. I'm putting away the notes.
I will grind you into powder! - Dad shouts.
Don’t do that, says mom.
Dad is worried:
I studied... I played five to six hours a day, right after the Civil War. I worked! And he?.. I will grind him into powder!
But I knew! He won't crush me into dust. He always says that when he's angry. He even tells his mother that. How can he grind us into powder? Moreover, he is our dad.
“I won’t play,” I say, “that’s all!”
Let's see, says dad.
Please, I say.
Let's see, says dad.
This is the third time I'm playing Clementi.
They're finally letting me go! My brother Boba is following me. He lost all the wheels. And now he's bored.
Four brothers are waiting for me in the yard. They wave their arms and shout. My sand house is destroyed. All my work was in vain. And all because of borscht and Clementi! The house was destroyed by Rafis, the younger brother. He cries - his brothers beat him. Nothing to do! And I say:
Nothing. We will build a new house.
I'm taking everyone to Uncle Gosha's store. Uncle Gosha is my father's acquaintance. He lends us everything. He writes down our debt on a piece of paper, and then dad pays him. So good! Dad said so: let them have everything. Whatever they want. As much as they want.
Here we come to the store. Uncle Gosha gives us candy. We can eat them as much as we want. Then dad will pay for everything.
Rais says:
I've already eaten everything.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again. And we collect more candies. He says:
Is not it too much? Come again.
We will definitely come, we say.
Guys surround us in the yard. We give out candy to everyone. We don't have enough candy for everyone. For example, Kerim without sweets. Masha Nikonova and Sashok.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again.
Please, we ask, I’m sorry. But we didn't have enough candy here. What to do? We are all very upset. We need a little more candy. So that there is enough for everyone.
Why a little bit! - says Uncle Gosha. - Take it! And come again.
He gives us sweets and everyone is happy. Now all the kids had enough candy.
It was already getting dark outside. The lights came on. Soon the whole sky will be filled with stars. This is the sky in our city. Our city is the most beautiful. Although I have not been to other cities. There is a boulevard in our city. There is the sea, ships and boats. And the island is visible in the distance. And oil rigs at sea. I would go to the boulevard now, but do you hear? Mom calls us for dinner.
And I'm going to dinner. So all day long. I have to eat all day!
I ate dinner, but that's not all. They lead me back to the piano. Dad is not at home, and I say:
I'm over it.
Start from here,” mom asks, “with this line.”
“I’ve had enough,” I say, “that’s all!”
“We’ll wait for dad,” says mom.
Dedicated to my father
I never want to have lunch. I feel so good playing in the yard! I would play in the yard all my life. And I would never have lunch. I don't like borscht with cabbage at all. And in general I don’t like soup. And I don't like porridge. And I don’t really like cutlets either. I love apricots. Have you eaten apricots? I love apricots so much! But then my mother calls me to eat borscht, I have to leave everything: the unfinished house made of sand and Rais, Rasim, Ramis, Rafis - my friends, the Izmailov brothers. My brother Boba loves borscht. He laughs when he eats borscht, and I wince. In general, he always laughs and pokes his nose with a spoon instead of his mouth, because he is three years old. No, I can still eat borscht. And I eat cutlets too. I eat grapes with pleasure! Then they put me at the piano. Perhaps I would eat borscht again. Just don't play the piano.
Ah, Clementi, Clementi, says mom. - Happiness to play Clementi!
Clementi, Clementi! - says dad. - Wonderful sonatina by Clementi! I played Clementi's sonatina as a child.
My dad is a musician. He even composes his own music. But before that he was a military man. He was a cavalry commander. He was riding a horse very close to Chapaev. He wore a hat with a star. I saw my father's checker. It's here, in our chest. This checker is so huge! And so heavy! It’s even difficult to hold it in your hands, let alone wave it in all directions. Oh, if only my dad were a military man! All in belts. Holster on the side. On the other side is a checker. Star on the cap. Dad would ride a horse. And I would walk next to him. Everyone would envy me! Look, look at Petya’s dad.
But dad loves Clementi.
But I do not love. I love to build a house out of sand and I love my friends, four brothers: Rasim, Rafis, Rais, Ramis. What do I need Clementi!
I'm playing. And I ask:
Will not be enough?
Play again, says mom.
Play, play, says dad.
I play, and my brother sits on the floor and laughs. He has a wind-up machine in his hands. He tore the wheels off the car. And rolls them on the floor. And he really likes it. Nobody bothers him. Doesn't force you to play the piano. And that's why he has a lot of fun. He cries very rarely. When something is taken away from him. Or when he gets his hair cut. He doesn't like getting his hair cut at all. I would have been shaggy for the rest of my life. He doesn't pay attention to this. In general, it’s good for him, but bad for me.
Mom and Dad listen to me play. My brother is rolling wheels on the floor. Four brothers are screaming outside the window. They shout in different voices. I see through the window: they are waving their hands. They are calling me. They are bored alone.
Well, that’s it, I say, I played everything.
Just once more,” dad asks.
“I won’t do it again,” I say.
Well, please, says mom.
I won’t, I say, I won’t!
Look at me! - says dad.
I'm trying to get up. I'm putting away the notes.
I will grind you into powder! - Dad shouts.
Don’t do that, says mom.
Dad is worried:
I studied... I played five to six hours a day, right after the Civil War. I worked! And he?.. I will grind him into powder!
But I knew! He won't crush me into dust. He always says that when he's angry. He even tells his mother that. How can he grind us into powder? Moreover, he is our dad.
“I won’t play,” I say, “that’s all!”
Let's see, says dad.
Please, I say.
Let's see, says dad.
This is the third time I'm playing Clementi.
They're finally letting me go! My brother Boba is following me. He lost all the wheels. And now he's bored.
Four brothers are waiting for me in the yard. They wave their arms and shout. My sand house is destroyed. All my work was in vain. And all because of borscht and Clementi! The house was destroyed by Rafis, the younger brother. He cries - his brothers beat him. Nothing to do! And I say:
Nothing. We will build a new house.
I'm taking everyone to Uncle Gosha's store. Uncle Gosha is my father's acquaintance. He lends us everything. He writes down our debt on a piece of paper, and then dad pays him. So good! Dad said so: let them have everything. Whatever they want. As much as they want.
Here we come to the store. Uncle Gosha gives us candy. We can eat them as much as we want. Then dad will pay for everything.
Rais says:
I've already eaten everything.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again. And we collect more candies. He says:
Is not it too much? Come again.
We will definitely come, we say.
Guys surround us in the yard. We give out candy to everyone. We don't have enough candy for everyone. For example, Kerim without sweets. Masha Nikonova and Sashok.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again.
Please, we ask, I’m sorry. But we didn't have enough candy here. What to do? We are all very upset. We need a little more candy. So that there is enough for everyone.
Why a little bit! - says Uncle Gosha. - Take it! And come again.
He gives us sweets and everyone is happy. Now all the kids had enough candy.
It was already getting dark outside. The lights came on. Soon the whole sky will be filled with stars. This is the sky in our city. Our city is the most beautiful. Although I have not been to other cities. There is a boulevard in our city. There is the sea, ships and boats. And the island is visible in the distance. And oil rigs at sea. I would go to the boulevard now, but do you hear? Mom calls us for dinner.
And I'm going to dinner. So all day long. I have to eat all day!
I ate dinner, but that's not all. They lead me back to the piano. Dad is not at home, and I say:
I'm over it.
Start from here,” mom asks, “with this line.”
“I’ve had enough,” I say, “that’s all!”
“We’ll wait for dad,” says mom.
Dad comes. He's cheerful. He holds two large boxes. There are tangerines in these boxes.
In June and suddenly tangerines?!
“I got it with difficulty,” says dad.
He opens the drawers.
Come on! Come on! Guys! Grab it!
We swoop in, grab it, laugh. Dad laughs with us. Eating tangerines. And says:
Call everyone.
I call the brothers Rais, Rafis, Rasim, Ramis. And we treat them to tangerines. And the boxes are quickly emptying.
Then the brothers leave. And mom takes away the empty boxes. And he says to dad:
What about money? Will we still be able to go to the dacha? I would like to. Summer is already passing.
I see dad is thinking. He says:
Maybe we can do it. But maybe we won’t be able to. But even if we don’t go, it doesn’t matter - life is already beautiful!
But I know. It's more beautiful at the dacha. There's no piano there. There are pomegranates, quinces, grapes, figs... There is a sea without end and edge. I love swimming in the sea so much! I really want to go to the dacha! There's a station nearby. There are locomotives humming there. Various trains pass there. And when you wave after them, they also wave to you from the carriage windows. And there is also hot sand, ducks, chickens, mills, donkeys...
Then I fall asleep in the chair. In my sleep I hear voices, all about the dacha, about the sea, about summer...
And in the morning I wake up in bed.
Fatma Khanum is Aunt Fatma, the mother of the brothers Ramis, Rafis, Rasim, Raisa. Every time he sees me, he says: “Oh, Petka, Petka, he’s really big!” She remembers when I was little. And now he’s surprised that I’m big. How can you be so surprised! I grew up gradually. And now, I went out into the corridor, and she said:
1Victor Golyavkin
My good dad
Dedicated to my father
3. On the balcony
4. My dad is going to conduct
5. Dad is there, and we are here
6. Sunday
7. My dad writes music
8. Olympiada Vasilievna and Uncle Gosha
9. Old Man Liverpool and Dad
11. At the dacha
12. My dad and Alyosha
13. Very small chapter
16. Goodbye, dad!
18. I see dad
19. Back home
21. About fathers and about us
22. Two
23. Two letters
24. Goodbye, Uncle Ali
25. On the roof
26. Beethoven! Bang! Mozart!
27. Olympiada Vasilievna and mother
28. I meet Uncle Gosha
29. Carnival
31. Last chapter
1. I don't want to have lunch
I never want to have lunch. I feel so good playing in the yard! I would play in the yard all my life. And I would never have lunch. I don't like borscht with cabbage at all. And in general I don’t like soup. And I don't like porridge. And I don’t really like cutlets either. I love apricots. Have you eaten apricots? I love apricots so much! But then my mother calls me to eat borscht, I have to leave everything: the unfinished house made of sand and Rais, Rasim, Ramis, Rafis - my friends, the Izmailov brothers. My brother Boba loves borscht. He laughs when he eats borscht, and I wince. In general, he always laughs and pokes his nose with a spoon instead of his mouth, because he is three years old. No, I can still eat borscht. And I eat cutlets too. I eat grapes with pleasure! Then they put me at the piano. Perhaps I would eat borscht again. Just don't play the piano.
Ah, Clementi, Clementi, says mom. - Happiness to play Clementi!
Clementi, Clementi! - says dad. - Wonderful sonatina by Clementi! I played Clementi's sonatina as a child.
My dad is a musician. He even composes his own music. But before that he was a military man. He was a cavalry commander. He was riding a horse very close to Chapaev. He wore a hat with a star. I saw my father's checker. It's here, in our chest. This checker is so huge! And so heavy! It’s even difficult to hold it in your hands, let alone wave it in all directions. Oh, if only my dad were a military man! All in belts. Holster on the side. On the other side is a checker. Star on the cap. Dad would ride a horse. And I would walk next to him. Everyone would envy me! Look, look at Petya’s dad.
But dad loves Clementi.
But I do not love. I love to build a house out of sand and I love my friends, four brothers: Rasim, Rafis, Rais, Ramis. What do I need Clementi!
I'm playing. And I ask:
Will not be enough?
Play again, says mom.
Play, play, says dad.
I play, and my brother sits on the floor and laughs. He has a wind-up machine in his hands. He tore the wheels off the car. And rolls them on the floor. And he really likes it. Nobody bothers him. Doesn't force you to play the piano. And that's why he has a lot of fun. He cries very rarely. When something is taken away from him. Or when he gets his hair cut. He doesn't like getting his hair cut at all. I would have been shaggy for the rest of my life. He doesn't pay attention to this. In general, it’s good for him, but bad for me.
Mom and Dad listen to me play. My brother is rolling wheels on the floor. Four brothers are screaming outside the window. They shout in different voices. I see through the window: they are waving their hands. They are calling me. They are bored alone.
Well, that’s it, I say, I played everything.
Just once more,” dad asks.
“I won’t do it again,” I say.
Well, please, says mom.
I won’t, I say, I won’t!
Look at me! - says dad.
I'm trying to get up. I'm putting away the notes.
I will grind you into powder! - Dad shouts.
Don’t do that, says mom.
Dad is worried:
I studied... I played five to six hours a day, right after the Civil War. I worked! And he?.. I will grind him into powder!
But I knew! He won't crush me into dust. He always says that when he's angry. He even tells his mother that. How can he grind us into powder? Moreover, he is our dad.
“I won’t play,” I say, “that’s all!”
Let's see, says dad.
Please, I say.
Let's see, says dad.
This is the third time I'm playing Clementi.
They're finally letting me go! My brother Boba is following me. He lost all the wheels. And now he's bored.
Four brothers are waiting for me in the yard. They wave their arms and shout. My sand house is destroyed. All my work was in vain. And all because of borscht and Clementi! The house was destroyed by Rafis, the younger brother. He cries - his brothers beat him. Nothing to do! And I say:
Nothing. We will build a new house.
I'm taking everyone to Uncle Gosha's store. Uncle Gosha is my father's acquaintance. He lends us everything. He writes down our debt on a piece of paper, and then dad pays him. So good! Dad said so: let them have everything. Whatever they want. As much as they want.
Here we come to the store. Uncle Gosha gives us candy. We can eat them as much as we want. Then dad will pay for everything.
Rais says:
I've already eaten everything.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again. And we collect more candies. He says:
Is not it too much? Come again.
We will definitely come, we say.
Guys surround us in the yard. We give out candy to everyone. We don't have enough candy for everyone. For example, Kerim without sweets. Masha Nikonova and Sashok.
We are going to Uncle Gosha again.
Please, we ask, I’m sorry. But we didn't have enough candy here. What to do? We are all very upset. We need a little more candy. So that there is enough for everyone.
Why a little bit! - says Uncle Gosha. - Take it! And come again.
He gives us sweets and everyone is happy. Now all the kids had enough candy.
It was already getting dark outside. The lights came on. Soon the whole sky will be filled with stars. This is the sky in our city. Our city is the most beautiful. Although I have not been to other cities. There is a boulevard in our city. There is the sea, ships and boats. And the island is visible in the distance. And oil rigs at sea. I would go to the boulevard now, but do you hear? Mom calls us for dinner.
And I'm going to dinner. So all day long. I have to eat all day!
I ate dinner, but that's not all. They lead me back to the piano. Dad is not at home, and I say:
I'm over it.
Start from here,” mom asks, “with this line.”
“I’ve had enough,” I say, “that’s all!”
“We’ll wait for dad,” says mom.
Dad comes. He's cheerful. He holds two large boxes. There are tangerines in these boxes.
In June and suddenly tangerines?!
“I got it with difficulty,” says dad.
He opens the drawers.
Come on! Come on! Guys! Grab it!
We swoop in, grab it, laugh. Dad laughs with us. Eating tangerines. And says:
Call everyone.
I call the brothers Rais, Rafis, Rasim, Ramis. And we treat them to tangerines. And the boxes are quickly emptying.
Then the brothers leave. And mom takes away the empty boxes. And he says to dad:
What about money? Will we still be able to go to the dacha? I would like to. Summer is already passing.
I see dad is thinking. He says:
Maybe we can do it. But maybe we won’t be able to. But even if we don’t go, it doesn’t matter - life is already beautiful!
But I know. It's more beautiful at the dacha. There's no piano there. There are pomegranates, quinces, grapes, figs... There is a sea without end and edge. I love swimming in the sea so much! I really want to go to the dacha! There's a station nearby. There are locomotives humming there. Various trains pass there. And when you wave after them, they also wave to you from the carriage windows. And there is also hot sand, ducks, chickens, mills, donkeys...
Then I fall asleep in the chair. In my sleep I hear voices, all about the dacha, about the sea, about summer...
And in the morning I wake up in bed.
Fatma Khanum is Aunt Fatma, the mother of the brothers Ramis, Rafis, Rasim, Raisa. Every time he sees me, he says: “Oh, Petka, Petka, he’s really big!” She remembers when I was little. And now he’s surprised that I’m big. How can you be so surprised! I grew up gradually. And now, I went out into the corridor, and she said:
You are growing very quickly!
Everyone grows up the same way, I say.
Grow, grow, she says.
“Mom is waiting for you,” I lied.
Mom loves to talk with Fatma Khanum. And Fatma Khanum is with my mother. They can talk for hours.
Aunt Fatma, come to us!
Once again mom tells! About how I got lost. They are laughing. But I'm not laughing. Why should I laugh! I've heard this many times. A hundred or two hundred times. Very strange adults! They say the same thing. Does this happen to me? Every day I have a lot of news. Why should I remember something old? When there is only news all around!
I hear them talking.
Mother. I remember when he was born to me, his eyes were blue. And then they became not blue at all. Some grey. It's such a shame! That's how it happens!
Fatma Khanum. Growing fast...
Mother. Yes, yes, yes, that’s what I’m saying... And when he was little, he was little - like this... he then went for a walk, he opened the door himself, went out into the street, he then walked the whole city, like that, diagonally the whole city, and stopped in a public garden; As I remember now, it was Saturday, the orchestra was playing, and adults were dancing to the orchestra. He liked it so much! He began to dance with everyone, and they found him in this form - that’s how he dances with his hands on his hips!
Fatma Khanum. Very cheerful child!
Mother. Woe is me with him.
Fatma Khanum. I have four of them.
