100 Stories About Alyosha and his Friends

“We are building a castle,” Alyosha answers.

Father is surprised. “You all? And what is Bertha doing?” he asks.

“She is digging big holes for big rooms,” Alyosha says.

“And what is Moc doing?” Father asks.

“I am digging small holes for small rooms,” Moc answers.

“And what are you doing?” Father asks Happy Hop.

“I am digging corridors,” Happy Hop says.

“And what about Timoshka? What is he doing?” Dad asks.

“I am doing nothing,” Timoshka says.

“Why?” Father is surprised.

“Because I don’t want to work today,” Timoshka says and closes his eyes.

“Alyosha, is it work?” Dad asks, “Or is it a game?”

“Of course, it is a game,” Alyosha says.

Timoshka opens his eyes. “Really?” he asks, “If it is a game I want to play too. What can I do? How can I play?”

“You can bring us figures of King, Queen, dogs, cats, mice, and hamsters and put them into the rooms,” Alyosha says.

Timoshka brings figures to Alyosha and now he understands that it is really a game. And he likes it.

CHAPTER 22. NOISE IN THE CASTLE

In the morning Alyosha goes to the yard. His friends are already waiting for him.

The castle is ready. It is very beautiful, with many rooms. King and Queen are in their big rooms. Cats and dogs are in their small rooms. Mice and hamsters are in their very small rooms.

“Can we play already?” Timoshka asks.

“Yes, we can play already,” Alyosha answers.

But Bertha says, “Wait, I hear some noise in the castle. Somebody is there.”

“No, it is impossible,” Alyosha smiles, “only toys are there.”

“Tsss,” Bertha says, “listen.”

The friends are very quiet. They are listening.

“Yes,” Timoshka whispers, “I hear some noise too.”

“Me too,” Moc whispers very quietly.

“Me too,” Happy Hop whispers very, very quietly.

“Who is there?” Timoshka asks, “Is he dangerous?”

Timoshka, Moc and Happy Hop are trying to hide behind Bertha and Alyosha.

Suddenly the castle begins to fall down. Somebody is moving in the castle and trying to go out.

CHAPTER 23. RABBIT RICKY

“Oh!” Timoshka cries.

“Oh!” Moc and Happy Hop cry.

They run away from the sandbox and hide in Bertha’s house.

And what about Alyosha and Bertha? Do they run away too? No, they don’t.

Bertha does not run away because she stays to protect Alyosha. She is very brave.

And Alyosha knows that nothing dangerous can happen in his yard. And he is brave too.

They are sitting and waiting for somebody who is trying to get out of the sand.

“Let’s help him,” Alyosha says.

They begin to dig the sand.

At first, they see one long ear. Then they see one more long ear. Then they see a small pink nose. And at last, they see a little white rabbit.

“What are you doing in our castle?” Alyosha asks the rabbit.

“It was cold at night. And I wanted to sleep. The castle was so nice and big and warm. I wanted to sleep in it. And when I wanted to go out the castle ruined,” the rabbit says.

“And what is your name?” Bertha asks.

“My name is Ricky Long Ears,” the rabbit answers.

At this moment Timoshka, Moc and Happy Hop look out of Bertha’s house. They are afraid, but they want to know who was in the castle.

“Come here!” Alyosha calls them, “look, we have a new friend.”

CHAPTER 24. A NEW FRIEND

“Glad to meet you,” Timoshka, Moc and Happy Hop say to the rabbit.