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Королевская корова
“A royal cow” (by Nina Dashevskaya)
A boy came to his mom and said, “Draw me a cow. Please!”
But this boy’s mom wasn’t a typical mom. She was a queen! So the boy, consequently, was also – a prince.
“Well, thought the queen, it seems like I can do everything. Fireworks for three days – easy! Forget the fireworks, I can just move my finger – and there you are, a war! Or, let’s say, if I wanted it – there would be a castle built on a completely empty and flat area. Even with plumbing!.. But a cow – I can’t. I don’t have that kind of talent! Maybe it’s better to call the court artist?”
The queen looked at her son, adjusted his shifted lace collar. Then she looked into the strict gray eyes of the future king. And she realized: she will have to draw. By herself!
The queen sighed and got out a pile of pink paper with the royal stamp. Then she dipped the gold feather into the gold ink and scribbled something, most of all reminiscent of a suitcase. Then, stick-like legs and a broom-like tail were added to the suitcase.
Now it was time to draw a face. Can you imagine a cow’s face well? Well, the queen could not imagine it at all. In any way! But, courageously, she shook off the extra ink from her feather and started on the face, as well as she could: a dot, a dot, a comma… And the ears, don’t forget the ears! And the horns – this was a cow after all…
The suitcase with a human face was happily swinging his broom around and chewing a daisy. And it was smiling. And, oh what a smile – up to its ears!
The queen shrugged her shoulders in embarrassment and showed her artwork to the boy. And her heir’s glum look suddenly brightened: “Mom, mommy! What a wonderful cow! Exactly like the one I wanted… For it to smile – just like that!”
And the young prince started jumping on one leg with excitement, and then he even spun around on a heel – for he was the only one who was allowed to turn his back towards the queen!
The queen was staring at him, thinking, “There he is, my boy. The future king – fair and generous!” Then she looked at her drawing once again and corrected herself, “No, not just generous… When he grows up, he will get rid of the royal taxes, capital punishment, and the army… He will destroy the entire kingdom, for heaven’s sake! No, I need to be stricter with him…” And she kissed the boy on his sweaty freckled little nose.
A boy came to his mom and said, “Draw me a cow. Please!”
But this boy’s mom wasn’t a typical mom. She was a queen! So the boy, consequently, was also – a prince.
“Well, thought the queen, it seems like I can do everything. Fireworks for three days – easy! Forget the fireworks, I can just move my finger – and there you are, a war! Or, let’s say, if I wanted it – there would be a castle built on a completely empty and flat area. Even with plumbing!.. But a cow – I can’t. I don’t have that kind of talent! Maybe it’s better to call the court artist?”
The queen looked at her son, adjusted his shifted lace collar. Then she looked into the strict gray eyes of the future king. And she realized: she will have to draw. By herself!
The queen sighed and got out a pile of pink paper with the royal stamp. Then she dipped the gold feather into the gold ink and scribbled something, most of all reminiscent of a suitcase. Then, stick-like legs and a broom-like tail were added to the suitcase.
Now it was time to draw a face. Can you imagine a cow’s face well? Well, the queen could not imagine it at all. In any way! But, courageously, she shook off the extra ink from her feather and started on the face, as well as she could: a dot, a dot, a comma… And the ears, don’t forget the ears! And the horns – this was a cow after all…
The suitcase with a human face was happily swinging his broom around and chewing a daisy. And it was smiling. And, oh what a smile – up to its ears!
The queen shrugged her shoulders in embarrassment and showed her artwork to the boy. And her heir’s glum look suddenly brightened: “Mom, mommy! What a wonderful cow! Exactly like the one I wanted… For it to smile – just like that!”
And the young prince started jumping on one leg with excitement, and then he even spun around on a heel – for he was the only one who was allowed to turn his back towards the queen!
The queen was staring at him, thinking, “There he is, my boy. The future king – fair and generous!” Then she looked at her drawing once again and corrected herself, “No, not just generous… When he grows up, he will get rid of the royal taxes, capital punishment, and the army… He will destroy the entire kingdom, for heaven’s sake! No, I need to be stricter with him…” And she kissed the boy on his sweaty freckled little nose.
