Little gnome and a magic drop of dew. Алексей Сабадырь

of dew

      Алексей Сабадырь

      Illustrator Leonardo ai

      Illustrator Playground ai

      © Алексей Сабадырь, 2024

      © Leonardo ai, illustrations, 2024

      © Playground ai, illustrations, 2024

      ISBN 978-5-0064-2874-4

      Created with Ridero smart publishing system

      Chapter 1: Bertie the Littlest Dwarf

      In the deep forest, where mighty oaks stretched their branches to the sun, and soft pine needles rustled under their feet, dwarves lived. Their houses, like small mushrooms, were hidden under the roots of trees, and the windows were decorated with multi-colored glass that shimmered in the rays of the sun.

      The gnomes loved their cozy forest. They picked mushrooms and berries, made wooden toys and sang songs about forest adventures.

      But among all the gnomes there was one special one – Bertie. He was the smallest gnome in the family, and his height barely reached his older brother’s knees.

      Bertie was often sad. He could not reach the ripest berries on the tall bushes, and during games with his brothers and sisters he always got the role of a small, funny hero.

      One morning, when the sun was just waking up and gilding the treetops, Bertie left the house to pick mushrooms for breakfast.

      The air was clean and fresh, filled with the aroma of pine needles and wet earth. Dew, shining like millions of diamonds, covered the leaves and grass, sparkling under the rays of the sun.

      Bertie admired the beauty of the morning forest, but suddenly his gaze fell on an unusual drop of dew shining on a daisy petal. It was not like the others – larger, more transparent and shimmering with all the colors of the rainbow.

      Bertie carefully approached the daisy and, holding his breath, touched a drop of dew. At the same moment, his finger tingled, as if a current ran through his entire body.

      – Wow! – Bertie gasped, amazed.

      – He had never felt anything like this!

      The drop of dew in his hand began to shimmer with all colors, and then a quiet melody began to sound, as if the wind was playing on glass bells.

      – You… you are magical! – Bertie whispered, mesmerized by the beauty of the droplet.

      He gently placed it in his palm and examined it carefully. The drop was so beautiful that Bertie forgot about his sadness.

      Suddenly, the droplet shone even brighter, and Bertie saw an unusual design in it: it was the image of a small dwarf face that was smiling at him.

      – Hello, Bertie! – a thin voice sounded, like a whisper of the wind.

      Bertie looked around, but did not see any gnome.

      – Is that what you say? – he asked, pointing to a drop of dew.

      – Yes it’s me! – answered the droplet. – I am a magic drop of dew, and I can fulfill any of your wishes.

      – Bertie froze in surprise. -Is that really true?

      He carefully examined the drop of dew, trying to understand whether he was dreaming this wonderful dream.

      – Can you make me big? – he asked, looking at the droplet with hope.

      – Certainly! – she answered. – But the desire must be kind and bright.

      Bertie thought for a moment, and his eyes sparkled with joy.

      – I want all the gnomes in the forest to be happy! – he said and tightly squeezed a drop of dew in his hand.

      At that same second, the forest sparkled with a bright light, and Bertie felt his body filled with incredible power.

      He opened his eyes and saw that he was head and shoulders above all the dwarven houses!

      – Wow! – he exclaimed, rejoicing at his height. – Now I can collect the highest berries and play with my brothers on equal terms!

      But Bertie quickly noticed that his height wasn’t everything. The forest around him was transformed. The trees became brighter, the leaves became greener, and the air was filled with the magical aroma of flowers.

      Bertie realized that the magic drop of dew not only fulfilled his wish, but also made the forest even more beautiful and kinder.

      He smiled and ran to his brothers and sisters to share with them the happiness and magic of the forest.

      Chapter 2: A Droplet with Magic Power

      The sun had already risen high above the forest, flooding everything around with its warm light. The birds sang their sonorous songs, and little gnomes frolicked in the rays, playing hide and seek among the tall trees.

      Bertie, who had been the smallest gnome that morning, now towered proudly above his brothers and sisters. He easily reached the highest branches, collecting ripe berries and laughing when his brothers, trying to reach them, climbed onto huge stumps.

      “This is how I can help everyone now!” – thought Bertie, looking at his big hands with pride.

      But deep down he understood that happiness is not only about being big and strong. He wanted every gnome in the forest to be happy, so that no one would be sad and lonely.

      He remembered the words of the magic drop of dew: “The desire must be kind and bright.”

      Bertie decided to tell his friends about the magic drop so that together they could figure out how to make everyone happy.

      – Listen, dwarves! – Bertie shouted, gathering everyone around him. – I have a secret! – He showed them a drop of dew sparkling in his hand. – This is a magic drop, it can make any wish come true!

      The dwarves froze in surprise. They had never heard of magic dew drops, and their eyes sparkled with impatience.

      – Can you make chocolate oak grow in our forest? – asked Gromozeka, the sweetest one in their family.

      – Can you make all the mushrooms golden? – asked Mashenka, the most cunning gnome.

      – Is it possible to make every day a holiday? – asked Stepan, the most playful dwarf.

      – A droplet can fulfill any wish, – Bertie answered, -but only good and bright ones.

      – How do you know which wish is good? – Mashenka asked.

      – A good wish is something that will bring joy and help everyone, – answered Bertie. – Let’s think together what we can wish for.

      The dwarves thought for a long time, turning over all sorts of ideas in their heads. They dreamed of delicious honey, bright flowers and endless games in the forest.

      But Bertie understood that true happiness is not only the joy of fulfilling one’s own desires. He wanted every dwarf to feel needed and loved.

      – I know! – he exclaimed. – Let’s wish that there will always be enough food in our forest for all dwarf families!

      – And also so that every gnome has many friends and fun games, – Stepan added.

      – And so that no one is sad! – said Mashenka.

      – Yes! –