Chase of Wisdom. Шахзода Жамшедовна Абдуллоева

days of relaxation passed, and the day of the angelic encounter arrived. Some visitors received positive feedback, while others fell short of their celestial mentor's expectations. Manuel and Artemia Sambrano, it turned out, were praised by their angels for their exemplary partnership in all aspects, for they cared deeply for each other and for their cherished daughter. Their angels were exceedingly pleased with them.

      However, the same could not be said for little Charlotte, as her angel expressed only an 80% level of satisfaction. Here's why.

      On the third day of their vacation, Charlotte and Lena, in their usual fashion, decided to play hide-and-seek with their parents. Each time Charlotte concealed herself in a different corner of their apartment, her mother and father easily found her, making the game all the more exhilarating. But now, they were on an island, a vast expanse! How could her parents possibly guess where their daughter had hidden herself? This crucial point, unfortunately, slipped Charlotte's mind. She ventured into the forest, discreetly concealed herself behind a thicket, and patiently awaited her parents' discovery. But twenty minutes passed, and Charlotte remained undiscovered. Artemia Sambrano began to worry. She realized that her daughter was playing hide-and-seek again, but how could she possibly search such a vast location? She called out for Manuel. He had been asleep, and awoke with a start, fearing that Charlotte had decided to hide underwater! After all, she was a child, capable of anything. Moreover, she had been missing for over half an hour! Terror gripped the parents, and they enlisted the aid of others to join the search for Charlotte.

      A thorough search of the forest, the beach, all entertainment centers, every dwelling, and even a plunge into the depths of the water in case she had accidentally drowned, proved fruitless. The three-year-old girl was nowhere to be found. After an agonizing hour and a half, Charlotte reappeared and announced to everyone:

      – Why is everyone so inattentive today? I was hiding behind the bushes, watching you all. I got bored because no one could find me properly. So many people, and none of you could play hide-and-seek correctly, – Charlotte said with a mournful face. Immediately, her parents rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Artemia, overcome with joy and relief that, thank Allah, Charlotte was safe and sound, let out a sob of happiness. Charlotte could not fathom the fear she had instilled in everyone. She was so young that could not grasp the gravity of the situation. But it was on the sixth day of their vacation that Charlotte's angel-mentor explained that he was 20% dissatisfied with her due to the terror she had inflicted on her parents while engrossed in her game of hide-and-seek. The angel, of course, did not scold Charlotte but simply clarified the situation in a language she could comprehend.

      Charlotte realized that day scaring her parents in such a manner was unacceptable. She also understood that it is essential to avoid getting carried away by any pursuit in life. These lessons, imparted by her angel-mentor, were forever etched in her memory. And so, on the seventh day of their trip, the Sambrano family took flight, returning to the city of Loyalty from the island of Etteniram. Though parents had been shaken by the incident, they were overjoyed to have their daughter back by their side, joyful and healthy. The vacation, despite the scare, had been an enriching experience.

      The fall, winter of 2005, and spring of 2006 passed peacefully. Charlotte adhered to all the important rules without any significant transgressions. Therefore, on the 24th of May, 2006, as Charlotte's flash drive unfurled on her fourth birthday, the following lessons were inscribed in the same purple notebook:

      "Dear Charlotte! This past summer, you learned how perilous it can be to become overly engrossed in hide-and-seek. Previously, you hid for a few minutes, making it easy for your parents to find you, and it was a joyful pastime. But this time, you hid for an hour and a half, frightening your parents terribly. And this applies to all aspects of life. For instance, consuming an adequate amount of food is beneficial and necessary for health. But overeating can lead to weight gain, which, conversely, poses health risks. A little fire keeps your home warm during winter. But just a smidgen more than needed, and the house could catch fire! Therefore, your first lesson for the years 2005-2006 revolves around the importance of maintaining a Golden Mean in absolutely everything you do!

      Your second lesson emphasizes the importance of never doing anything that could deeply frighten your parents. Do you want them to live long, healthy, and happy lives? Then cherish them and avoid causing them such distress. Of course, not everything in life is within your control, but your actions do have a significant impact on the quality and longevity of your parents' lives. These are the takeaways for this year, Charlotte. Until your next birthday!"

      And before us, dear readers, lies a world of new experiences. We trust that Charlotte will spend her fourth year in full enjoyment, acquiring yet another lesson, one that we shall soon unveil.

      CHAPTER IV

      Summer's warmth graced the year 2006. Since their daughter's birth, Artemia had devoted herself entirely to motherhood, cherishing every moment with little Charlotte. However, as she observed a hint of monotony creeping into her daughter's days, she decided to enroll Charlotte in a kindergarten, returning to her career. At the time, Manuel served as a distinguished agent for the National Security Service of Lafem, while Artemia shared her expertise as a neurosurgeon at a local clinic. Both were highly regarded in their respective fields, deriving immense satisfaction from their work.

      Charlotte took to kindergarten like a duck to water. She quickly befriended her peers and her thirst for knowledge blossomed. The kindergarten curriculum included rudimentary lessons in reading and writing. Although Artemia had already initiated Charlotte in these skills, her daughter embraced the opportunity to reinforce her knowledge. Charlotte's fondness for kindergarten was such that she attended with unwavering enthusiasm from June 2006 until March of the following year. Everything flowed smoothly until a new teacher, Eloisa Gonzales, joined the staff in March 2007.

      Eloisa possessed a rather severe demeanor, perpetually radiating an air of discontent and maintaining an unyielding grip on the classroom. She expected impeccable behavior from each child, and any infraction, however minor, resulted in the offender being relegated to the corner. If, for instance, during a music lesson, one child's singing voice soared above the rest, while another struggled to find the melody, she would pronounce her characteristically monotonous reprimand in front of the entire class:

      "You there! Do you see how beautifully the boy in the front row is singing? You, my dear child, are a disappointment! Is it truly so difficult to emulate him? Observe and learn!"

      Eloisa employed this comparative tactic across all subjects. Instead of fostering a spirit of camaraderie, her methods sowed seeds of rivalry among the children. It was a sorry sight to behold. Her relentless scrutiny not only instilled fear in the children but paradoxically fueled their desire to act out. It is possible that her intentions were noble, yet her pedagogical approach had a detrimental effect on the young minds entrusted to her care. The children lived in fear of her.

      Even when her comparisons were intended to motivate the children toward excellence, her actions yielded the opposite effect, extinguishing their desire to engage in any activity under her watchful eye. A gentler approach, offering quiet guidance and encouragement, would have been far more effective. Each child is unique, a precious gem with their own individual brilliance. Instead of subjecting them to relentless pressure and comparisons, a nurturing environment would have allowed their unique talents to flourish.

      Distressed by this turn of events, Charlotte confided in her parents about the unpleasant situation at kindergarten. Manuel and Artemia, without hesitation, withdrew their daughter from the kindergarten. Charlotte felt a pang of sadness at having to bid farewell to a place she had grown fond of, all because of Eloisa Gonzales.

      Charlotte spent the month of March at home with her mother, her days filled with games, reading, singing, and dancing with her parents in the evenings. During the day, she accompanied her mother on various outings, and on weekends, Manuel would whisk them away to different cities. There was never a dull moment! Then, on the 3rd of April, 2007, a wondrous event unfolded: the Sambrano family welcomed a second daughter, whom they named Sarah. Baby Sarah became Charlotte's little sister, filling their home with even more joy and laughter. This was a truly blessed time for the Sambrano family. With the arrival of the newest member, Charlotte felt a sense of responsibility