The Adventures of Yumi. Theatre play for children. Maxim Titovets

away from him.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. Dad. Don’t frighten him. He’s nice.

      Reporter. That’s some nuisance, mister Mayor. We informed the district administration about the pack of stray dogs, which had made this wasteland their home, many times.

      Malyshev. We’ll take care of it, ladies and gentlemen.

      Malyshev. Mister Karabasov, how can you explain it?

      Karabasov. We will put everything right, mister Mayor! Khorkov, deal with it.

      Khorkov. Hey, get out of here!

      Khorkov keeps the puppy off. Yumi runs to the wasteland and observes the people through the fence.

      Malyshev. Dear journalists! The matter of cleaning the city from stray animals is under my personal control.

      Karabasov. Yes, yes! Animal control service will solve this problem in no time.

      Nyuta. Why poor animals should be caught and caged in?

      Malyshev. Stray animals are dangerous for people, darling.

      Reporter. Isn’t it the mayor’s responsibility to protect citizens from this threat?

      Malyshev. I agree with you. And I do everything I can to clean our city.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. And who turned them into the streets? Are these animals to blame for the fact some of the townspeople got bored with them, and so they ended up on the street?

      Reporter. These savage dogs and cats spread all kinds of diseases!

      Nyuta. If every family in our city adopts at least one stray dog or cat, the city won’t have stray animals anymore.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Reporter. That’s an interesting idea. Mister Mayor, give us a lead. Take this stray dog home.

      Yumi. Woof!

      Nyuta. Daddy! Let’s adopt this puppy?

      Malyshev. Unfortunately, it’s impossible, ladies and gentlemen. I’m afraid I’m allergic to animal hair.

      Reporter (to himself). «Tis hard to credit now, though fresh is its renown.

      Nyuta. Dad, please!

      Malyshev. We’ll discuss it at home. Karabasov, round off with it!

      Karabasov. The tour has come to an end, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you, everyone.

      Everyone leaves. Yumi is left alone.

      Yumi. It turns out that not all people are as bad as my mom thinks. I liked this girl. But she has sad eyes.

      Toy runs across the yard and approaches Yumi.

      Toy. Hi.

      Yumi. Woof! It’s you again.

      Toy. Don’t raise a ruckus, tiddler. Here you are, take it. (He gives a big piece of sausage to Yumi).

      Yumi. Oh wow! A sausage link!

      Toy. And you are another. It’s a meat nut.

      Yumi. A meat nut?

      Toy. Yes.

      Yumi. Are there even such nuts?

      Toy. You wet head! These nuts grow in the nearest supermarket.

      Yumi. What is a supermarket?

      Toy. Oh well, that’s a piece of work.

      Yumi. Eh?

      Toy. A supermarket is a place where you can find lots of delicious food.

      Yumi. My, oh my! How happy my mom will be, when I tell her about this place.

      Toy. You shouldn’t do that.

      Yumi. Why not?

      Toy. Ah… I forgot that you are a tiny tot, mother’s boy.

      Yumi. I am not a tiny tot. I am a grown-up!

      Toy. If you are a grown-up, keep on the hush. You need to learn how to procure food by yourself. Here, help yourself.

      Yumi. And what if you stole this sausage link… hm-mm, meat nut?

      Toy. Take my word for it. I didn’t steal it. I took it specially for you.

      Yumi. For me?

      Toy. Yes. For saving me from that malicious dog.

      Yumi. Alright then. I’ll just try a tiny bit.

      Yumi quickly eats all the piece away.

      Yumi. It was delicious. Thank you.

      Toy. Lord was right: hunger fetches the wolf out of the woods. I played even more dewy eyed fools along.

      Yumi. Eh?

      Toy. I said, enjoy your meal.

      Yumi. Ah.

      Toy. My name is Toy.

      Yumi. Nice to meet you. My name is Yumi.

      Toy. Do you want me to teach you how to get food from the supermarket?

      Yumi. Yes, I do. It’s not dangerous, is it?

      Toy. You’ll make a good job if you are not a coward.

      Yumi. I am not a coward.

      Toy. Well, it means we can get along.

      Yumi. What should I do to get food?

      Toy. You will stand close to the backdoor in the supermarket. And watch that nobody comes in while I am inside. In the event of emergency you should warn me.

      Yumi. First, I should watch that nobody comes in. Second, in the event of emergency I should warn you. That’s it!

      Toy. Can you do this?

      Yumi. Yes, I can.

      Toy. It’s a deal. We will give a half of our loot to Lord. And then we’ll go halves with the rest.

      Yumi. Who is Lord?

      Toy. Lord is our boss. A leader, a chief.

      Yumi. Oh wow!

      Toy. So much for your wow! Lord is the most important one on the block. Do you get it?

      Yumi. I do. The most important thing for me now is to get food and provide a meal for my mom.

      Toy. Don’t be a chicken, Yumi. We are pulling off a job.

      Yumi. Right now?

      Toy. Yes. As our boss puts it, time is money. Take the sausage while it’s still fresh.

      Yumi. But my mom doesn’t allow me to leave our yard.

      Toy. Harping