VASILYOK

Tale of the Golden Pine

       
        Our story begins with a seed.
        Yes-yes! With a usual pine seed!
        Have you ever seen such a seed? It is small, with one transparent golden wing. Many of such seeds ripen in a mother-cone. Many cones grow every year on their mother-pine!
        When the seeds are mature, the mother-cone lifts its scales, and then these seeds fly around for new pines to be born and to grow.
        … So, one day, the wind blew — and our little seed flew, catching the airflow with its little wing.
        “How beautiful and great is the world!” — the seed thought. — “How light and spacious! And I — can fly!”
        “No, it is I that can fly,” — said the wind which carried the seed. — “I am carrying you! You have only one wing, so you yourself cannot fly like a bird or a butterfly.”
        "Thank you!” — the seed responded. — “I am very grateful to you! I like to fly!”
        “But this is not your destiny — to fly. You must sprout; you can become a wonderful pine! Choose a place where you would like to become a pine tree! And when you grow up, I will fly to visit you and play in your branches, so that you do not get bored.”
        “Here! I like this high sandy bank of the river! Here, when I grow up, I will see the whole Earth!”
        “Well, maybe not the whole Earth! The Earth — it is much more than you can see! But that place is really good,” — the wind agreed.
        And, with these words, the wind gently lowered its seed into a small pit on the favored site and, creating a light vortex, sprinkled it with soil.
        “Thank you!…” — the seed almost inaudibly whispered goodbye. — “Oh, how tired I am today! Oh, how much I want to sleep!…”
        So, the seed slept and nestled by the soil, until a small root and sprout had appeared.
        And then our pine was born in the light above the ground.
        Have you ever seen newborn pines?
        They are not much more than little blades. They have a thin thread-like green stem. And at the top, there are several tiny soft and tender needles sticking up.
        Our pine had five of them!
        It spread them joyously: “I was born! I am now — a pine!”
        … As time went on, our pine grew. It was lucky: it was not washed away by rain, and it received sufficient sunlight, heat, and moisture.
        It could feel the flow of life inside of itself: “Wow — I am really growing up!”.
        After a few years, the tree could already stand conspicuously on the bank of the river.
        As time went on…
        Birds began to sing on the branches of the pine. The pine gladly listened to their songs.
        The wind often visited it, when flying on this bank of the river.
        In winter, the snow wrapped it up. In summer, a pleasant heat warmed its body and juices — to help it grow faster!
        Yes, it wanted to become stronger and, even more so, it wanted — to caress with its branches the blue sky with white clouds!
        It grew up faster and faster every year, growing new fluffy branches. Soon its trunk became slender and strong, covered with an orange-golden crust.
        By the banks of the river, kids often came to play from a nearby village. They would undress and jump into the water and have fun, splashing and swimming…
        Sometimes the pine also wanted, like them, to have fun, laugh, run on the sand, and flop into the river… But the pine did not know how to run… So it learned to be happy for others, along with them. And when happy children’s voices and laughter filled the air above the river — the pine was happy too, sending them waves of happy love with each of its needles…
        But one day, an event happened that made the pine realize that not all people are the same…
        … Some older guys came to the shore. It was cold, and they decided to make a campfire… But they were too lazy to collect dry branches and fallen tree trunks… So, they decided to cut our pine and make a campfire out of it…
        “It is quite large and resinous, it will burn bright!” — said one of them.
        The pine trembled…
        Suddenly a little boy, who often came here to the beach to swim, shielded the pine with his body: “Do not touch it, it is — living, it will feel pain! If you want, I’ll gather dry branches for you! Look how many dry branches are in this forest! And you can go along the beach and collect pieces of driftwood… I can collect it for you, if you want! Just do not hurt this pine!…”
        The older boys laughed, and pushed him so that he fell: “Don’t bother us, Vasilyok! Get out! Look at him: a tree will feel pain! You talk like a little girl!”
        But the boy named Vasilyok (the pine now knew the name of its little friend) rose from the ground and again shielded the pine: “Do not touch it! It is — alive!”
        So much strength and courage was in his words that the older boys retreated.
        To not show their defeat, they told Vasilyok to bring them firewood. And they continued to mock him…
        Vasilyok, not paying attention to the ridicule, was glad that he was able to save the pine…
        … Time ran by unnoticed. The pine grew and became stronger. Vasilyok also grew. He often came to it on the shore. He would sit with his back touching its warm from sunlight trunk, and dream of something good.
        Or he would just listen to the silence.
        And our pine would melt with happiness at such moments and try not to disturb him.
        It would also listen to the transparent silence.
        And the silence — would surround both the pine, and Vasilyok, and would cover the sandy beach, and was inside the distant forest…
        The water of the river would gurgle softly in the silence, without disturbing it, but decorating it…
        The river would carry its water somewhere far, far away — where there was neither the pine, nor Vasilyok… But when they were immersed in the river’s quietness and swam down with the river’s water, it would seem that the distant lands and unknown worlds were here, nearby…
        And the soft golden Light of Someone infinitely Great and Good — became visible in the silence…
        … As time went on…
        Vasilyok now often came to the beach with a girl with golden braids. The girl, too, had grown and become slim and beautiful. The pine now knew that the name of the girl was Olga.
        Vasilyok and Olga made dates for themselves near our pine. And the pine saw how big and true love gradually flared within them.
        The pine was not jealous. It loved them both and rejoiced together with them over the beautiful miracle of love.
        … Everything was good…
        But once, on a hot and sultry summer day, Olga bathed in the river. But blue-black storm-clouds began to form in the sky on all sides. Lightning was flashing, and rolls of thunder were getting closer.
        The pine worried… It always felt uneasy when flares occurred between the sky and earth, and when thunder shook the area around. But here Olga had decided to go for a swim!…
        The pine had never left its seat above the river. But it had seen more than once, how lightning during heavy storms struck into the water, and one time even saw how lightning struck a lone tree on the other side of the river, and how the tree caught fire…
        The pine worried and tried to wave its branches in the wind. It was trying to warn Olga: “The thunderstorm is coming, lightning will strike!”
        By this time, Vasilyok had already run ashore: “Olga! What are you doing?! The storm is starting! Let’s run home quickly!”
        While Olga was dressing on the shore, the rain began to start. And the lightning strikes and thunder were getting closer and closer… There had never before been such a severe thunderstorm in the hundred years of our pine’s life…
        The pine suddenly felt that the lightning could now strike those whom it loved so much. It straightened up its branches — and they caught the deadly flame! Vasilyok threw himself on the sand, covering Olga. The crown of the pine blazed up…
        “Oh how I would like to be born in human body — to love like these people…” — the pine had time to think, before the flame engulfed it whole…
        It plunged into the Light — the Light of that Infinitely Great and Good One…

* * *

        Later Vasilyok and Olga got married. On the spot where our pine was growing, which had saved them from the lightning, they planted a new pine. The new tree was now already green, and it was stretching up to the sun.
        In the family of Vasilyok and Olga, a daughter was born.
        But that is for another story: the story not about the pine, but about a girl with amber-golden eyes, who was a bit similar to our pine, and a little bit — to Olga, and a little bit — to Vasilyok. And, of course, it is also a story about love.
        After all, it is love that unites souls and leads them to the Perfection!

Tale of Marusya, the Inventor

       
        Once upon a time, there was a girl named Marusya. On the surface, she was ordinary, not too special or conspicuous, and quiet.
        But — she smiled sweetly to all. And her gaze was kind and warm — because it manifested the light of a loving heart.
        She was kind and friendly — not only to the people that lived nearby, but to all beings: to grass and flowers, to birds and mammals, and even to insects.
        Many mocked her because of her kindness, teasing her for saying: “Don’t pick a flower in vain, don’t crush a bug, and don’t step on an ant…”
        … One time, this story happened to her.
        Some other girls and her walked to a meadow. And there was so much beauty there, an expanse, fragrant flowers, and butterflies and bees that were flying!
        And the girls decided to tell fortunes on chamomiles: to find out which of them is loved by different boys? They began to pick flowers and tear off their petals, saying: ”Peter loves me — he loves me not, he loves me — he loves me not. Ivan loves me — he loves me not, he loves me — he loves me not.”
        But Marusya tried to dissuade them:
        “Look: each flower loves everything and everyone around! It gives away its beauty!
        “Instead of ruining them for fun, it would be better to learn to love as they do: like these flowers love!
        “And will one of these boys love you, if you offend the flowers like this?
        “Here, these flowers, they are like little suns, giving us their tenderness! Look at them: they open up their hands-petals to all directions, and all of them are saying to each of us: ‘I love you!’
        “Or — these bluebells! Hear how they sing their song:
               
        “Ding-ding, let us fly in the blue of the sky!
        “Ding-ding, banish the evil in yourself!
        “Be kind: for this — is the essence of life!
        “Ding-ding, let it be a joyful day!
      
        “It is just necessary to be able to listen to the silence — and then, in this silence, the song of the bluebells and of any other flower will be heard!”
        “You’re a restless inventor, Marusya!” — the girls laughed.
        But Marusya was not hurt by these words.

* * *

        As time went on, Marusya grew. But people still sometimes made fun of her purity and kindness:
        “You are already of marriageable age, soon it will be time for you to get married! But you behave like a little girl: caring only about nonsense!”
        Marusya, though she was embarrassed at times, sometimes replied with wisdom. She could say something so that everything around became fun! And sometimes — she replied in such a way that people began to think: “Why do we live?”, “How to discern: what is good — and what is bad?”…

* * *

        In those days, festival-celebrations were often held in those lands. Young people from neighboring villages would gather and have fun: all sorts of competitions were organized, and they would weave wreaths of flowers and place them on their heads… At these festivals, girls and boys often met their future mates.
        Once, at such a festival, the young boys and girls wanted to start uprooting flowers — to make wreaths. But Marusya suddenly suggested:
        “It would be better if we became flowers ourselves! Choose any flower’s name — and be this flower!”
        And then the fun continued with inventing and guessing names.
        … There was a guy who was liked by many girls. In everything, he was the best. He was both brave, clever, skillful, strong, and beautiful. His name was Egor. And he was liked by Marusya too.
        Egor asked Marusya:
        “How would you call me: by what flower name? Which is most like me, what do you think?”
        “I think you look like the edelweiss flower. It grows high up in the mountains, like a silver star. There, above the clouds, on inaccessible cliffs, such ‘stars’ blossom suddenly in the spring. As if they are — guests who wanted to live on the Earth for a little bit and who have each chosen a hill, from which they can easily see the other stars in the sky… It is said that all, who are in love, are like this flower. But maybe I’m wrong… Lovers, too, make mistakes,” — Marusya said this, looking into the eyes of Egor, and then lowered her lashes and blushed…

* * *

        After the festival, many dispersed in pairs.
        Marusya and Egor also went hand in hand.
        Egor asked:
        “What do you want most in life now? What are you dreaming about?”
        … Frankly, Egor was hoping that she would want to kiss… He had already kissed other girls…
        But Marusya said:
        “I want to be a Magus! I can already do miracles a bit. But people do not always notice them.
        “I also want to learn how to help people become kinder.
        “What do you think God waits for in people in general? And what does He want from every human being?”
        “Maybe God wants us to become better: wiser, kinder, and stronger… What do you think?” — Egor was slightly taken aback, not expecting such a turn of the conversation.
        “I think that God, as the Creator, that is, our common Supreme Parent, wants His children to become like Him, well, at least a little, a little bit…
        “And God — what is He? He is large, even huge, wise, kind, and all-powerful. And — just…
        “Oh, look: the swans! The swans are flying! Two of them: a male and a female…
        “Would you like to fly with your girlfriend like them above the land?”
        “Don’t be silly! You are a fairly-eccentric and restless inventor!”
        “And people shoot at them… Would you shoot swans on the hunt?”
        “No, I would not! I have pleasure in watching swans in the sky, and hearing their songs…”
        “That’s good…” — Marusya said. — “I would also like to love like them: to be together for the whole life…”
        “And what would you do at the wedding feast: would you eat a roast swan?” — Egor made a joke.
        “I will not, no way!” — Marusya seriously answered.
        “And chicken?”
        “And I will not eat a chicken either! I never eat any birds or mammals, nor caught fish!”
        “So, they tell the truth about you… And I thought, they were making everything up… And what should we eat then?”
        “Mushrooms and berries, garden vegetables, cereals, bread, and all kinds of greens — is this not food?”
        “But you pity each sprout and flower!”
        “It’s a pity — if we pick them in vain.
        “But when the ears are ripe — then they do give their seeds to the soil for new shoots, and they give seeds also to people who have nurtured those ears.”
        “You talk so strangely! How can you live — like that? Not shooting birds, not stepping on an ant, and not picking flowers in vain…”
        “That’s how I live,” — Marusya lowered her lashes…
        “Who will marry you, a weirdo?”
        “You…”
        “That’s your fantasy! To marry me — every girl would be glad! And I can choose anyone!”
        “But I am not just anyone. I have already chosen you…”

* * *

        Then the boys and girls again began to call upon each other to hold a new festival, and have fun…
        This time they invented to choose a guy who is the strongest, and the girl who is the most beautiful.
        At first, the boys began to fight: the losers — were eliminated, and the winners were to compete with each other more.
        In the beginning, it was nothing more than a joke contest. But then — the fight grew angrier.
        Egor — had surpassed all the others! He was recognized as the most powerful!
        … Then they began to choose the most beautiful girl.
        Egor, flushed by the struggle and proud of the victory, tried to fix his eyes on Marusya. But he saw that she had stepped aside, and did not wish to dance for the title of most beautiful…
        … He turned and looked around at the fun, where he was being called to join the other guys, but, instead, he waved his hand to them — and went to catch up to Marusya…
        “Why are you running away? Are you afraid that you will not be elected the most beautiful?”
        “No, I already know that I will not be elected. But many others will not be elected too. Only one will be elected.
        “But every girl has her own special beauty, for which the guy could fall in love with her…
        “I would rather have a different competition: who is more kind?”
        “In this, you would most definitely win!”
        “But no, I’m wrong: such a contest would not work. Here, there cannot be a winner: no one will be able to choose among the acts of kindness: which is — the best.
        “There are a lot of different situations in which kindness is needed!
        “Sometimes, just a smile or a kind word can save man from a big sorrow, for example, by bringing back hope…
        “But sometimes, even a great military feat can have qualities that are not good.
        “Here you are: during your competition, you were the best and most powerful of the guys. But one of them has a swollen eye now. And Roman limps: his leg is very injured. And Fedor — he harbors malice that he had not won…
        “Is it good to have such a game?”
        “If people obeyed you, they would all be like cowardly sheep…”
        “Do not say that… For good can be both courageous and strong.
        “But the courageous and strong, however, are not often kind…”

* * *

        Meanwhile, among the most beautiful girls, Anfisa was elected and named the beauty queen.
        And Anfisa ordered:
        “Now, the one who is the most daring — will be chosen! Let’s all go to the river bank, to the precipice! Whoever will jump into the river from it — I will kiss!”
        … The river, which flowed in these places, had a harsh current, and was wide. And where Anfisa suggested to jump — there was a dangerous bend and whirlpool… And the precipice in that place was high, continually being washed away by the river, and the edge of it could collapse under one’s feet at any moment…
        And the other girls echoed after Anfisa, saying: “And we will also kiss those who are daring, those who will not be afraid to jump!”
        But Marusya could not stand it:
        “What is clever here? Where is the bravery in this? Do not come close to the edge! There is a channel with a whirlpool here, and the stream is rapid! The water is cold! What silly dispute have you started?!”
        But she was answered by both boys and girls:
        “Go away, coward! It was not you, but the queen of beauty who appointed this contest! This challenge is for brave men!”
        … Marusya departed from the people who were arguing with her, and began looking for Egor, hoping that he would support her, because no one would call him a coward…
        But Egor said nothing…
        … With the older children, one small boy had tagged along. He came up to the very edge of the cliff — to see from the ledge: where would it be least scary to jump from?
        But the edge of the cliff collapsed — and the boy fell into the river from a great height.
        At the same moment, Marusya jumped after him. Egor also jumped as well…
        … Marusya and Egor pulled the frightened boy to the shore, and took him home.

* * *

        After that case, Egor noticed a new sensation, which he had never noticed in himself before: he understood how important Marusya now was to him! Now he was worried about her, he wanted to be her friend and protector… He understood that there was no one who was more dear to him than this kind and brave girl.

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