home > Indian Solitaire > Daria Dontsova read the magic elixir. Daria Dontsova: Magic elixir. Daria Arkadyevna Dontsova Magic elixir

Daria Dontsova read the magic elixir. Daria Dontsova: Magic elixir. Daria Arkadyevna Dontsova Magic elixir

* * *

Dedicated to my granddaughters Nastya and Arina Dontsov

Chapter 1
Meeting children

The more love you give to others, the more love grows in your soul.

“Oh, how pretty,” said a pretty girl of about eleven in pink jeans and a bright blue T-shirt, “Mishanya, look, a monkey.”

“You yourself, Ksyusha, are a macaque,” laughed the boy, who looked a year older, “this is a dog.”

- Is it true? – Ksenia was surprised. – I’ve never seen anything like this. What breed?

“Mongrel,” Misha answered confidently, “mongrel!”

“But she’s smart,” Ksyusha drawled, “she doesn’t sit on the ground, she climbed onto a bench, she’s so cute!”

She went to school. To be honest, Marshmallow wasn’t particularly successful in science. Her older pug sister Fenya was the pride of teachers, she deserved gold medal. And Zephyrka switched from three to four. And to be completely honest, she only got good grades because her teacher, Laura the dachshund, loved new clothes: dresses, hats, beautiful scarves. And Zephyrka, almost from the cradle, has been beautifully sewing, knitting, creating boaters with bouquets on the brim, she is a jack of all trades, she will make a luxurious blouse with frills from a torn handkerchief. What a blouse, it’s easy to cut. Zephyrka knows how to sew shoes; she was recognized as the best dressmaker in the Beautiful Valley. And Laura is an incredible fashionista. Do I need to explain further why the dachshund gave the student a B for eight mistakes in three dictation sentences?..

– If I pet her, won’t she bite me? – asked Ksyusha.

“It’s better not to touch the yard dogs,” Misha stopped his sister, “maybe they’re contagious.”

Marshmallow sniffed offendedly.

Okay, let’s say the boy has never seen a pug (although this is very strange), so he doesn’t know what breed the dog sitting on the bench is. But doesn’t Misha really see that in front of him is a clean, shampoo-smelling puppy with a beautiful leather collar? Some children are not at all observant.

“She probably wants to eat,” Ksyusha fussed, opened her backpack, pulled out a bag from it, took out a chocolate gingerbread from there and put it in front of Marshmallow: “Eat it, doggy, it’s completely fresh, the sponsors gave them out at school today.”

Misha burst out laughing.

- Ksyu! Sausages, sausages, cutlets - that's what dogs adore. It’s funny that you told her about the gingerbread. Dogs do not understand human speech.

Marshmallow raised her right front paw, carefully stuck her claws into the soft, dizzying aroma of the treat, picked it up and began to bite off small pieces. Misha, you were wrong again. A huge number of dogs will happily treat themselves to a sweet bun, a muffin, or a piece of cake. And Marshmallow loves any pastries, all candies and desserts. But, alas, from eating curls with poppy seeds, cakes, caramels, marmalade, she quickly gets fat, and Doctor Chipmunk Pasha constantly tells her to go on a diet. But now Marshmallow has left the Beautiful Valley, moved to the human world, became a puppy again, and returned as a Guardian to the Kuznetsov family. The strict doctor temporarily lost sight of his patient with a sweet tooth; he was deprived of the opportunity to measure her with a centimeter and angrily say: “Marshmallow! Waist size should not be greater than height.” The keeper needs to eat right, because he has a very nervous job.

Who are the Guardians? When the first people appeared on Earth, they were weak and helpless, they did not know how to make fire or build houses, and they died from hunger, cold, and disease. And then, in order to save humanity, guardian animals were assigned to each family. Cows and goats gave milk, chickens laid eggs, horses plowed the land and pulled carts, dogs warned of danger, cats caught rodents and thereby saved the crop from destruction. In order for a person to live well, animals worked hard, got tired and eventually died. And people became attached to four-legged family members and took their death seriously. But no one knew and still does not know that in fact, the beloved pets did not die. They returned to the Beautiful Valley to their home and lived happily. And another Guardian soon comes to a person who has lost an assistant and a friend, and the owner is surprised: wow, how similar the new puppy is to the dog he once had many years ago, even before that dog who recently died.

The Guardians know the language of people very well, but the Council of Elders of the Beautiful Valley strictly prohibits its citizens from telling people the truth. Therefore, not a single dog whispers in the owner’s ear: “Don’t cry. We always work in pairs. I will leave you now, but after a while you will have another adorable puppy. Do you know who he is? Do you remember Martin, who died six months before I came to you? The puppy is Martin, he just has a different body, his old one has worn out, the shell had to be changed, but Martin’s soul remains the same. He and I serve your family together, he leaves - I come, I leave - he comes, and so on for centuries. Do not Cry. I love you and I will come back." Such words could comfort a person, but they cannot be uttered. Why? Marshmallow doesn’t know the answer to this question.

Centuries passed, humanity grew wiser, it coped with terrible diseases- plague, smallpox, cholera, made millions of scientific discoveries, easily flies in a matter of hours from one country to another, even conquered space. But surprisingly, none of the people, even the smartest ones, have yet realized that the same pets always return to them. For example, Marshmallow. She has family in Lovely Valley. The main ones in it are mother Mulya and aunt Ada; besides them, there are older sisters Kapitolina and Fenya and younger sisters Marcia, Cookie and Zephyrka. They are all beige pugs. Only Marshmallow has completely black fur. Mafi recently joined the pug family and it just so happens that she is only half pug. Fenya spoke with inspiration about how Mafusya ended up in the Beautiful Valley and how she, along with her relatives and friends, had to save the Magic Land from destruction. After all the trials were over, Fenechka, the smartest and most educated in the family, wrote a book.

The Zephyrka family has been protecting the Kuznetsovs and their relatives since time immemorial. Marisia and Capitolina always lived with them in turns. When Vitya, the Kuznetsovs’ son, turned seven years old, his aunt Maria Alekseevna gave him her black pug. This is how Zephyrka, who used to keep her aunt, came to the boy, and after a while Cookie settled with Maria Alekseevna. For many years Zephyrka helped Vita, oh, and the playful boy drank her blood! It was impossible to take your eyes off him. It was easier for Marcia, who replaced her sister thirteen years later, the guy was already studying to become a doctor, he stopped fooling around, although in his student years he played a lot of tricks and Marcia got it from him too. Then Vitya became quite an adult, and it was time for Marcia to return to the Beautiful Valley. Three months ago, Zephyrka took over the baton from her sister. Now Zephyr is a puppy, but her mind is an adult. Vitya has no idea that his beloved childhood dog has returned to him. He immediately fell in love with the puppy and often says:

– How similar you are to the late Marshmallow, the best pug in the world. Both in appearance and in character, you even sleep like her, under my blanket. And you also love marshmallows. That's why I decided to name you as my first favorite. But now I won’t often treat the pug with sweets. Your predecessor Marshmallow the First constantly got candy from me, but I was a child then and didn’t understand that I was harming the dog’s health. And now he has become a doctor and wiser.

Marshmallow licked her lips and looked at her empty paw. Well, while she was reminiscing, the gingerbread ran out. It was very tasty, but not enough. It’s good, of course, that Vitya became reasonable, turned into an adult, an excellent doctor. But Marshmallow would not be at all upset if she learned that the owner still had one of his childhood stupidities in his head, namely giving the pug candy from the buffet. Zephyrka really liked this Vityushin’s disgrace...

- Mishanya, did you see how she ate? – Ksyusha gasped. “It was as if she was working with a fork with her paw.”

Marshmallow yawned. So what? She uses both a knife and a spoon perfectly, she knows what to hold in which paw, but in the human world it is impossible to demonstrate the good upbringing given by Mulya’s mother. Now Marshmallow will have to eat not at a table covered with a tablecloth, but will have to eat food from a bowl that is on the floor. And in a good way, she now had to eat the gingerbread directly from the bench, without picking it up with her paw, but the autopilot worked. Oh, you need to be more careful.

“She’s homeless,” Misha muttered.

“Are you thinking about the same thing I’m thinking now?” – asked Ksyusha.

“Of course,” the boy nodded and took Marshmallow in his arms, “come with us.”

This is where the dog got really scared. No no no. Leave me on the bench. The pug puppy is waiting for Vitya, who is running around the park before work. Misha! Can you hear?

Marshmallow began to yelp, and the teenager stroked her head.

– Don’t be afraid, you’ll really like it here. Well, don't break out.

But the captive desperately continued to try to free herself from the boy’s embrace. Alas, she failed. In the end, the pug had to come to terms. Misha and Ksyusha went down to the subway, Zephyrka lay down on the boy’s lap and snored diligently.

“She fell asleep,” Ksenia rejoiced, “poor dog.” I can imagine how the unfortunate woman suffered on the street.

Chapter 2
In someone else's house

It didn't take long to drive, the children got out of the subway, went deeper into a block of residential buildings and reached a very old building that had not been renovated for a long time, and entered the entrance. Misha opened the door of the apartment on the first floor with the key. Marshmallow sneezed once, twice, three times. Why does it smell so strong of medicine in here?

- Mommy, we have a guest! – Ksyusha shouted, entering the tiny room, which served as both a living room and a bedroom.

Marshmallow sat down on the floor and looked around. In the middle of the room was a round table with four simple chairs. There was a closet nestled against one wall, and shelves with books hung nearby. The other had a narrow bed, next to it were the cheapest wooden crutches.

- Puppy! – the thin, bluish-pale woman lying on the bed was touched. - How cute! Where did you get it?

“They found it on the street,” Misha answered.

“In the park,” Marshmallow said indignantly, “I was sitting on a bench.”

But, of course, none of the people understood the dog’s words.

“Oh, she barks so funny,” Ksyusha clapped her hands, “like a toy.” We saved the poor thing, she was dying.

- Nonsense! – Marshmallow was indignant. - Take me back immediately. Vitya will come running, see an empty bench and go crazy.

“We did a good job,” Ksyusha rejoiced.

“You shouldn’t do good deeds without consulting with the person you’re doing it to,” moaned Marshmallow, “what seems good to you will turn out to be evil to someone else.” What will Vitya do without me? Who will keep it?

“Guys, the baby has a collar,” said the thin woman.

- Where? – Ksyusha was surprised.

Marshmallow rolled her eyes. Here good question! Usually these questions are asked in Beautiful Valley by her younger sisters Mafi and Cookie.

“On the neck,” the mother clarified, “put the puppy on my bed.”

Marshmallow was happy. Finally! Now the misunderstanding will be cleared up. Vitya should have written to back side collar your phone.

The woman's slender fingers unfastened the collar.

“Marshmallow,” she read aloud.

“Yes, yes, yes,” the dog cheered, “it’s me.” At first, Vitya came up with the brilliant idea to name me Chernushka. I was completely speechless when I realized that I would have to respond to a stupid nickname for many years. But then I got lucky! At night, when Vitya went to bed, I secretly opened the cupboard and took marshmallows. I love it! In the Beautiful Valley in our village there is a wonderful pastry chef! But we don’t know how to make marshmallows like in the human world. Mmm! I'm ready to do anything for your marshmallow. I probably lost my vigilance out of delight and rustled the packaging loudly, because Vitya woke up, went to the kitchen, saw me cracking the delicious delicacy, laughed and said: “Chernushka! I'm renaming you. You will be Marshmallow, like my first pug, she also rummaged in the buffet at night.” I was incredibly happy. The owner gave me my native name. For the first time, Fotina, Vitina’s great-great-great-great-grandmother, called me Zephyrka. It was...

Marshmallow thought about it.

– Around one thousand eight hundred and fourteen, when Victor’s great-great-great-great-grandfather, the handsome hussar Nikolai, returned from Paris, having defeated Napoleon, and married Fotina. I was among the groom's wedding gifts. I was named after the wind - Zephyr, Pushkin wrote about him: “The night marshmallow flows through the ether,” and then, later, people came up with a wonderful delicacy - marshmallow. And everyone began to think that they gave me my name because of this sweetness.

– Why does she yap all the time? – Misha was surprised.

“He’s probably scolding the stupid owner who wrote the puppy’s name on the collar but didn’t indicate his phone number or address.” At least I could scribble my last name, first name and patronymic,” the woman sighed.

- How? - Marshmallow shouted. - What kind of carelessness! His name is Viktor Kuznetsov! He has a mother, an aunt, our whole family, where the main pug Mulya has been keeping the Kuznetsovs since time immemorial. Vitya has his own apartment, without me it will be a complete mess.

“Oh, she’s angry,” Ksyusha laughed. - Mom, look! Her eyes bulged out so funny, she knocks on the blanket with her paws.

“The baby wants to go for a walk,” the hostess decided.

Misha grabbed Marshmallow in his arms and hurried to the door.

- Mom, we’ll keep her with us, won’t we? – the sister asked behind her brother’s back.

“Ksyushenka, I would love to,” my mother answered, “but you understand, you need to take care of the dog, and for me going outside is a huge problem.”

“Mommy, don’t worry, I’ll do everything myself,” Ksyusha whined.

Marshmallow did not hear the continuation of the conversation, because Misha carried her into the yard, lowered her onto the stunted grass and whispered:

- Marshmallow, pee-pee.

The pug sighed heavily, went to the fence and suddenly heard a joyful cry:

- Marshmallow! It's you? I can't believe my eyes!

The pug slowed down, turned around and saw a French bulldog, with a second similar dog running after him.

- Expensive! – the first one yelled joyfully. - Now I’ll kiss you.

Marshmallow didn’t have time to dodge, the “Frenchman” flew at her and in a second licked her from head to toe.

“And I, and I, and I want to hug you,” the second one said frequently.

Marshmallow carefully wiped her muzzle with her paw. If a dog slobbered on you when you met, the next time you see it, it’s better to wave your paw at it from afar.

“Long time no see,” howled the second “Frenchman” and rushed towards Marshmallow.

The pug quickly ran to the side, the brother of the first bulldog rushed past her at high speed and flew headfirst into the fence.

“Aunt Vera, they are here,” Misha said.

A young woman approached him.

- Oh, you bought a puppy! – the girl was delighted. - She will be a friend to the zucchini.

Marshmallow looked closely at those who were so happy to see her and gasped:

- Mosey, Rocky! I hardly recognized you! You are so fat!

“It’s us,” the bulldogs screamed, “we returned to the Filippovs, replaced Andrew and Garth.” The girl Vera grew up, got married, and now we take care of her and Yura. Wait, why did you end up with the Povarovs? They have a cat Vasilisa!

Marshmallow sighed bitterly and told her friends what happened.

- Tough! - Mozi yelled.

- Mom forbids saying such words! - Rocky yelled.

“Parents in the Beautiful Valley, they don’t hear us,” the brother retorted loudly. – And what expression can be used to describe the sparkler that happened to Zephyrundel?

“Mom always knows when children are misbehaving,” Rocky did not give up. - I must say: “The nonsense that Zefirchunya got herself into.”

- A-ah-ah! You're reprimanding me, but you're doing it yourself! – Mozi jumped up and down. “I forgot that my grandmother told me to never use the verb “get into trouble.” Once we get home, I’ll tell her everything about you. And mom definitely won’t like the “nonsense.”

Mozi puffed out his cheeks and bit Rocky on the ear, who butted his brother.

“Well, stop,” Marshmallow ordered, “then you’ll beat each other.” Mozi, why did you say sparkler? What does he have to do with what is happening?

“He confuses complex words,” Rocky chuckled, “he doesn’t understand their meaning.” Mozy, what is a sparkler?

“It’s a huge nuisance,” the brother explained, “it’s truly terrible.”

– Did you hear? – Rocky was delighted. - Mozi is a fool! A sparkler is like a birthday cake, they stick something like this into it, it's in different sides spits sparks.

“But you couldn’t learn the multiplication table,” Mozi snapped.

- Ah well! – Rocky was indignant. – Now you’ll get bream!

- Shall we go fishing? – Mozi was surprised. - Don't want! I don't like water.

“Stop,” Marshmallow commanded. - Have you been here for a long time?

“It’s already been four years,” the brothers said in unison.

“So you know well where the button to call the postal toad is,” the pug was delighted. “I urgently need to report the incident to Mule.”

– Did you come from Australia? – Mozy blinked.

- Why do you say that? – Marshmallow didn’t understand.

“She said: “We need to report an incident,” Rocky jumped in. “Everyone knows, they live in New Zealand.” Where is the incident? Can I have a look at him?

– Is it true that children live in pouches on their stomachs? – Mozi was curious.

Marshmallow laughed.

-Are you talking about a kangaroo? Rocky, New Zealand and Australia are different countries. No, I’m not from there, and the kangaroo didn’t come with me. I shouldn’t have said the word “incident.” Where is the button to contact the toad?

Rocky pointed to the left with his paw:

- On that pillar over there.

Mozi made a grimace:

- Yes, he mixed up again, go left.

“Your brother sent me exactly there,” Marshmallow chuckled.

“No, he told us to spank to the right,” Mozi objected.

- You are a fool! – Rocky squealed. - Finally learn where left is right. They told us about it in geography class at school, and you were sleeping at the time.

- No. I remember perfectly everything the teacher said. Moss grows on a tree when it rains,” said Mozi, “according to my geographer it was always five.”

Marshmallow shook her head and went to the post, found a small door at its base, opened it and shouted into the barred hole:

- Gustav, answer me!

The answer came:

– The subscriber is switched off or is out of network coverage.

“Gustav, stop it,” the pug got angry, “I’m in trouble!”

A heavy sigh came from the hole, then the bass voice of the toad cut through:

- What else? I have the right to calmly drink cocoa and marmalade.

“Cocoa with marmalade,” Marshmallow repeated and licked her lips.

“Stop doing nonsense,” Gustav became furious, “tell me your grief.”

Marshmallow quickly explained what happened.

- Is it possible to sit loudly? – Marshmallow asked.

Gustav began to chew, gurgling was heard, it seems that the toad did not lose his appetite after hearing about the pug’s trouble.

- Easily. Many people, sitting in their chairs, shout but do nothing. Wait for news from me. After five hours, come to the button.

– Can’t it be faster? – Marshmallow asked.

“Fast doesn’t mean good,” muttered the toad. – The worst thing you can do at a time of serious testing is to rush. This is even worse than crying, complaining about life and demanding help from everyone. Zephyrundel, we will, of course, try to help you. Now repeat out loud the two rules for a dog who is in a difficult situation. I hope you remember them.

“No one will take care of you better than you,” Zephyrka sighed.

- Great! - exclaimed the toad. - Now the second one.

“No one can dine for you, you have to do some things yourself,” the pug muttered, “I understand.”

“Well done,” Gustav praised her, “just do everything you can.” And remember, through crying, any trouble seems bigger. Tears, like magnifying glasses, magnify every misfortune. I am waiting for a call. Do not be late. See you later.

The slurping sound was heard again.

Marshmallow slammed the door.

“Gustav is eating marmalade,” Mozi drawled dreamily, “probably from an apple tree.” People don’t have such yummy food; they don’t grow apple trees.

“But there are marshmallows and other delicacies here,” the pug licked her lips and realized: “Nobody told you that you can’t eavesdrop on other people’s conversations?”

“Mom said it every day, but our memory is full of holes,” Mozi answered honestly.

“And then she added: “Whatever smart thing you put in your ears, comes out through your nose,” said Rocky. – Zephyrundel, I doubt that Lena, Misha and Ksyusha’s mother, will treat you to something delicious.

- She has no money at all. Only a pension, very small,” Rocky explained.

“Lena is young,” Zephyrka was surprised, “and people only pay pensions to the very old.”

“Or sick,” Mozi clarified. – Lena was hit by a car and now she can barely walk on crutches.

“It’s bad,” Marshmallow said sadly. - Who is helping her?

“Nobody,” said Rocky, “only Ksyusha and Misha, but they don’t do it very well.” Now we will tell you everything.

Marshmallow pricked up her ears and heard a sad story.

Current page: 1 (book has 7 pages in total) [available reading passage: 2 pages]

Daria Arkadyevna Dontsova
Magic elixir

* * *

Dedicated to my granddaughters Nastya and Arina Dontsov

Chapter 1
Meeting children

The more love you give to others, the more love grows in your soul.

“Oh, how pretty,” said a pretty girl of about eleven in pink jeans and a bright blue T-shirt, “Mishanya, look, a monkey.”

“You yourself, Ksyusha, are a macaque,” laughed the boy, who looked a year older, “this is a dog.”

- Is it true? – Ksenia was surprised. – I’ve never seen anything like this. What breed?

“Mongrel,” Misha answered confidently, “mongrel!”

“But she’s smart,” Ksyusha drawled, “she doesn’t sit on the ground, she climbed onto a bench, she’s so cute!”

She went to school. To be honest, Marshmallow wasn’t particularly successful in science. Her older pug sister Fenya was the pride of the teachers and deserved a gold medal. And Zephyrka switched from three to four. And to be completely honest, she only got good grades because her teacher, Laura the dachshund, loved new clothes: dresses, hats, beautiful scarves. And Zephyrka, almost from the cradle, has been beautifully sewing, knitting, creating boaters with bouquets on the brim, she is a jack of all trades, she will make a luxurious blouse with frills from a torn handkerchief. What a blouse, it’s easy to cut. Zephyrka knows how to sew shoes; she was recognized as the best dressmaker in the Beautiful Valley. And Laura is an incredible fashionista. Do I need to explain further why the dachshund gave the student a B for eight mistakes in three dictation sentences?..

– If I pet her, won’t she bite me? – asked Ksyusha.

“It’s better not to touch the yard dogs,” Misha stopped his sister, “maybe they’re contagious.”

Marshmallow sniffed offendedly. Okay, let’s say the boy has never seen a pug (although this is very strange), so he doesn’t know what breed the dog sitting on the bench is. But doesn’t Misha really see that in front of him is a clean, shampoo-smelling puppy with a beautiful leather collar? Some children are not at all observant.

Misha burst out laughing.

- Ksyu! Sausages, sausages, cutlets - that's what dogs adore. It’s funny that you told her about the gingerbread. Dogs do not understand human speech.

Centuries passed, humanity became smarter, it coped with terrible diseases - plague, smallpox, cholera, made millions of scientific discoveries, easily flies in a matter of hours from one country to another, even conquered space. But surprisingly, none of the people, even the smartest ones, have yet realized that the same pets always return to them. For example, Marshmallow. She has family in Lovely Valley. The main ones in it are mother Mulya and aunt Ada; besides them, there are older sisters Kapitolina and Fenya and younger sisters Marcia, Cookie and Zephyrka. They are all beige pugs. Only Marshmallow has completely black fur. Mafi recently joined the pug family and it just so happens that she is only half pug. Fenya spoke with inspiration about how Mafusya ended up in the Beautiful Valley and how she, along with her relatives and friends, had to save the Magic Land from destruction. After all the trials were over, Fenechka, the smartest and most educated in the family, wrote a book.

- Mishanya, did you see how she ate? – Ksyusha gasped. “It was as if she was working with a fork with her paw.”

“She’s homeless,” Misha muttered.

“Are you thinking about the same thing I’m thinking now?” – asked Ksyusha.

“Of course,” the boy nodded and took Marshmallow in his arms, “come with us.”

This is where the dog got really scared. No no no. Leave me on the bench. The pug puppy is waiting for Vitya, who is running around the park before work. Misha! Can you hear?

Marshmallow began to yelp, and the teenager stroked her head.

– Don’t be afraid, you’ll really like it here. Well, don't break out.

“She fell asleep,” Ksenia rejoiced, “poor dog.” I can imagine how the unfortunate woman suffered on the street.

Chapter 2
In someone else's house

- Mommy, we have a guest! – Ksyusha shouted, entering the tiny room, which served as both a living room and a bedroom.

- Puppy! – the thin, bluish-pale woman lying on the bed was touched. - How cute! Where did you get it?

“They found it on the street,” Misha answered.

“In the park,” Marshmallow said indignantly, “I was sitting on a bench.”

But, of course, none of the people understood the dog’s words.

“Oh, she barks so funny,” Ksyusha clapped her hands, “like a toy.” We saved the poor thing, she was dying.

- Nonsense! – Marshmallow was indignant. - Take me back immediately. Vitya will come running, see an empty bench and go crazy.

“We did a good job,” Ksyusha rejoiced.

“Guys, the baby has a collar,” said the thin woman.

- Where? – Ksyusha was surprised.

Marshmallow rolled her eyes. That's a good question! Usually these questions are asked in Beautiful Valley by her younger sisters Mafi and Cookie.

“On the neck,” the mother clarified, “put the puppy on my bed.”

Marshmallow was happy. Finally! Now the misunderstanding will be cleared up. Vitya had to write his phone number on the back of the collar.

The woman's slender fingers unfastened the collar.

“Marshmallow,” she read aloud.

Marshmallow thought about it.

– Why does she yap all the time? – Misha was surprised.

“Oh, she’s angry,” Ksyusha laughed. - Mom, look! Her eyes bulged out so funny, she knocks on the blanket with her paws.

“The baby wants to go for a walk,” the hostess decided.

Misha grabbed Marshmallow in his arms and hurried to the door.

- Mom, we’ll keep her with us, won’t we? – the sister asked behind her brother’s back.

“Ksyushenka, I would love to,” my mother answered, “but you understand, you need to take care of the dog, and for me going outside is a huge problem.”

“Mommy, don’t worry, I’ll do everything myself,” Ksyusha whined.

Marshmallow did not hear the continuation of the conversation, because Misha carried her into the yard, lowered her onto the stunted grass and whispered:

- Marshmallow, pee-pee.

The pug sighed heavily, went to the fence and suddenly heard a joyful cry:

- Marshmallow! It's you? I can't believe my eyes!

The pug slowed down, turned around and saw a French bulldog, with a second similar dog running after him.

- Expensive! – the first one yelled joyfully. - Now I’ll kiss you.

Marshmallow didn’t have time to dodge, the “Frenchman” flew at her and in a second licked her from head to toe.

“And I, and I, and I want to hug you,” the second one said frequently.

Marshmallow carefully wiped her muzzle with her paw. If a dog slobbered on you when you met, the next time you see it, it’s better to wave your paw at it from afar.

“Long time no see,” howled the second “Frenchman” and rushed towards Marshmallow.

The pug quickly ran to the side, the brother of the first bulldog rushed past her at high speed and flew headfirst into the fence.

“Aunt Vera, they are here,” Misha said.

A young woman approached him.

- Oh, you bought a puppy! – the girl was delighted. - She will be a friend to the zucchini.

Marshmallow looked closely at those who were so happy to see her and gasped:

- Mosey, Rocky! I hardly recognized you! You are so fat!

Marshmallow sighed bitterly and told her friends what happened.

- Tough! - Mozi yelled.

- Mom forbids saying such words! - Rocky yelled.

“Parents in the Beautiful Valley, they don’t hear us,” the brother retorted loudly. – And what expression can be used to describe the sparkler that happened to Zephyrundel?

“Mom always knows when children are misbehaving,” Rocky did not give up. - I must say: “The nonsense that Zefirchunya got herself into.”

Mozi puffed out his cheeks and bit Rocky on the ear, who butted his brother.

“Well, stop,” Marshmallow ordered, “then you’ll beat each other.” Mozi, why did you say sparkler? What does he have to do with what is happening?

“He confuses complex words,” Rocky chuckled, “he doesn’t understand their meaning.” Mozy, what is a sparkler?

“It’s a huge nuisance,” the brother explained, “it’s truly terrible.”

– Did you hear? – Rocky was delighted. - Mozi is a fool! A sparkler is like a birthday cake, they stick something like this into it and it spits sparks in different directions.

“But you couldn’t learn the multiplication table,” Mozi snapped.

- Ah well! – Rocky was indignant. – Now you’ll get bream!

- Shall we go fishing? – Mozi was surprised. - Don't want! I don't like water.

“Stop,” Marshmallow commanded. - Have you been here for a long time?

“It’s already been four years,” the brothers said in unison.

“So you know well where the button to call the postal toad is,” the pug was delighted. “I urgently need to report the incident to Mule.”

– Did you come from Australia? – Mozy blinked.

- Why do you say that? – Marshmallow didn’t understand.

“She said: “We need to report an incident,” Rocky jumped in. “Everyone knows, they live in New Zealand.” Where is the incident? Can I have a look at him?

– Is it true that children live in pouches on their stomachs? – Mozi was curious.

Marshmallow laughed.

Rocky pointed to the left with his paw:

- On that pillar over there.

Mozi made a grimace:

- Yes, he mixed up again, go left.

“Your brother sent me exactly there,” Marshmallow chuckled.

“No, he told us to spank to the right,” Mozi objected.

- You are a fool! – Rocky squealed. - Finally learn where left is right. They told us about it in geography class at school, and you were sleeping at the time.

- No. I remember perfectly everything the teacher said. Moss grows on a tree when it rains,” said Mozi, “according to my geographer it was always five.”

Marshmallow shook her head and went to the post, found a small door at its base, opened it and shouted into the barred hole:

- Gustav, answer me!

The answer came:

– The subscriber is switched off or is out of network coverage.

“Gustav, stop it,” the pug got angry, “I’m in trouble!”

A heavy sigh came from the hole, then the bass voice of the toad cut through:

- What else? I have the right to calmly drink cocoa and marmalade.

“Cocoa with marmalade,” Marshmallow repeated and licked her lips.

“Stop doing nonsense,” Gustav became furious, “tell me your grief.”

Marshmallow quickly explained what happened.

- Is it possible to sit loudly? – Marshmallow asked.

Gustav began to chew, gurgling was heard, it seems that the toad did not lose his appetite after hearing about the pug’s trouble.

- Easily. Many people, sitting in their chairs, shout but do nothing. Wait for news from me. After five hours, come to the button.

– Can’t it be faster? – Marshmallow asked.

“No one will take care of you better than you,” Zephyrka sighed.

- Great! - exclaimed the toad. - Now the second one.

“No one can dine for you, you have to do some things yourself,” the pug muttered, “I understand.”

The slurping sound was heard again.

Marshmallow slammed the door.

“Gustav is eating marmalade,” Mozi drawled dreamily, “probably from an apple tree.” People don’t have such yummy food; they don’t grow apple trees.

“But there are marshmallows and other delicacies here,” the pug licked her lips and realized: “Nobody told you that you can’t eavesdrop on other people’s conversations?”

“Mom said it every day, but our memory is full of holes,” Mozi answered honestly.

- She has no money at all. Only a pension, very small,” Rocky explained.

“Lena is young,” Zephyrka was surprised, “and people only pay pensions to the very old.”

“Or sick,” Mozi clarified. – Lena was hit by a car and now she can barely walk on crutches.

“It’s bad,” Marshmallow said sadly. - Who is helping her?

“Nobody,” said Rocky, “only Ksyusha and Misha, but they don’t do it very well.” Now we will tell you everything.

Marshmallow pricked up her ears and heard a sad story.

* * *

Dedicated to my granddaughters Nastya and Arina Dontsov

Chapter 1
Meeting children

The more love you give to others, the more love grows in your soul.

“Oh, how pretty,” said a pretty girl of about eleven in pink jeans and a bright blue T-shirt, “Mishanya, look, a monkey.”

“You yourself, Ksyusha, are a macaque,” laughed the boy, who looked a year older, “this is a dog.”

- Is it true? – Ksenia was surprised. – I’ve never seen anything like this. What breed?

“Mongrel,” Misha answered confidently, “mongrel!”

“But she’s smart,” Ksyusha drawled, “she doesn’t sit on the ground, she climbed onto a bench, she’s so cute!”

Pug Marshmallow, who was listening to the children’s dialogue, smiled. She also liked the guys, it seemed they were brother and sister, but it didn’t occur to them that dogs perfectly understand human speech and can talk to each other. Moreover, almost all animals speak a universal language. For example, Marshmallow can chat very well with cats, hedgehogs, frogs, and rabbits. And why? Because while living in her home country called Lovely Valley, she attended school. To be honest, Marshmallow wasn’t particularly successful in science. Her older pug sister Fenya was the pride of the teachers and deserved a gold medal. And Zephyrka switched from three to four. And to be completely honest, she only got good grades because her teacher, Laura the dachshund, loved new clothes: dresses, hats, beautiful scarves. And Zephyrka, almost from the cradle, has been beautifully sewing, knitting, creating boaters with bouquets on the brim, she is a jack of all trades, she will make a luxurious blouse with frills from a torn handkerchief. What a blouse, it’s easy to cut. Zephyrka knows how to sew shoes; she was recognized as the best dressmaker in the Beautiful Valley. And Laura is an incredible fashionista. Do I need to explain further why the dachshund gave the student a B for eight mistakes in three dictation sentences?..

– If I pet her, won’t she bite me? – asked Ksyusha.

“It’s better not to touch the yard dogs,” Misha stopped his sister, “maybe they’re contagious.”

Misha burst out laughing.

- Ksyu! Sausages, sausages, cutlets - that's what dogs adore. It’s funny that you told her about the gingerbread. Dogs do not understand human speech.

- Mishanya, did you see how she ate? – Ksyusha gasped. “It was as if she was working with a fork with her paw.”

“She’s homeless,” Misha muttered.

“Are you thinking about the same thing I’m thinking now?” – asked Ksyusha.

“Of course,” the boy nodded and took Marshmallow in his arms, “come with us.”

This is where the dog got really scared. No no no. Leave me on the bench. The pug puppy is waiting for Vitya, who is running around the park before work. Misha! Can you hear?

Marshmallow began to yelp, and the teenager stroked her head.

– Don’t be afraid, you’ll really like it here. Well, don't break out.

“She fell asleep,” Ksenia rejoiced, “poor dog.” I can imagine how the unfortunate woman suffered on the street.

Pug Marshmallow, the best dressmaker in the Beautiful Valley, temporarily left her home and became Viktor Kuznetsov’s Guardian in the human world. But the unexpected happened! Two kind guys Ksyusha and Misha saw Marshmallow in the park, thought she was lost, and took her to their home. Entering the Povarovs' apartment, the dog realized that the family urgently needed help... Zefirushka and her friends from the Beautiful Valley had to overcome many obstacles in order for Misha, Ksyusha, and their mother to find happiness. Is it worth forgiving a traitor? Will the evil done return to the one who committed it? Should we help someone who lies a lot? Marshmallow will have to find answers to these and other difficult questions. Having gone through many tests, Marshmallow and all the heroes of this book will become more cordial and understand: the more kindness, attention and love you give to others, the more love blooms in your soul!

About the author: Daria Dontsova is a famous Russian writer, the country's main optimist, who tries herself in the role of a storyteller. Readers' love for her person is growing rapidly, interest in her work does not fade, and Daria Arkadyevna's efficiency and versatility are admired.

Genre: fairy tales for children and adults.

About the book: Book " Magic elixir "- these are new adventures of the residents of the “Beautiful Valley”, who, by the will of fate, ended up in the human world and became the guardians of several families. Pug Marshmallow was supposed to protect her ward doctor Victor. But I accidentally ended up in the house of Misha and Ksyusha, who live in incredible poverty and whom the guardianship authorities are threatening to take to a shelter. And now the dog and her friends will have incredible adventures to protect the children and help their sick mother.

Features: Daria Dontsova’s sincere fairy-tale story “The Magic Elixir” is a fascinating and dynamic story with many successive events, interesting characters and unexpected plot twists, which can be read by the whole family and reflect with children on such concepts as friendship, love, loyalty, betrayal, mutual assistance, justice and courage.

Daria Arkadyevna Dontsova

Magic elixir

* * *

Dedicated to my granddaughters Nastya and Arina Dontsov

Meeting children

The more love you give to others, the more love grows in your soul.

“Oh, how pretty,” said a pretty girl of about eleven in pink jeans and a bright blue T-shirt, “Mishanya, look, a monkey.”

“You yourself, Ksyusha, are a macaque,” laughed the boy, who looked a year older, “this is a dog.”

- Is it true? – Ksenia was surprised. – I’ve never seen anything like this. What breed?

“Mongrel,” Misha answered confidently, “mongrel!”

“But she’s smart,” Ksyusha drawled, “she doesn’t sit on the ground, she climbed onto a bench, she’s so cute!”

– If I pet her, won’t she bite me? – asked Ksyusha.

“It’s better not to touch the yard dogs,” Misha stopped his sister, “maybe they’re contagious.”

Misha burst out laughing.

- Ksyu! Sausages, sausages, cutlets - that's what dogs adore. It’s funny that you told her about the gingerbread. Dogs do not understand human speech.

- Mishanya, did you see how she ate? – Ksyusha gasped. “It was as if she was working with a fork with her paw.”