Funny Children's Stories. Bilingual Edition

So the English teacher called on Pud at last. He slowly went up to the blackboard. When he reached the blackboard, the English teacher asked him to write out the new irregular verbs that had been assigned for us to study.

Pud took the chalk and got ready to write something on the blackboard. He had some cheat-sheets prepared. But he could not figure out which cheat-sheet he needed to use.

The English teacher, who usually never allowed anyone to use cheat-sheets, did not say a word to Pud. Though we all understood that she saw how he was trying to read something from his cheat-sheets. She did not ask him to put away the cheat-sheets and did not say anything at all. She just silently waited to see how this thing was going to end. And, of course, she knew perfectly well that Pud's mom would kill him if he got a two again.

After about twenty minutes there was still nothing written on the blackboard. Then the English teacher declared that she had no choice but to, again, give him a two. And Pud said that he had studied everything.

To that of course, it was expected that the English teacher would say what all teachers said in such cases, “I'm not interested in what you have been studying. I'm interested in what you have learned.” But she just told Pud that he did not have to write anything new. She just asked him to write any irregular verbs in three forms.

Pud again tried to remember something. He wanted to remember something but could not. Then the English teacher asked him to name only one irregular verb in three forms.

She said that if Pud named any irregular verb, only one irregular verb in three forms, then she would immediately give him a three.

Here I decided that it was time for me to help Pud out. So I whispered, “To put, put, put.”

And everyone started to laugh. Everyone laughed because it turned into a very dangerous game of words for Pud. It had a very obvious hint to both his last name and to his fists, heavy as a pood.

The English teacher again said, “Any irregular verb, Pudovkin.”

And again I whispered, “To put, put, put.”

And other kids whispered the same.

Pud, of course, heard everything. But he hated to repeat “To put, put, put.” And the English teacher pretended that she had heard nothing. She repeated that she swore to give Pud a three if he named any irregular verb in three forms.

At this point, everyone in our class began to chant, “To put, put, put. To put, put, put.”

Our English teacher could not stand it anymore and said sternly, “Quiet!” This she said to everyone. And then — only to Pud, “Come on, Pudovkin, please.”

Pud reddened as he had never reddened before. He reddened very much and said, “To put, put, put.”

And then rang the bell.

Everyone jumped up. The English teacher attempted to stop us and have everyone return to their seats. But she could not do anything. She then shouted, “Pudovkin, I give you a three!” And everyone came up to Pud and patted him on the shoulder. Pud was very happy. He smiled. And I think it was the first time I saw Pud smile.

But I did not go up to congratulate Pud. And I did not pat him on the shoulder or anything like that. Because my hint was very doubtful. And who knew how it would turn out for me. Because, you know, Pud’s fists were as heavy as a pood.

Самокат

Я сделал самокат. Но, на самом-то деле, я никогда даже и не думал, что смогу его сделать. Всё получилось так, потому что я нашёл на Трифоновке два подшипника.

Я вообще-то люблю ходить на всякие свалки и помойки. Моя мама как-то сказала, что я, когда иду мимо помойки, всегда её пытливым взглядом осматриваю.

Ну, а на Трифоновку мы все любим ходить. Но ходим мы туда не потому, что нам надо что-то определённое найти. Если тебе что-то конкретное нужно, то ты там этого никогда не найдёшь. Но там иногда бывают такие вещи, что заранее трудно себе представить.

На Трифоновскую свалку со всех концов Москвы ребята едут. И это ещё нам повезло, что она так близко к нам расположена.

До того, как я нашёл на Трифоновке подшипники, я даже и не предполагал делать самокат. У нас вообще-то ни у кого самоката нет. А вот откуда-то все знают, из чего и как его надо делать.

Ну и как только я нашёл эти самые подшипники, сразу стало ясно, что теперь думать больше нечего, — надо делать самокат.

И мне сразу, конечно, сказали, что ещё нужно найти. А найти мне надо было две доски, круглую палку для ручки, кусок жести, несколько гвоздей и две короткие металлические трубки, которые можно было бы забить внутрь подшипников.

Мой друг Глеб Парамонов сказал, что мне понадобится много всяких разных инструментов и что я их нигде не достану. Мне нужны будут молоток, дрель со свёрлами, ножницы по металлу, ножик.