On a radiant May afternoon, the park basked in a golden glow. Two boys, Lyova and Misha, both dressed in matching school trousers and blue shirts, relaxed on the grassy ground. Nearby lay Rex, a big, shaggy Alabai dog with a moist nose and eyes so gentle they seemed almost human.
“Look at what he can do!” Lyova declared with pride, holding out his palm. “Rex, give me your paw!”
Without hesitation, Rex leapt up, happily nudging his nose into Lyova’s hand, then clumsily rested his heavy paw on it. Misha chuckled, and catching the playful mood, Rex galloped towards him, knocking him down and showering his face with affectionate licks. The boys erupted with laughter, entwined in a lively tangle where it became impossible to distinguish where the dog ended and the boy began.
“You spoil him too much,” Misha said between breaths, grinning as he brushed stray blades of grass from his hair.
“How could I not?” Lyova responded, dusting sand off his knee. “He’s my friend. Besides, he’s the smartest dog on Earth.”
Rex seemed to agree, nudging Misha’s hand and wagging his tail joyfully across the grass.
- Misha sighed softly, stroking the fluffy puppy’s head. “I wish I’d ever had a dog like this.”
- “Now you’ve got us—me and Rex,” Lyova reassured, patting his friend’s shoulder. “Tomorrow, I’ll bring treats for him. Let’s make him happy.”
The sun gradually dipped toward the horizon. Lyova rose and brushed his pants carefully.
“I have to go; Dad worries if I’m late. But make sure you come tomorrow—I’ll be waiting,” he said.
Misha nodded yet felt a strange unease tightening his chest. Watching Lyova walk away with Rex bounding behind him left the empty clearing feeling lonelier than before. As he headed home, a flicker of hope mingled with the anxiety gripping his soul.
At Home: The Weight of Silence
The apartment door creaked gently as Misha stepped inside, slipping off his shoes at the threshold. The air held a heavy mixture of medicine scents, aged wood, and a blend of sorrow intertwined with hope. On the couch, swaddled in a blanket, lay his mother Marina. Though she held a book, her gaze wandered beyond the window.
“Hi, Mom,” Misha whispered softly, careful not to disturb her reverie.
“Already back? How was your walk?” Marina replied with a tired smile, yet a warm spark shone in her eyes.
“It was great. Lyova showed me how Rex gives his paw. He’s such a funny puppy.”
“It’s good to have friends,” Marina said, gently stroking her son’s hand. “Remember, I’m always here for you.”
“There were times when Dad brought ice cream home, when the apartment smelled like fried potatoes, when laughter filled the room watching movies. It was warm and peaceful.”
Yet everything shifted suddenly. One day, Marina slipped on the stairs and was seriously injured. The hospital’s sterile white walls, masked doctors, and hushed conversations replaced the home’s former warmth. Medicine bottles appeared, silence grew, and midnight pill rattles became routine. Dad’s presence dwindled, until one day he packed his belongings and left, slamming the door. Marina wept, and Misha felt helpless, unsure how to comfort her to ease her pain.
Grandma Valentina Nikolaevna tried to help, scolding Dad and baking pies, but her visits were brief. Ultimately, it was just mother and son, learning to endure by holding onto one another.
The Struggle at Lyova’s Home
When Lyova returned the next day, his usual lively expression was replaced by tension and worry.
“Things aren’t good at home,” he whispered as Misha approached. “Dad’s leaving on a business trip, and Inga’s moving in. She’s awful, loves only Dad, and yells at me—even Tamara Semyonovna isn’t spared.”
“Maybe she just needs time to adjust?” Misha attempted to soothe, though doubt lingered.
“No,” Lyova shook his head firmly. “She does it deliberately. She hates Rex too, calling him dirty trouble. But Dad gave Rex to me for my birthday—I wanted a dog so badly!”
After a pause, looking distant, Lyova brightened slightly:
“At night, Rex sneaks into my bed quietly. We’re like brothers. But Inga forbids everything now; she won’t even let me walk him.”
The boys fell silent, each absorbed by his own thoughts.
Lyova left earlier on some days and didn’t return for several. Misha worried about his friend but hoped for his comeback soon.
- Misha couldn’t shake the feeling that Lyova would soon have to walk Rex.
- One morning, he set his alarm for five a.m. and headed to the riverbank.
- The park was deserted except for birds singing among the bushes.
Hidden behind a bush, Misha waited patiently. Soon a silver car pulled up, and a tall woman with a bright scarf, cold eyes, and sharp makeup emerged. Ignoring the surroundings, she dragged a heavy, wriggling bag from the trunk and forcefully tossed it into the water.
Frozen in shock, Misha’s heart sank. Without hesitation, he plunged into the icy river, retrieved the bag, and dragged it to shore. Shaking with fear, he untied the knot and found Rex inside, muzzle taped but alive.
“Shh, little one,” Misha whispered gently, peeling off the tape and hugging the trembling puppy. “You’re safe now. I won’t abandon you.”
Rex shivered but licked Misha’s cheek. In that moment, Misha vowed never to give the dog away.
Finding Safety and Truth
When Misha returned home, Marina greeted him with concern, seeing him soaked and holding Rex wrapped in a blanket.
“What happened?” she asked, rushing over.
“It’s Rex… Someone tried to drown him!” Misha cried, stroking the puppy’s fur. “I saw a woman throw him into the river. I couldn’t leave him there.”
Marina knelt, embraced Misha, and pressed the trembling dog close.
“You did the right thing,” she whispered. “Now, we must find out everything. Do you remember who that woman was?”
“Yes. Tall, scarfed, silver car. We have to tell Lyova. He needs to know.”
Marina sighed, stroking Misha’s hair.
“Rex will stay with us until we understand what’s going on.”
Confronting the Truth
The following morning, Misha went to Lyova’s house and lingered behind the wrought-iron fence, observing the windows. Soon, Lyova appeared on the porch accompanied by his father, Herman Arkadyevich. The stern man, dressed impeccably, tried to soothe his son.
“Don’t worry,” he assured. “Maybe Rex just ran away. We’ll find him.”
“No!” Lyova clenched his fists. “It’s Inga! I saw her angry at him yesterday. And now Rex is gone!”
Herman frowned, shaking his head.
“Don’t invent stories. Inga wouldn’t do such a thing.”
At that moment, Misha leaped from hiding.
“I saw everything!” he exclaimed. “The woman with the bright scarf, the silver car—she threw a bag in the river with Rex inside! I saved him. He’s at my place now.”
Herman turned sharply to Lyova.
“Are you sure it was Inga?”
Lyova nodded, wiping away tears just as a silver car pulled up. Inga stepped out, her signature scarf in place. Frozen at the sight, she could only watch.
“Inga,” Herman’s voice was icy, “we need to talk inside.”
She tried to protest, but Herman was firm.
“Wait here,” he instructed the boys before entering the house.
Fifteen tense minutes later, Herman returned looking pale but resolute.
“Where is Rex?” he asked Misha. “Show me.”
Rekindling Old Friendships
At Misha’s home, Marina greeted them with reservation. Herman suddenly recognized her and smiled unexpectedly.
“Marina? Is that you? We went to school together. Remember the wooden doghouses in the yard and the apples from the neighbor’s garden?”
Marina blushed slightly but smiled back.
“Of course. You were always a top student.”
While their parents reminisced, the boys and Rex celebrated with laughter and hugs. The gratitude for Rex’s survival knitted their friendship tighter than ever.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Marina and Herman continued their conversation.
“Sometimes it feels like life will never improve,” Marina admitted quietly, “and then someone appears, turning everything around.”
Herman nodded thoughtfully.
“The important thing is not to give up. Everything can begin anew.”
Their eyes met for a long moment, carrying more than just memories.
Herman reached into his pocket.
“Here, buy something nice for tea. And come over—we’re celebrating!”
- Misha and Lyova hurried to the store and picked up chips, ice cream, and candy.
- At Herman’s house, Marina helped Tamara Semyonovna prepare salad, and the housekeeper baked her famous pies.
- Laughter filled the room as they shared stories, with no thought of Inga, whose belongings had vanished as if she never existed.
The evening was warm, cozy, and almost magical, as if all troubles were behind them.
A Playful Note and a New Beginning
Late at night, as the adults continued tea, Misha and Lyova relaxed in a room together.
“Do you think we’d be better if our parents were united?” Lyova wondered.
“Absolutely,” Misha smiled. “You’d be my brother, and Rex would be our dog.”
“Let’s test their feelings,” Lyova suggested with a grin. “We’ll write a note saying we ran away—and will only come back if they agree to marry.”
The boys giggled, scribbled the message, and carefully left it on the kitchen table.
In the morning, Marina couldn’t find her son. The house buzzed with activity as Herman searched every corner before spotting the note.
Reading aloud, he chuckled.
“Those rascals… Looks like we have no choice.”
Outside, he spotted the boys behind some bushes.
“Well,” he smiled, “shall we make a deal?”
Marina shyly nodded, yet her eyes shone with hope and happiness.
Meanwhile, Tamara Semyonovna called out joyfully from the kitchen:
“Hey, rascals! Come back! The grown-ups have already settled everything!”
Misha and Lyova dashed toward their parents, Rex barking happily as he bounded around. Everyone laughed and embraced, and outside, the sun shone brightly, as if celebrating that very moment.
Life’s kindness had returned again.
In conclusion, this touching story reveals how courage and compassion can transform lives. Through trials, unwavering friendship and hope helped this family heal and find happiness once more, proving that new beginnings are always possible despite past hardships.