- Beautiful. Go home? - I take Nick by the hand, leading to the locker room.

- Are we still coming here? I like it! I met a girl, she is beautiful! - a stream of energy seethes from him, questions pour in one by one, - And what are we going to eat? Will you buy me a robot? And I also saw the designer, I want one too!

- So, let's first you change clothes, and on the way home I will answer any questions you have. Deal? I ask. I see what I'm thinking. Nodding slowly, "Which locker did you choose?"

- With lemon! - happily replies son.

- Why with lemon?

- It's yellow, like the sun or the moon. I like the moon, it's beautiful. And the lemon is also beautiful, like the moon, - he argues, opening the locker and taking out things.

He is very independent and developed for his age, he has already learned to read, he is drawn to knowledge and absorbs it like a sponge.

- Do you like the moon? - mechanically I ask him again, making sure that everything was put on correctly.

- Highly! Sometimes I wake up at night and look out the window. I like it when it is round and big, - the son confirms, - Have you been at work? Did you draw?

- Yes, I met with those who commission my drawings.

So you didn't draw anything new? - the son is disappointed. He loves to watch me create design projects.

- Not yet. But I have a new order, so soon there will be new drawings, - I answer smiling, looking at the upset face.

- This is good. So you will be paid money and you will buy me a robot! - I laugh at this, childishly naive, conclusion.

- I'll buy it. Got dressed? - I look from head to toe, - Where is the cap?

He sighs heavily and looks at me seriously.

- I gave it to Seryozha.

- What for?

- He lost his when we were walking. I cried because my mother would swear. Here I gave it. You won't swear, will you? - looks into my eyes.

“Of course I won’t,” I answer him softly, “You are a good fellow for helping out a friend.

We leave the garden, which is not far from the house. Outside, the end of August, the warm summer air gently tickles your face. I would like not to rush, but just enjoy this short walk.

I did not think, when I went to the forest for mushrooms, four years ago, that I would gain much more than a good mushroom catch. I have a son. Then, I didn't last very long. When two weeks later there was still no news from his parents, I mustered up my strength and nevertheless went to the police. My friend scolded me for a long time with the last words, but accepted the application. And when I said that I wanted to adopt a baby, I met the right people who, for a certain amount, helped me with paperwork. And now, for four years now, I have officially been a mother.

At first, I flinched at every unexpected doorbell, street call, or unknown number that popped up on my mobile screen. But time passed, still no one was looking for the child, and in the meantime he grew up, turning from a plump, rosy-cheeked baby into a handsome boy with wild dark hair and regular features. I can't say that it was easy for me. I was not ready for motherhood, which happened to me so unexpectedly. I had to completely go to remote work, occasionally appearing in the office, learning patience and calmness, reading a bunch of books about the proper upbringing and development of children. But despite all the difficulties that I faced before and continue to face until now, I sincerely and with all my heart fell in love with Nicholas, accepted him with my soul, like my own son.

- Mom, we're here! - Takes me out of the memories sonorous voice - What are you worth?

I look around, realizing that I have stood rooted to the spot near the iron door of the entrance.

- I thought, - I answer him, taking out the keys, - What do you want to eat?

- Pasta! And meatballs! - joyfully bounces on the spot.

- There will be pasta and meatballs for you.

Chapter 7

I can't sleep at night. I turn from side to side, counting sheep, but the desired dream does not come. I get up and go to the window to open it. It is said that it is easier to fall asleep in a cool room. I remember my son's words about the moon, that he likes to watch it at night. Weird. Maybe he will grow up as an astronomer? Or become an astronaut. I smile, like this, from one phrase thrown by a child, a parent can imagine his bright future. I look up. The pale yellow disc of the moon shimmers in the dark sky, it's clear today. And the moon is growing, almost full. So it's a full moon in a couple of days. I breathe in the fresh night air and plan tomorrow. Maybe buy Nick a children's encyclopedia about space? I kind of saw it in the store, it has big beautiful pictures and interesting facts. If he likes the moon, I can read him more about it.

I take one last deep breath and go back to bed. The dream is still not coming. I take out my laptop and open it. I'll work, I can't sleep.

In the morning I wake up from a child's crying from the kitchen. I'm undermined and rushing in that direction.

- Nikki, what happened? I examine the sobbing son sitting on the floor. I note that at first glance there are no wounds or abrasions, I exhale slightly.

- The saucer fell and broke the axis, - the child says, whining slightly.

- Well, okay, - I'm glad that the reason for crying turned out to be so insignificant, - We'll buy a new one. Climb carefully so you don't step on the pieces.

I extend my hand to help him up.

- Did you want to do something with him? How did it happen? - I'm interested in the already almost calmed down son.

- How? Yes, like this, - I don’t have time to stop him, he takes another saucer and throws it with force on the tiles on the floor. The pieces are flying all over the kitchen. I stand, look at this disgrace and barely contain my laughter. Yeah... But what? She asked how it turned out, he showed. Everything is logical.

- Why are you laughing? Nick asks suspiciously.

- Nothing, but it would be better if you told, not showed. Go to the room for now, - I pull my son out of the epicenter of a kitchen-scale disaster and put it near the door, - I'll remove the glass now, and then we'll cook breakfast together. Want?

- I wanted to cook breakfast. And you are sleeping. I decided that I can do it myself, - the son grumbles with displeasure, - We will be late for the garden. You are such a jerk today.

“We won’t be late,” smiling, I tousle the hair on the top of his head with my fingers, “I’ll help you prepare breakfast, will you let me?”

“Okay, only if you don’t interfere with me,” Nick says sternly.

- I will not, - I assure him with an oath, - Go and wash yourself.

The day moves on a given track. Yawning, my floor, then together we cook an omelette, which my little assistant deigned to order, I take Nick to the kindergarten, and I myself go to the office to meet with the customer. The meeting is productive, we discuss all the details and leave satisfied with each other. Returning home, on the way I stop at a shopping center, where I go to several stores. I still buy a colorful book about space. Suddenly, Nicholas will be interested not only in the moon, but also in other planets and stars.

All day long I feel like someone is watching me. I look around suspiciously a few times, but I see nothing strange. The flow of people is seething, everyone is hurrying about their business, looking at beautiful shop windows, laughing merrily. Nobody is interested in me. But why do I feel like someone else is staring at my back? I shrug my shoulders nervously. Probably didn't get enough sleep. This is where all sorts of nonsense comes to mind.

But the next day, the feeling does not disappear. I look around nervously, but still see no one. Some kind of paranoia develops.

"But who needs you! An ordinary single mother, unremarkable. There are millions of them! Who needs to watch you? Yes, all day long," I persuade myself, carrying packages from the supermarket.

- Girl, can I help you? - a short, slender brown-haired man jumps up to me, - I see that it’s hard for you, let’s help carry the bags.

- No, thank you, - I smile at him, but coldly, insincerely. He scared me with his unexpected appearance, - I can handle it.

Literally rips the bags out of my hands and says:

- Well, why should such a fragile, beautiful girl cope on her own, - she scans me with a look of blue eyes, the wings of her nose swell, as if sniffing, - There are men for this.

- A young man, - I strictly answer him, taking away the packages, - I have a small child and my husband is a boxer. Your tackles will not work on me, look for another pickup object.

Proudly I walk to the entrance, leaving behind a surprised brown-haired man. I heard about those. They compete to see who can glue women together more and divorce them for sex. He is five years younger than me. And after all, he decided to roll up to an adult aunt as soon as he had enough impudence. I puff indignantly, climbing with heavy packages to my seventh floor. The elevator doesn't work again, for the fifth time in a month. At this rate, I'll pump up my arms. And an ass the size of an airship - an instadiv dream.

I can’t explain to myself why this meeting at the entrance caused me such irritation, but I can’t calm down, remembering the arrogance of the brown-haired woman and mentally scolding him all evening.

Chapter 8

The next morning, Nicholas refuses to get out of bed and go to the kindergarten. Whimpers and complains that he is ill. I take my temperature, it's a little high. But there is no cough or runny nose, the child only says that his whole body hurts, as if fat dwarfs jumped on it all night.