Pandora's Box 1

[svetlanacat6]

 This is the chapt 1... I corrected punctuation, but left it as a dialogue.

“Daddy, papa... What is this box?”

 

 

“Where did you find that, Sasha?”

 

“What is it, papa?”

 

“Sasha... Where did you find that?”

 

“I... I found it in the attic...”

 

“Haven't you been told something about tha attice, Sasha?”

 

“Yes, daddy, but this morning, you know, Tonya heard some footsteps... She was very afraid. So, I had to go! It could have been a monster! Something like an ogre! But I have been very careful in the staircase. I took the flashlight, and my sword!”

 

“Your ... sword? Oh, I see. So you went to the attic to defend your sister? And how many monsters did you fight?”

 

“Well, er... there was no monster, papa. It was just May, with her kittens. But Tonya is a little girl... you won't mock at her, will you? Promise me!... And... what's this box?”

 

“It's an old box, Sasha.”

 

“Yes, I can see that! But what is it, papa? There is your name on it! Papa? Daddy?”

 

“I... I'll tell you... but not now. It's breakfast time, Sasha. Your mama is waiting for us.”

 

“But, daddy...”

 

“Later, Sasha. Give me the box.”

 

***

 

“Good night, my Sasha. Sweet dreams!”

 

“Papa?”

 

“Yes, Sasha?”

 

“The box... You've said you would tell me...”

 

“It's too late, Sasha. I'll tell you tomorrow... Sasha? Don't pout, boy...”

 

“He looked for that all day long, Illya...”

 

“Ell...”

 

“Illya?”

 

“I can't fight both of you. Okay, I'll get the box.”

 

“Here it is... I got it.”

 

“Is that a plot? Ell, you're giggling!”

 

“You'll be lucky, Illyusha... Have a nice time, boys!”

 

***

“Make room for me, Sasha. Come here. Open the box, now.”

 

'But I haven't any key!”

 

“You don't need any. You see, right here, there is a quote...”

 

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice. What does that mean, daddy?”

 

“Shhh, Sasha. Now, look at those numbers.”

 

“19 14 42 5 9 ... Papa...”

 

“It's a combination. Look : I am going to press each letter of the sentence, in this order.”

 

“Let me try, please, daddy!”

 

“Enjoy yourself, my Sasha.”

 

***

“You see, Sasha? It's not a treasure. Are you disappointed?”

 

“Oh, no! Look, there are plenty of... That's an old record! And a book? Papa, it's a Russian book! And... a dictionary, a ...is this a tie? and what is this yellow triangle with... 11 on it?”

 

“It's a sort of button. When I was young, I worked in a ... place where we used that.”

 

“You were n° 11?”

 

“No, this button isn't mine. My button was n° 2.”

 

“Ah, yes... N° 2... that's close to n° 1!”

 

“Sasha, it wasn't...”

 

“A pipe, daddy ! But you don't smoke!”

 

“These are memories, Sasha. This is the pipe of a very, very good man. You have been named for him. Alexander...”

 

“And... this is a photo. It's you, papa. And who is this man?... Papa?”

 

“He is... he was a friend. My best friend, Sasha. I hope you'll have one like him...”

 

“Daddy.. Oh, there is something written : “If you want to be happy, be!”

 

“It's a quote from a Russian author, Sasha. Tolstoi. My friend wrote it for me.”

 

“Papa... you look sad. Where is your friend? Is he...”

 

“Oh... no, Sasha. Well, I hope not. But I don't know. We parted twelve years ago... I had to leave my work. I never saw him, since... But we named your sister from him. One of his names was Anthony. Tonya...”

 

“And why not his first name?”

 

“Your sister would never have forgiven us...”

 

“But I don't understand, papa. He was your best friend? And you were his? Why did you never try to meet again?”

 

“Things were...complicated, my son. And we can't live in the past.”

 

“But it makes you sad. You can't deny it. So tomorrow, we are going to look for him, daddy. I'll help you! He must have children... A girl, as Tonya! And a boy... and perhaps they have cats...”