An Old Oak-tree Secret. Chapret 8. AN UNUSUAL BIRTHDAY. Part 2

Chapret 8. AN UNUSUAL BIRTHDAY. Part 2

Rostislav remembered the visit to the mapmaking workshop with Mila and Rada. They had chosen the wrong road and almost got into trouble. Since then, they never forgot how important maps and rules were. Now, by answering the questions, Rostik was mapping his way to a mysterious place. He was confident in four of the five answers; only the second one still caused doubt. He took the first letters of each word and finally understood what the correct second answer had to be:

Friends
Anger or Offense or Judgment
Mudrets
Games
Map
“Anger” clearly didn’t fit. But “Offense” and “Judgment” both started with the same letter and formed the word TREEHOUSE. Rostislav realized the secret place was the treehouse they had all built together for his birthday. He ran there, hoping to get answers.

“Where are my parents? How do I get my birthday back? Why didn’t my friends come? What gift will I get? Will I get one at all?”

These thoughts raced through his head as he ran to the oak tree. Climbing the ladder onto the platform, he froze in front of the door.

“What if it’s empty inside? Or what if something unpleasant is waiting for me because of my behavior?” he thought.

Suddenly, among the branches of the old oak, he saw the smiling face of the Gnome. Mudrets winked and nodded, encouraging him to enter. Rostik felt reassured. Grabbing the door handle, he thought:

“If it’s empty inside, or if something unpleasant awaits me, I’ll accept it. I created this situation myself by canceling my birthday. But now I understand a lot. Even if I’m left without a birthday, I promise I’ll make a celebration myself. My parents work hard every year to make me happy. I can do the same for them.”

These thoughts chased away all fear. Rostik opened the door. Confetti and streamers rained down on him at once. Familiar voices rang out together:

“Happy birthday!”

His parents, Rada, and Mila were all inside the treehouse, waiting for him.

“How? You’re all here?” Rostik gasped.

“Well, almost all,” Dad smiled. “The treehouse is a bit small for our big, half-grown-up group. So Aunt Sveta and Uncle Lyonya are waiting for us at home, where the table is surely already set.”

“Were you scared?” Mom asked gently, hugging him.

“No,” Rostik blurted out. Then he corrected himself. “Well… at first, yes. But your letter pulled me into such warm memories that I didn’t have time to be scared. Who wrote it?”

“All of us,” Mila answered.

“Each of us came up with questions,” Rada added. “Mila and I did the ones about the Gnome.”

“Yes,” Mom said. “The girls told us about your game with the incredibly kind Gnome Mudrets. So we included a question about him. And the first letter fit perfectly.”

“So, shall we go eat? I’m starving,” Dad laughed. “And gifts don’t give themselves.”

“I get gifts?” Rostik asked, surprised and happy at the same time.

“Of course!”

“But I…” he started, then stopped. “I want to apologize. Mom, Dad, I’m sorry. I was really angry. I was so upset about not getting a dog. But now I understand that I gained so much more here in the village. Every day was full of joy and adventures. When I remembered all that, I realized how happy I am. And my biggest dream came true — we built the treehouse together. It turned out even better than I imagined, because now I have friends to play with. So it turns out I already got the best gift.”

“How wise you are, Rostik!” Rada admired.

“Six years old, after all,” Dad laughed, ruffling his hair.

“My sweet boy,” Mom said softly, kneeling to hug him. “We know you were angry. We understand your feelings. What matters is that we are not offended at all. We knew you were upset. And we wanted to make sure you felt happy today.”

“We even had to hold a night meeting,” Dad added.

“Yes,” Rada smiled. “Your parents came to us late in the evening, explained everything, and together we came up with this quest.”

“You didn’t sleep all night?” Rostik asked in amazement.

“Well… almost,” Dad winked.

“You love me that much?” Rostislav nearly cried with happiness.

“Of course!” everyone answered together and hugged him.

And then came a grand celebration. Gifts. Delicious food. Fun games. Funny stories. Even a disco. After sunset, when the first stars appeared, Rostik, Rada, and Mila slipped outside. They took pieces of Aunt Sveta’s special cake and went under the branches of the old oak. They didn’t forget the Gnome. They brought an extra plate and shared their cake with him. When they reached the tree, Mudrets was already there.

“With raspberries?” he smiled.

They sat together under the oak and enjoyed the sweets. Then the Gnome stood up.

“I have a gift for you too, Rostislav.”

He handed the boy a small bundle wrapped in soft, velvety cloth and tied with a red ribbon. Inside was a key.

“This key opens the door to my home,” the Gnome explained.

“You have a home?” Rada asked.

“Yes. And it’s here,” Mudrets said, placing his hand on the oak’s trunk. “To make the door appear, you must say the words embroidered on the cloth. Then use the key like a regular lock.”

The Gnome continued: “In the land where I was born, Gnomes open their doors only to true friends. Today I am sure you are exactly that. You listen. You think. You try to be kind. That is why I trust you.”

“Friends visit each other, right?” he smiled.

“Yes!” Rada exclaimed. “We’ll come visit you. And you come to us too!”

Mila nodded happily. Rostik hugged the magical key to his chest. He tried to remember every moment of the day.

“This is the happiest birthday of my life.”