How good it was to be a child...

You didn't have to worry about anything. How to take care of yourself. How to provide food for you and your loved ones. How to dress better and warmer. In general, as you get older, you become obliged to think about many things - not only for yourself but very often for others as well.

And the older you get, the less time is left in your life for the most uncomplicated - a fairy tale. Sometimes it doesn't matter what precisely this fairy tale consists of. Somewhere in the depths of our souls, we all want at least for a short time, to dive into its warm magic and enjoy the simple miracles.

I plunged into the routine of life so much that I have long forgotten the last time I noticed something magical, unique, fabulous around me.

No one gave me flowers for a long time. Although, why would they? I didn't meet with anyone, and no one pays special attention to me. I'm not even talking about romance - I forgot what it is... at some point, my world became grey and dull as autumn sometimes can be...

But that was until the moment when opened my eyes this morning. Instead of my usual bed, I woke up in the middle of a field, surrounded by wildflowers. The sun was shining so softly that even though it was incredibly bright, I didn't have to squint. The variety of smells immediately made my head spin. I don't know how long it took before I was forced to realize that this was not a dream.

By some miracle, I found a well-worn path going through the field and decided to follow it. I didn't have to walk for a long time before I met some "fool" typical for the Russian fairytales. He was riding a goat backwards and was dressed in some rags. I was so surprised by what I saw that I stopped and didn't dare to move on until he passed by.

Frightened to ask where this road leads from such an extraordinary person, I decided to continue my journey. Hoping that I'm not going to face a fool in the future. I went in the direction from which he was travelling. But, to my regret, for a reason not apparent to me, he soon caught up with me.

"Hey," a pleasant male voice called out to me. "Where are you from? Are you lost? Can I help you with something?"

I turned to the voice. That fool in rags ran to me. The guy seemed thin to me but wasn't bad-looking. He had shoulder-length blond hair and blue like clear sky eyes.

"Yes, I'm not from here." I got confused. "I just wanted to take a nap in the field, now I'm returning home."

"I thought you weren't local. Are you going far?"

"To the nearest village, I think... and then I'll try to get home somehow."

"Where do you live? Maybe I can walk with you? It is better not to travel with someone."

"I live in the city, but I don't know where it is now and how to get there. Do you happen to have a map with you?"

What if some old woman gave this fool a map, and he doesn't know how to use it. So he doesn't! But one could only hope for such luck.

"Maps?" The fool began to scratch the back of his head. "No, I don't have that, but I can take you to one scientist, he knows a lot. He's very, very smart."

"Oh well. If you help me, I will be grateful to you and will repay for your help, after... " 

I've decided to leave the question of payment for later, who knows what this fool will get into his head.

This is how I ended up on the goat of a fool. Long ago I changed into local clothes, so I don't confuse people with my T-shirt with cute bears and pyjama pants. No, there was nothing strange about the bears, for me personally. But the passing by people looked very strange at my appearance. So I had to do something.

We have passed more than one village. It took us not one night to get to that scientist who is "very, very smart". By the way, the fools name was Ivan. When I found out, hysterical laughter almost blew through me. I should have stumbled upon Ivan the Fool in a fairytale!

Approaching another village, Ivan, as usual, asked for work, stay for the night and food.

He sent me to collect information as if I wasn't able to work! I really wanted to say that I know perfectly well what work is! Considering that I had to work from the age of fourteen to help my mother pay for food. As far back as I can remember, I have always worked hard and didn't run from difficulties. I wasn't scared or ashamed to do any work! If I had to clean the toilets, I did it. If it was necessary to clean up after someone, I did it. In general, due to the current situation, I was able to finish only high school. I couldn't enter college. Do I regret it? A little, but even so, I managed to try myself in different areas. None of them is considered "prestigious", but I have always had enough money for a simple life. Mom got married a long time ago and got my sister to a good school. Did I wanted to achieve more in my life than just being a "work plug"? That employee who always replaces everyone, but in whose place no one wants to be. Yes, of course, but it didn't work out.

This was the first time someone cared about me so fervently. It was delightful, and it turned out to be useless to argue with Ivan. He was a fool after all. He went on a goat backwards dressed in rags, only to meet the one that would love him all his life. Who in their right mind would do this?

Ivan worked for our food and bed. I, wanting to drink, went to a wooden well. There was already standing an old woman. She was wearing rags, similar to Ivan's, her wrinkled hands were holding an old bucket. She smiled strangely when she saw that I was approaching her.

"Dear good soul, can you help the old woman collect water from the well? I'm weak, I have no strength to do it myself. I will pay you for your help. I will show you the way where you need to go."

"I'll find my own way thanks, granny. But don't worry, I'll help you." It wasn't wise to refuse to the old woman - she could quickly turn out to be some witch, like Baba-Yaga, checking travellers on a good heart. Accepting help from this old woman was even riskier than providing it.