Chick was in terrible trouble. Russian language teacher Akaky Makedonovich said that he should bring one of his parents to school. The teacher had a habit of writing grammar rules in poetic form, and students had to memorize this poem, and at the same time the rule. Akaki Makedonovich was proud of his poetic gift, while the students laughed. This time the poem was such that Chick was simply shaking with laughter. And the teacher could not stand it: “What's so funny, Chick?” Since Chick had no idea about author's vanity, he undertook to explain how ridiculous these verses are. And perhaps Akaki Makedonovich could give a rebuke to the critic, but the bell rang. “You have to talk to your parents,” he said. But that was not possible. For an aunt who raised Chick and was proud of his good school and behavior, a call to school would be an incredible shock. "What to do?" Chick thought in despair, secluded at the top of the pear, where the vines formed a comfortable springy bed.
Painful thoughts did not prevent Chick from observing the life of their court. Alikhan, a merchant of sweets, has returned from work and is now sitting with his legs dipped in a basin of hot water and playing backgammon with Rich Tailor. Or for his crazy uncle Kolya, from whom a random passerby is trying to find out some address, and Rich Portnoy chuckles, watching this scene. "Leave me alone!" - finally uncle Kolya said loudly in Turkish, brushing off a passerby.Uncle Kolya’s small dictionary, according to Chik’s calculations, consisted of about eighty words from the Abkhaz, Turkish and Russian languages. Rich Tailor spoke to a passerby, and here Chika had a brilliant idea: he would take Uncle Kolya to school. It is only necessary to lure him from the yard. The best way is to promise lemonade. More than anything, Uncle Kolya loves lemonade. But where to get the money? You won’t ask at home. Money needs to be begging from a friend Onika. But what to offer in return? And Chick remembered the tennis ball stuck on the roof by the drainpipe — rain should have washed it off sometime.
Chick went to Onik: “I desperately need forty kopecks. I’m selling you a tennis ball. ” “Well, has he already rolled out?” “No,” Chick said honestly, “but it will begin to rain soon, and he will jump out.” “It's still unclear whether it will roll out or not.” “It will roll out,” Chick said with conviction. “If you feel sorry for the money, then I will buy the ball from you later.” “And when will you buy it back?” - Onik perked up, “I don’t know. But the longer I won’t redeem, the longer you will use the free ball. ” Onik ran for the money.
The next morning, having chosen the moment, Chick went up to Uncle Kolya, showed the money and said loudly: "Lemonade." "Lemonade? - Uncle asked joyfully. “Let's go.” And he added in Turkish: "The boy is good."
On the street, Chick took a pre-packaged father's jacket from a briefcase. "Can?" Asked the uncle and looked joyfully at Chick. Uncle bursting with joy. At the store, the seller Mesrop opened two bottles of lemonade. Uncle quickly poured yellow bubbling lemonade into a glass and drank just as quickly.After the first bottle, he took a break and, slightly drunk from the drink, tried to explain to the seller that Chick was a pretty good boy. After the second bottle, his uncle was delighted, and when they left the store, Chick showed in the direction of the school: "Let's go to school."
In front of the teacher’s, teachers walked on the open veranda. “Hello, Akaki Makedonovich,” said Chick. - This is my uncle. He does not hear well. ” Master, taking his uncle's arm, began to walk along the veranda. Chick heard the words: “What did he find funny in these verses? .. The influence of the street is affected.” It was noticeable in his uncle's face that he was pleased with the conversation that a serious adult was having with him. “Street, street,” the uncle repeated the familiar word in Russian. “I hope, Chick, you realized your behavior,” the teacher finally stopped against him. “Yes,” Chick answered. “I will not hide,” the teacher continued, “your uncle seemed strange to me.” - "He is illiterate." “Yes, it’s noticeable.” And Chick began to lead his uncle from the school yard. Suddenly, uncle stopped at the column and began to wash his hands. Chick furtively looked around and, having met Akaky Makedonovich's bewildered look, slightly shrugged his shoulders, as if to let know that uneducated people always wash their hands as soon as any column comes under their hands. Finally, Chick took his uncle outside and directed him toward the house. With a quick gait, the uncle retired. The bell rang and the happy Chick ran to his class.
