Mikhail Zoshchenko is a wonderful Russian writer, a sad person and a great comedian. Oddly enough, this occurs. He wrote works for adults, which were read when they went out of print, and stories for children. The most famous cycle is “Lelya and Minka” (it contains eight short works), created between 1937 and 1945. It is opened by Zoshchenko's “Christmas Tree”. A summary will be presented below.
On the eve of the holiday
This story is a recollection of what happened thirty-five years ago, when the narrator was five years old. His first Christmas tree, when he was three years old, he does not remember. Apparently, his mother brought him to the decorated tree, and he examined it with black eyes. But at the age of five, he already knew well and understood what the Christmas tree was behind, and he always eagerly awaited a joyous holiday. And even, having slightly opened the door, he secretly watched the actions of his mother.
What Lelia suggested
Lelya was two years older than Minka. So, she was already seven years old, and she could come up with something tempting and also forbidden, to which Minka himself would not have thought.
Lelka suggested going to the room with the Christmas tree while mom was busy in the kitchen.
Room with Christmas tree
Enter and see - there is a very elegant and beautiful tree. There are gifts under it, and toys and all kinds of goodies hang on the tree itself. Such beckoning beauty is described by Zoshchenko. The Christmas tree, a summary of the story, continues to be considered. Lelka says: “We won’t look at the gifts, but rather try the pastille.” He quickly approaches the Christmas tree and makes “am” - and there is no one pastille. Minka does not lag behind, but reaches only the apple and bites off a piece of it. Lelka continues. She grabs the second pastille and eats it and still takes the candy. Thus began the ruin of the Christmas tree, as Zoshchenko describes it. The tree, a brief summary of this says, little by little began to lose its beauty. Mink was small in stature, and Lelka was a lanky girl, so the boy could only reach one apple, and Lelka could get everything she wanted. With tragic humor continues the description of Zoshchenko. The tree, a brief summary of this reports, has transformed from a beautiful woman with brand new toys to a horror story with eaten pastilles, a bitten apple and a broken doll. And Lelka maliciously tells his brother that he will be punished for such things. And they hid in another room.
Guests have arrived
Mom called everyone who came to the tree for the holiday, and her beloved prudent children and began to give out gifts. A lot of children gathered with their parents and everyone was happy in advance about the upcoming gifts. Mom Leli and Minky removed them from the Christmas tree and handed them to everyone.
So she came to a
bitten apple and a broken chrysalis. And then a scandal erupted. Because the girl didn’t want to get a broken toy. And who is pleased to receive scraps from an apple? Mom was very angry and promised to put Lelka in the corner, and Minka did not give the train prepared for him. But the guests continued to be indignant and even said that they would never come to this house again. Then dad appeared when everyone broke up, and was indignant at the fact that his children were ugly brought up and it will be difficult for them in life. So ends the story of M. Zoshchenko "Christmas tree", a summary of which is presented here.
The author very seriously talks about funny things that have moral comprehension for children.