sᴏɴɪᴄ ᴛᴏʏ

      Several days have passed since the Draytons and Omarovs next door settled into new houses in Krasnogurbinsk and began to live calmly, amicably and happily. Dennis, as promised, was able to find the necessary parts with network wiring and was able to connect an Internet connection in this city, at least on the territory of his new home. Andrew returned to his old and favorite job. He began to make new wooden toys and sold them to those children who lived in this city, since it did not have its own toy store and no one made their own toys here, and other toys from other cities and countries did not arrive here. He even taught his beloved and now adult son how to make them too, and he made a toy truck for himself as a souvenir. Then Stephanie, despite the fact that she was a girl, became interested in the common work of her grandfather and father, and then she was taught the same skill. She also made her first wooden toy as a souvenir. This toy was, for now, a naked doll made of wood. She added hair from the wood chips left over from the wood, and she already made clothes from old rags and dad’s old and torn wallet, which he was going to throw away somehow, because then he decided to buy himself a new one anyway, making the doll more like a cowboy. At this time, the Draytons sometimes came to their son after work and now gradually played with him and his toys. And sometimes they went out into the yard together into their good old greenhouses, tending to vegetable gardens and orchards. And now the toys have more time so that they sometimes freely come to life and walk freely around the new house while no one sees them. Sometimes the Draytons and Omarovs now came across the road to visit each other and sometimes visited each other. Ultimately, their life after that story was much better than before. And besides, from that day, when Sonic, Shadow and Silver returned home, of course, not without the help of the Omarovs, they destroyed all conflicts between themselves and became best friends. And now, even when new toys appeared in David’s room, the old-timers always gladly accepted them into their circle... Basically, this began on the thirty-first of December on New Year’s Eve. One night, Lili sat on a red sofa near a warm fireplace with a fire inside and changed Shadow as usual. — Still, I don’t quite understand how you three managed to fall into Oscar’s hands and still be left with little damage. I'm sure he wouldn't leave anything of you. — Lili said, sometimes putting down the thread and needle and just looking at him. — I'm surprised you survived unscathed, buddy. Although, Uncle Andrew most likely tried his best here. Shadow just listened all this time, trying with all his might not to come to life in front of her eyes. When David's mom finished, she put the things away in a small box and simply held the toy in her hands. — Shadow... I know that you didn’t just disappear that time along with Sonic and Silver... You were afraid that you had become unnecessary to anyone. You started to get jealous of Silver because David started playing with him more than with you and Sonic. — the woman sighed sadly. — “How does she know?!” — was racing in head of toy. — You know... At David's birthday, Ivan said that toys can come to life and do their own thing while no one is looking... He wasn't the only one who believed in this as a child... Shadow understood this hint and was already mentally cursing Ivan and himself for his carelessness. Meanwhile, Lili continued. — I also believed that you come to life when I’m not around. Especially in high school. You then tried to protect and cheer me up when I needed it, right? A memory appeared in the black-scarlet's head. Every time the hostess returned home all in tears after breaking up with her boyfriend, he could hardly restrain himself, seeing and listening to her cry. When the girl fell asleep, he quietly lay down next to her and was with her all night, since at that point in time Lili was already sleeping without her friend. Each time, the hedgehog cursed all the guys who abandoned an innocent girl for nothing, and mentally regretted that he was just a toy and could not teach them a lesson. Shadow was jealous of his mistress for every guy, noting that they were not worthy of her and she deserved better. The next morning, the girl found the toy in her bed and, after being in shock, played with it for a while all day, forgetting about what happened yesterday. When the girl sat too long with her homework and fell asleep, trying to solve a problem, Shadow helped her, writing down the solution and answer in clumsy handwriting. In the morning, Lily found a piece of paper with the correct answer and spent a long time wondering how she managed to write it down, because she doesn’t remember it. — “You deserve better, Lili. I couldn’t look at your suffering and helped as best I could. — the hedgehog said in his head. Unexpectedly, the woman sharply hugged the toy to herself, holding back her tears. — Shadow, you can’t imagine how worried I was when you disappeared!” We searched the whole house, but didn't find any of you. At that moment, Vanya and I had the thought that maybe you were really coming to life... I... I couldn’t understand why you left... Why did you leave me... — Lili couldn’t stand it and burst into tears. Shadow felt tears falling on him and her body trembling. The hedgehog mentally cursed himself in every possible way for causing pain to his owner. — “Don't cry, Lili! You shouldn't cry over a bastard like me! God, I'm a complete idiot! David's mother gradually calmed down and now simply looked at her childhood friend with tear-stained eyes. Suddenly, it dawned on her. — You were afraid that with the appearance of Silver, we would throw you and Sonic into the landfill, right? — green eyes looked at the plush hedgehog with all attention, as if expecting an answer. — I would never do this to you for anything in the world, dear! I couldn't do that to someone I made myself. You are too dear to me. I couldn't even think about leaving you with my parents, let alone throwing you away! Shadow's memories started popping back into his head. A little girl of about nine makes the finishing touches, after which she cuts off the unnecessary threads and puts the needle back in place. After tugging the toy in different directions and making sure that everything is firmly sewn, he begins to play with him. In the girl’s hands is a black hedgehog with red stripes and eyes of the same color. She called him Shadow. The hedgehog himself had a hard time understanding who he was and what the girl was doing with him, but he noticed that it was nice. In the evening, the baby enthusiastically tells her parents how her day went and even shows them Shadow. Mom praises her daughter for her abilities and intelligence, noting that the toy is very cute. His father likes him too, although at that moment the tired man was only interested in dinner and sleep. Then the hedgehog learned the name of his owner. Lili. Late at night, when Lili was sleeping, the black-scarlet met several dolls, who calmly accepted the new tenant. From them he learned the main rule of toys — never come to life in front of people. A couple of days later, Lili brought the hedgehog to school, on the instructions of the teacher. She asked the children to bring their favorite toys to the next lesson and tell the class about them. Everyone did just that. Among the numerous dolls, robots, pirates and plush animals, the black-scarlet one was attracted by the toy of a blue hedgehog that could speak with the help of a string on its back. Many children looked at the boy who brought the toy with admiration. The teacher praised the student and told him to sit in his seat. Lili was the last to speak. When she showed Shadow, he had strange feelings. Instead of interested glances, the children laughed loudly. — What kind of freak is this?! Where did you get it?! — the kid from the back desk laughed. — It’s better to put this hedgehog in the garden beds instead of a scarecrow! — his friend supported him. — Quiet, quiet! Calm down! — said the teacher, trying to calm everyone down. — I really liked it, Lili, you can sit down. The sad girl obediently sat down at her desk and everything was calm until the end of the lesson. That day, Shadow realized that children can be cruel. During recess, the same boy who showed the blue hedgehog approached the baby. Instead of laughing at her, he praised her and even showed her his toy. The boy admitted that he even envied her, because she was able to sew the eyes, and not just use beads or buttons. — Yes... He is special to me. If I used buttons, he would be angry. And I don't want him to be evil. He is the kindest hedgehog in the world! — I have no doubt about it! Suddenly Shadow interrupted his memories and it dawned on him. He was special. Despite his age, the owner took him to college. She even took him to her new home when she got married. Hedgehog was the first to know that the Draytons were having a child. He was special to Lili. He was practically a member of the family. — For me, you will always be the best, Shadow the Hedgehog. I will never give you up or throw you away. You will always be with me and David. — after these words, Shadow gathered all his will into a fist so as not to come to life and hug the adult mistress. He was already cursing this damn rule. Lili put the toy on the table, deciding to give it to her son in the morning, and was just about to go to the bedroom when a thought appeared in her head. The woman went to the closet and took out a pillow and blanket and put everything on the sofa. — I think Vanya won’t be offended if I stay with you today. — David’s mother whispered, settling down on the sofa and placing the toy next to her. There were a lot of emotions inside the hedgehog. He couldn't believe that all this was really happening. — I love you. When the hostess fell asleep, Shadow came to life and, making himself more comfortable, hugged her, and then whispered. — I love you too. I'll always be there for you, just let me know if you're sad. — after that he froze again, enjoying the warm embrace. He could not even dream of something like this. It was the best moment of my life. And so, the whole city was sleeping peacefully in warm beds, when suddenly something like a UFO flew over the dark blue sky covered with stars. A red flying machine in the shape of a bitten donut lands over the city and Father Frost himself descends through an open hatch, and not just one, but a whole army of Father Frost doubles. It should be noted that seven and a half billion people now live on planet Earth, and in order to have time to visit every house, every apartment and every family to leave a gift, it would take him a very long time, taking into account the fact that someone, for example I could not sleep to wait for Father Frost himself and see him or even catch him, as is now fashionable. Each clone of Father Frost had the same task: choose his own house with his family in the city, go into it, leave gifts for everyone who behaved well all this year and then leave. And if someone is not sleeping and suddenly notices, do not scare them, but talk to them, wish them a Happy New Year and put them to bed. And each of them had ten minutes of time for all this. One of them magically descends through the fireplace chimney into the house, despite his fat belly. Once inside and without even catching a burn from the fire, he quietly entered the room, sneaked to the tree and, thanks to a magic bag, took out the necessary boxes, wrapped in beautiful wrappers and ribbons. As he was putting down the last gift, he suddenly heard someone's quiet sigh. The toy hedgehog, which was lying next to the hostess, came to life and paid attention to Father Frost, and then let out that same sigh so that the hostess would not be accidentally woken up. Before this, he had never seen Father Frost live before and thought that this was just an invention of adults so that children would at least believe in something. Frost, smiling, raised his mittened index finger to his lips under his beard and quietly shushed him, asking him not to tell anyone about him. Shadow responds by pretending to close his mouth with a zipper, thereby giving Father Frost his word. After this, Father Frost again flies out through the fireplace and leaves no trace. The remaining clones of Father Frost also successfully completed the task and, attracted by the anti-gravity beam, returned to their ship. The ship in the shape of a bitten donut flew at the speed of a bullet, not forgetting, in case someone was still awake, to publish through a loud speaker: — Happy New Year everyone, Krasnogurbintsy.

In the next morning

      G.A.N's toy soldiers and their radio nanny got up early and hid inside the tree, immediately learning that gifts from Father Frost himself had been left under the tree. — Get ready, guys, David may appear any minute! — said the sergeant, after which all the soldiers saluted and began to wait for the signal. After about fifteen minutes, the sergeant noticed movement and immediately moved the tree branches so that none of them would be seen. David’s mother opened her eyes at that moment and at first tried to remember what happened yesterday. When she realized what was happening, she just lay there for five minutes, not wanting to get up. Five minutes later, Lili finally stood up, carefully placing Shadow on the table so that he would not fall. Having put everything back in place, Lili went into the kitchen, where Ivan was already with her parents. Meanwhile, the toys in the room were motionless and impatiently waiting for David to wake up and go open his gifts. Next to the shelf on which Blaze stood there was an electronic alarm clock for the first time, which, when it reached eight o'clock in the morning, turned on beeping beeps that woke the boy up. David turned off the alarm clock with one press of a button and immediately ran to the first floor, out of impatience. He knew that after every New Year, every morning of the first of January, gifts from Father Frost appear under the tree. — Winnie the Pooh, this is Uncle Styopa, do you hear? — the sergeant’s voice was already heard from another nanny radio, which by that time was already turned on in David’s room. — Guys, it's starting! — Blaze called everyone downstairs and many of the toys, moving away from their affairs, went to listen to what the Draytons got for the New Year? — I wonder if they might give David a dark Gaia? Xenomorph? Or a predator? — the time eater suggested out loud, but this time he was no longer afraid of anything. Now he, like everyone else, knew that neither David nor his parents would throw any of them away. — Or maybe they’ll give him another one of me? — suggested Infinite. — Then I could play a kind version of myself... Let's say from a parallel universe. Well, the Time Eater was rumored to be an alternative version of Mephilis from another dimension. At this time, Sonic was behind the other toys and talking with Amy, who had made herself a mask of Princess Fiona in the form of an ogre out of paper and painted it with felt-tip pens. — Happy New Year to you, Shrek! — Amy said as a joke. Sonic turned his eyes upward and saw that a mistletoe made of paper was also flying above them on a hook, on which Big himself was holding in his paws with the help of a real fishing rod. — O! Why, it's mistletoe. — said the blue hedgehog and unexpectedly receives a kiss from the pink she-hedgehog, after which he kisses her back. — Or maybe they’ll finally give him those figures of the Insidious Six or Mitarex? — suggested Dr. Eggman. — Then I could play the role of a good doctor who reforms and helps the Mobians in the war. — That's it, guys! Quiet! — Blaze asked everyone to be quieter and listened to what the sergeant was saying through the radio to the nanny. — The first gift is... Maria Robotnik! I repeat, Maria Robotnik! — after the sergeant’s words, all the toys looked at each other and giggled conspiratorially. — It seems like someone is very lucky. — Blaze said, clearly referring to Shadow, who was not here. — Oh, I'm not shaved! — Eggman suddenly realized and tried to remove his mustache. In response to this, all the toys laughed. Meanwhile, Sonic jumped onto Silver's bed, his face covered in Amy's kisses, and his mind a little foggy. Noticing his friend's condition, Silver only grinned meaningfully. — Winnie the Pooh, attention! David opens the next gift... — Silver, aren't you worried? — asks Sonic. — No no no. — the white hedgehog calmly answers. — And you? — No, Silver. — Sonic answers and hugs his friend. — Well, why should we all be afraid after you were given to David? — Wow?... — the sergeant himself was surprised. — This is a gift from grandparents. I don't think it's worth talking about this. You will see it yourself later. David, open the second box and took out a new Dr. Gerald toy, which looks a little different than the one from our neighbor Dennis. — Like? Grandpa and I made it ourselves! — the old lady smiled, seeing her grandson’s smile. — Mom, dad, I didn’t think that you would decide to do something like that. You weren't particularly interested in what I was interested in as a child. — said Lili, not believing that her parents themselves made such a toy. — Even though we didn’t show much interest, we knew how important it was for you. I myself saw how you tried to make this hedgehog. — the mother pointed to Shadow, who was still lying on the table. — We thought it would be nice to create something like this. Maybe we'll start to understand you better. Not finding the right words of gratitude, David simply hugged his grandparents. Lili decided to do the same, believing that in this case, actions are better than words. Looking at this sweet picture, the sergeant involuntarily shed a stingy tear. — Are you okay, sir? — one of the soldiers decided to ask, worried about his commander. — I'm fine, private. — the sergeant answered and returned to his observations as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, David took the gifts and decided to take them to himself. — Winnie the Pooh, Attention! David goes to his room! Everyone will immediately return to their seats! — Everyone is in place! — Silver shouted, after which the toys rushed into the placer and hid somewhere. Sonic and Silver remained on the bed, while Blaze turned off the nanny radio and froze on her shelf. — Hello, toys! — said the boy, entering the room. Having placed new toys on the table, Drayton Jr. immediately ran away. He couldn't wait to see what was in the other boxes. — Bye, toys! The toys came to life again and began to look at the new toys with interest. What attracted them most was the Gerald doll. — So, what is this gift that the sergeant spoke about? — said Ivo, opening his eyes wide. — It looks like the grandparents decided to please their grandson in this way. — said Silver. At this moment, new toys began to come to life. — Oh, they finally gave me to him! To lie in a box for so many days, without the opportunity to go out and not get caught by someone, is torture! — the old man grumbled, glad that he was free. — Um... Grandpa... — Maria called, drawing attention to herself. The professor looked at the box and understood what she was talking about. — Oh, sorry, dear. I completely forgot... — he says and helped the girl unpack her own box to free herself from it. — Um... hi! — Sonic greeted embarrassedly, clearly not wanting to get involved in the dialogue. Gerald and Maria looked around at the same time and saw that David's old toys were greeting them. Including Silver himself. — Welcome to our family! — says the last one. — Shadow will be very glad to see you when mom brings him back to our room. — says Ivo. Maria and Gerald smile back at the toys for their friendly greeting and, moreover, they perfectly understood who they were talking about.