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The Fakir and the Science of Miracles/Chapter Four: A Holiday of Good Deeds

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Chapter Four:
A Holiday of Good Deeds

Several years had passed. Katya became the real “star” of the circus of Mr. Lurie.

Once, in one of the large cities, every day among the public in the first row, Katya began to notice a teenage boy, dressed in a suit, about the same age as she or slightly older, who enthusiastically clapped and did not remove his gaze from her.

A few days later, after another show, Mr. Lurie brought this boy and his father backstage to the room where Katya had taken off her wings and was about to change clothes.

“Well, here she is — our ‘star’!” — He introduced Katya. — “And this is Count de Noiri and his son Alex. You made an indelible impression on Alex, Mademoiselle Kitty!”

… Katya looked with surprise at her admirer and at the director, who became so unnaturally kind with her.

Alex handed Katya a gift: a beautiful box with a bow, and then unexpectedly for his father and for Mr. Lurie to hear, pronounced:

“I want Mademoiselle Kitty to come to our house today and dine with us. And tomorrow — I want her to spend all day with me: because tomorrow there is no show!”

He pronounced it in a tone, implying no possible objections.

“It’s not customary,” — Mr. Lurie tried, nevertheless, to object…

But, apparently, the boy’s father often yielded to the whims of his son. And now he took a voluminous bundle of banknotes out of his wallet and with an odd smile extended the money to the director:

“But we can make an exception, can’t we?”

“Yes of course!” — Mr. Lurie said, realizing that at the whims of this “baby” he could make a nice profit.

“Can I wash myself and change clothes?” — Katya asked.

“No: I like it this way! You are so beautiful in this dress!” — Alex said. — “If you want, you can take a bath in our house before going to bed! Let’s go right now!”

Katya left the unopened box on the table and threw on her old plain-looking coat, which contrasted so sharply with her glittering and sparkling attire for performances, and went to the count’s crew.

… They drove up to the luxurious mansion.

The servants accepted their outer garments.

Katya had never seen such luxury!

“It’s like I came to the palace of a fairy tale about Cinderella!” — she thought.

… Then there was a huge hall with a large table on which there were only three covered plates.

Alex’s father did not sit down: he said he was not hungry and left the children only in the company of lackeys who silently poured juice and served food.

Katya looked with amazement at several forks and spoons near the plate, not daring to choose one of them.

Alex broke the awkward silence:

“You can eat with a spoon, even with your hands! Here — there is no one to observe etiquette!”

Katya looked around in astonishment at the four servants, frozen in silent poses…

“Ah,” — Alex laughed. — “Go away: we ourselves will choose what to eat and drink!”

The footmen left with bows.

“Don’t you consider them humans?”

“Why? Yes, they are people… But these people do everything that I want; my father pays them for this. And if I want — they will be driven out onto the street. So, don’t be embarrassed!”

“And what about me? After all, I also came here due to your father’s payment.”

"You’re another matter! I like you! We had to somehow convince your director to let you go!”

… After dinner, Katya got accustomed to the unusual situation in which she had fallen into.

But then the caretaker came in and strictly pronounced that now it’s too late and it’s time for everyone to sleep. A maid led Katya to a bathroom which was trimmed with marble. Then, when Katya had finished enjoying the warm bath with snow-white foam from a special fragrant soap solution, the maid gave her a robe and a nightgown — all in lace — and led her to a separate bedroom.

… The next morning after breakfast Alex led Katya to his room. Katya was surprised to see little figures of people and animals made out of wood or porcelain, “magic boxes” with different wonders and music, painted houses, boats with sails, and even a railway with a locomotive, trailers, and rails.

“I have no toys, and I do not know how to play with them,” — Katya said, embarrassed.

“It’s easy, I’ll teach you!” — Alex replied confidently.

… They built a city for a while from the blocks, and laid a railway… But it got boring for Alex very soon. Then they went to the garden and let very beautiful and lifelike toy ships with sails out into the pond.

This also very quickly bored the young earl.

But Katya still did not cease to be amazed that it was possible to spend time like this…

Alex suggested:

“If you want, we can go shopping and I’ll buy you everything that you want: a new coat, shoes, elegant dresses, all kinds of toys, anything that you want… I want to make you feel good!”

“But your father will be the one who is paying for this… Right? So, it turns out that it is he — not you — who is giving gifts to me, and, maybe, he does not even actually want to do this…”

“Well then…” — Alex thought for a moment. — “I remember: I have my own money! I was given it as a birthday present, but I did not spend it! This may not be enough for all your desires, but this is my own money!

“Tell me: what would you like?!”

“Yesterday it seemed to me that I was in a fairy-tale castle, and now I want to be a fairy who does good miracles! So that — in real life, at least for a short time, life becomes the same as in a fairy tale!

“Have you ever dreamed of being a magician?”

“No…”

“Well, I have dreamed about this!… When I was little, my friend Tom, the clown, taught me how to begin every day with a good start. We turned it into a kind of celebration. The main rule was to do something good for others! We went for a walk — and arranged little kind miracles.

“For example, in winter, we fed birds that were freezing and hungry. And, at the market, we bought food from the poorest old woman. And sometimes — we just walked along the street and gave smiles and kind words to people! Tom always knew how to joke so that where we passed, flowers of joy as if blossomed out!

“And today you, too, can help me to do little miracles!”

“But I am not good at making jokes…”

“Well, that’s okay: I thought of something else!”

… They went to the city in a carriage accompanied by only one servant who was in charge of the safety of the young count.

Instead of outfits and gifts, Katya asked Alex to buy chocolates, sweets, soft and lush buns and pies, and to put everything in large boxes.

Then, at the request of Katya, they went to the poor neighborhoods of that city.

“Formerly, I lived with my mother very poorly, we rarely had enough food. And it always felt like a real holiday — to get a piece of soft bread or candy,” — she told Alex.

… The poor neighborhoods surprised Alex. He had never before even imagined that there were people living in such poverty!

And Katya was so happy treating the children with free treats! She felt like a wonder-worker who could do miracles!

Katya was surrounded by little and older children. They looked at her circus outfit.

The children began to ask:

“Tell us about the circus, please!”

… At first Katya tried to describe the performance in words. And around her more and more little listeners gathered…

Then she began to show everything that she herself could do. An audience gathered from many neighboring houses. The children and their parents approached. And even random passerby stopped — and could not leave!

Katya invented her own show, as if she wanted to present the beauty of the whole circus action.

And she was enthusiastically applauded by both children and adults who had never before been and who would never be able to go to the circus! They applauded her so much that their hands even turned red from all the clapping!

Alex and his servant also clapped.

… But, after the performance, Katya became sad.

“Thank you for this day, Alex! Now, can you please take me back to the circus?” — she asked.

Alex obediently agreed. For on this day, there also was a change in him. In the morning, he ordered how to be entertained, but now, he tried more and more to give pleasure to Katya and help her. This brought him a new, never before experienced joy of caring for another, for others.

And he began to understand something new, which — from now on — could change his life…

“When I grow up, I will find you — and we’ll get married,” — he said seriously.

“It will never happen: you are a count, and I am a circus performer…

“But, anyway, today, we had a good holiday of good deeds!”

* * *

In the evening, Katya thought for a long time, and then asked Tom:

“Tom, do you believe in God?”

“I guess I believe in Him, Katya! All the circus people here to some extent believe in the Higher Powers that control destinies, and in all sorts of signs.

“Here in the circus, we are all so different from each other: different nationalities, different faiths… Most of us risk our lives, going out into the arena with predatory animals or, like you, climbing to a height, from which a fall could be deadly. Or, some of us are riders, for whom a mistake could also cost lives… But even those of us who risk only disgrace, if a number does not work out — also usually perform some rituals: for everything to go well… Perhaps, man has a need to believe in help from above…”

“Do you have a prayer which you normally use?”

“No… It seems to me that any prayer is suitable. If God hears us, is it not the same to Him, what words we use to address Him?

“However, He really does hear us, and namely here!” — Tom pointed to the center of his chest. — “From here, from the depths, He hears us! From here, He teaches us to forgive others.

“And if there is the warmth of love in my chest, then it seems to me that this is because God understands me and approves. But if inside here there is emptiness and sadness, then it seems as though He is not with me at all…”

“Why are some people rich — and others are poor? Someone was born into a family of servants and forced to work hard their entire life, doing hard work, — but someone like Alex was born by wealthy parents and is tormented by boredom, not knowing how to use his money and time…

“Today, we were in the poor neighborhoods of this city. There was so much poverty and dirt! And people, including children, live there…”

“Everyone can probably change something in one’s own life, I suppose. Even children from these poor families can try to escape from that poor life and start learning… I met people who achieved everything that they had dreamed of, even though they were born in poor families.

“However, we must also realize, Katya, that happiness does not always come from material wealth!

“Sometimes happiness comes from embracing a beloved and dear person, just as we are sitting together now, embracing. We can talk heart to heart, we understand each other. In some of those poor families, children can receive much more love than in families of aristocrats…

“Happiness cannot be purchased with money!

“And today you gave those people joy — and it’s great too! Perhaps, your treats and your performance brought more happiness to those people than we will ever be able to give in our shows to the whole audience!”