– I want to wish you, my dear, and all the best. I want us to be together all the time, give love to each other. I want our family to become friendlier and stronger time. I want it to grow…

From the side it looked as if she did not finish her speech. She drank her champagne down and put the glass on the table. Shutting her eyes, she had a bite of lemon, standing up still for a moment, trying to fight the effect of alcohol, and then sat down on the chair.

– Mom! I have another present for you! It is under the New Year tree. Do you want me to bring it?

– Please don’t. I would rather get it myself as on the New Year. You won’t be offended, dear?

– No. It is your gift! I will only be glad if you get it in the evening. Then it would be as if we celebrate New Year together! Am I right, dad?

– Do you mean that your present would be next to moms?!

– It is still there! I haven’t looked at it yet. And put moms next to it!

– Really, son? – Svetlana was surprised. Usually children pay attention at presents first, and then notice everything else…

– Dad, I forgot to tell you, I have a present for you as well. So there are three presents under the tree! Happy New Year! I love you very much! It is great, that we are together.

– Svetlana, we got a wonderful son!

– Yes, Vadim, I know. When he grows up, he will be smart and strong. All the girls will like him, right Nikita?

– They like me already; – son became shy.

– Do you like them?

– I don’t know yet. I haven’t thought about it. I love you, mom. And you, dad. And grandma. This is it, probably.

Svetlana was looking at her boy, so healthy, attractive, smart and mature. The expression of his dark blue eyes was very serious, as thought he was a grown up person already and not a little boy. The only thing that he lacked was confidence, support from the outside, may be attention. She was admired by his attractive face and dark hair. She liked that Nikita does not have childish haircut, just like he does not have childish actions. “He is a lot like Vadim, – Svetlana thought. – From me he has unlimited energy, desire to move forward and some femininity. That unites us!” She looked at her husband, son and herself and saw how in one person two other can live. Nikita inherited all their qualities, so Svetlana was concerned if he also inherited their fears and doubts.

– Mom, I always wanted to ask you, what is your biggest fear?? “Here is your answer!” – Svetlana thought and answered:

– To loose you, baby!

Vadim looked at his wife attentively and realized at that moment how much he loved her. It was hard to understand what was happening inside of her: weather she was suffering or gave up on her dream. «No! – he said himself. – My wife is a strong person; she will be fine. I’ll try to help her! I should not be thinking about all that so much»!

– How to understand your answer?

Nikita was ready to hear something new and was looking at his mom with attention.

– It means to know and to feel, that the person is near you, but he does not love you any more. Do you understand me?

– Not really. I don’t think I ever experienced that.

– It is better not to have this experience at all, son. To understand this, you need a lot of will and strength. No matter what will happen to you, you’ll know that this can happen.

– So how is that applicable in life?! Explain more specifically, please.

– What do you need all this for, son!? – said the father, turning off the TV volume.

– I don’t want this to happen to me. Mom says that it is bad.

– It is not just bad; it is something unavoidable – it happens to everyone. There are moments in life when you realize that what you crave the most is impossible to get. It is so important to you, that it seems that life has no meaning without it. However, it is necessary to accept the situation. At first it will be very hard, but a human being can get used to everything.

– It is clearer now! What is your opinion, mom?

– I think exactly the same, son. We all agree because this is exactly how life is.

They had this conversation with easily, as thought they were all adults. It was clear to parents, that his son notice and understands everything even more, then it is necessary for his age. Weather it is good or not is unknown. No matter what they think, it does not change the situation. Svetlana and Vadim made their son as happy as they could, this is why they felt carefree and easy, trying not to think, that he will grow up soon and leave their lives. Vadim, giving explanations to his son, was clarifying things more to himself then to the son. He was preparing himself to unavoidable and when he meant “people”, he meant himself and Svetlana. Looking at his wife, he could see that she understood his words. Nikita will understand everything with time.

– Let’s play some games, – Svetlana suggested.

– What do you want to play, mom?

– We are going to play your favorite game, Nikita.

– My favorite game is soccer, daddy knows that. We used to play all weekends long, do you remember?

– Why do you like soccer so much? Is it such an interesting game?

– Of course it is interesting, mom! You play it in a team, just like you play basketball or volleyball.

– What do you feel, when you play in the team?

– Friendship, understanding of the fact that you are not alone. It gives you confidence and strength. Sometimes you have difficult situations and then your friends help you out. It is easy to determine, who is weaker then you, and you need to help this person…

– Is it hard or easy to play soccer? What do you think?

Svetlana liked to have serious discussions with her son. It seemed to her, that she can predict when her son would be right and when not. She tried to explain him, that it reality things are more complex then they seem to him.

– It is easy to play with your friends and when you can feel support; – Nikita answered so assuredly, that it made Svetlana worry.

– Have you ever tried to play in the team with unfamiliar people, without your friends, or against them as a member of other team?

– No, we don’t play this way. Why would I play with unknown people against my friends? – Nikita was surprised by his mom’s question.

– What if the boys you don’t know will like the way you play and will invite you for a game, what will you do? Refuse to play a favorite game?

– Hmmm mom… I haven’t thought about it yet! Boys in other neighbourhoods can’t get themselves to play, they won’t even think of inviting some one else…

– So what are we going to play? May be daddy has some suggestions?

– Let’s have a cake with tea, – suggested Vadim.

– Which cake? – surprised Svetlana.

– Oh, Nikita brought a present from grandma – your favorite cake.

– You are my sweetheart, – Svetlana kissed her son. – Of course, let’s go, you should have told me earlier!

– We wanted to surprise you, mom! You are supposed to make a wish on the New Year’s Day. You know it!

– Of course I know it, dear.

– Grandma told me what to do for your wish to come true yesterday. You need to make a guess what your present will be, and if your guess and your real present match, then your wish will come true as well…

– How am I supposed to know what you have guessed?

– Come on, mom, miracles do happen on New Year, right?!

– They say so. I don’t know.

– Tea is ready! Svetlana! Nikita! – Vadim was calling from the kitchen.

When the cake was served, everyone thought of their own deeds. The clock was showing midnight. Quite music was playing, three candles were burning, and their glares reflected on the tree, standing in the dark corner. Decorations on it were moving, and blinked with colorful lights. It all looked mysterious, even magical… There was a need, like in the childhood, to make a wish. “Does it mean that I should repeat my wish for the third time in life? It is unrealistic, – thought Svetlana. She took a look at the New Year tree. Interesting, what is Nikita’s present? The box with her present was wrapped in the golden paper and was decorated with a pink bow. What can be inside of the box? Her wish can’t match to the content of this box…