Nicolas and the World Around. Dave Rivera
Nicolas and the World Around
Dave Rivera
© Dave Rivera, 2025
ISBN 978-5-0065-5802-1
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
The only wish
Nicolas couldn’t sleep for a long time, lying in his soft bed, covered with blankets and toys. The trees rustled softly outside the window, and the moon cast a soft light on his room. Smiling in the darkness, he remembered looking at the stars with his grandfather yesterday and hearing exciting stories about the constellations.
Inside him, a desire to see that magic again flared up. Carefully, Nicolas tiptoed out from under the blankets and went to the window. He looked out at the street, which seemed mysterious and inviting in the silence of the night.
Clutching his small telescope in his hands, Nicolas quietly opened the door and, catching his breath, stepped out into the cool night. Stepping onto the soft grass of the courtyard, he felt the magic dissipate around him.
He had always dreamed of seeing the stars closer than through the window. He climbed the small hill behind the house, sat on the grass, and looked up into the vast sky, studded with sparkling stars.
Nicolas opened his small telescope and squinted into the distance. Each star seemed to him a real spark of magic, flashing in the vastness of the dark sky. He admired the way they twinkled like graceful dancers on a celestial stage.
Suddenly he noticed one particular star that shone the brightest. “This must be a very important star,” thought Nicolas and pointed his telescope at it. At that moment, as if he had heard a call, he closed his eyes and said softly: “May this star fulfill my wish to see the cosmos.”
Breathing in the fresh night air, Nicolas felt his heart beat faster with excitement. He had always believed that stars were not just celestial bodies, but whole worlds of possibilities and dreams. It was important to not only try to see them, but to understand their mysteries. His grandfather had always said that the stars could listen, and it was only necessary to formulate the right wish.
Keeping the image of the bright star in his mind, Nicolas thought about what he would like to do if he could go into space. He imagined hurtling along a rainbow of light to distant planets where strange but beautiful creatures grew and where flowers exuded fragrances that Earth did not know. Thoughts of space adventures filled his imagination, allowing him to forget for a moment the usual boring reality.
“Oh, how I wish I could see another galaxy!” – he said in a whisper as he continued to gaze into the night sky. He pressed his eye to the telescope again. However, the star he had noticed earlier suddenly began flashing even brighter, as if responding to his words. Nicolas’s feet felt as if they were frozen to the ground as he noticed a glowing cloud forming around it, like a mysterious window to another world.
From somewhere in the back of Nicolas’ mind grew tension and intense excitement. “No, this isn’t just a play of the imagination,” he thought. “It means something more!” Overwhelmed with new hope, he clasped his eyes again and asked the star to reveal to him not only the beauty of the heavens, but also the mysteries of space that mankind dreamed of discovering.
As he said his words, it was as if a white veil had been lifted from the sky. The soaring stars began to join together to form brilliant lines, as if they were creating a map of a whole new world. Nicolas couldn’t believe his eyes. “What is it?” – he blurted out. The wave of excitement he felt again, and working his mind, he immersed himself in the cosmic wonder that opened up before him.
When Nicolas opened his eyes, he felt that something had changed around him. Suddenly, a soft glow coming from the ground caught his attention. Looking down, he noticed an unusual stone lying on the grass. Intrigued, Nicolas walked closer and reached out his hand and gently touched this magical stone. He was surprised at how warm and pleasant it felt in his palms.
As he picked up the stone, Nicolas suddenly felt a wave of energy wash over him. He pressed it to his chest, and his thoughts of stars and space became even more vivid and clear. “What is this miracle?” – he thought. The stone seemed alive, as if it knew about Nicolas’s dream and was ready to help it come true.
Holding onto the stone, he decided it was a sign that he should take it with him. It was necessary to solve its mystery. As soon as he put the stone in his pocket, he felt as if he had made a bargain with the sky, and everything around him was filled with anticipation.
Nicolas walked back up the hill, once again snuggling into the soft grass. His gaze went to the bright star he had noticed earlier, and he clasped his eyes again, saying in silence, “Star, I have taken this stone. Save it for me, and show me the cosmos!”
When he returned home, Nicolas looked at it for a long time, marveling at its bright lights. He noticed that the stone glowed brighter when he thought about his dreams: about traveling to other planets, about dragons, and about magical creatures. That same night, as Nicolas fell asleep, the stone began to shimmer even more, as if responding to his wishes.
The morning came quietly and serenely. The rays of the sun shone through the curtains in Nicolas’s room, gently warming his face.
The classic morning bustle had taken possession of the house. “Nicolas! Time to get up!” – came his mom’s voice from the kitchen. He quickly sat up on the bed. The boy rushed straight from bed to the bathroom, washing and dressing with incredible speed. He pulled on his favorite jeans and a bright T-shirt, and then suddenly remembered the rock.
Putting on his sweater, he glanced around the room once more and slipped the magic stone into his jeans pocket without thinking. “Just in case,” he thought. Despite his slight drowsiness, he felt a new excitement brewing inside him.
When he came downstairs, Nicolas saw the family already gathered. Grandpa was sitting at the table with a proud look, telling something to his sister, who was listening to him with great curiosity, and his father was pouring coffee for his mother with a smile. The morning sunlight was streaming through the window, creating a cozy atmosphere.
“Good morning, Nicolas!” – His mother addressed him with a smile. “How did you sleep?”
“Good morning, I’m… well!” – Perplexed as to how to explain the magic of the night, Nicolas replied. Sitting down at the table, he picked up his breakfast and started devouring his favorite pancakes with jam, happy to have all his loved ones around.
Nicolas was enjoying his breakfast when suddenly he felt something cold and heavy slip from his pocket. A second later, the stone, shining brightly in the morning sun, fell to the floor. His younger sister, Agnes, immediately gave a groan, ran up to him, and, seating herself on his lap, exclaimed joyfully: “Look, Nicolas! How racy!”
“That’s my rock!” – replied Nicolas, holding out his hand to take it back. But his mother, raising her eyebrows meaningly, said: “Agnes, give the stone to your brother. He brought it with him, and it is his stone.”
Agnes reluctantly handed over the stone, but Nicolas noticed that her eyes were glowing with delight. He knew that this stone was not simple and he wanted to share its magic with his sister, just not now. At that moment, his grandfather, who had been watching everything that was happening with interest, quietly said: “You know, stones can hold many secrets.
Agnes, with a discontented sigh, returned the stone to Nicola, but her curious gaze never left him. Breakfast continued in a warm and cozy way. Grandpa continued to tell stories from