Nikolka and The No-Moon-Night

By Apolonia Plum

The summer had just started and most of Nikolka's friends are now away. He is bored and longs for adventures. One night, he hears a strange noise and sees one of his toys disappear inside the radiator. He discovers strange tiny people who exist in the world beyond. The tiny people ask for help in rescuing one of their own. Nikolka embarks on an incredible adventure of magic, friendship and fun.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Apolonia Plum
• Release date: Aug 6, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370055753

Apolonia Plum

Apolonia Plum was born in Minsk, Belarus. She grew up surrounded by nature and animals. She believes animals to be great teachers. Her characters are drawn from some of her real life acquaintances, and their adventures are filled with fun, new experiences and life lessons. These are not very serious lessons, but important ones: about friendship, discovery, and life in general. She now lives in New York City, where she raises two kids and architects software solutions for living.

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Nikolka and The No-Moon-Night

By Apolonia Plum

Copyright 2017 Apolonia Plum

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

Thank you for downloading this e-book. This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Chapter 1 – Strange Noises

There are many who think they know Them, but really, very few do. Some even claim they’ve met Them and will tell you long stories about their exciting adventures and all sorts of fun. But most likely, they are just making it up. The only person They ever wanted to meet was Nikolka.

Nee-kohl-kah, Mom sang out his name as she peeked through the door of the room, Lights out, please. Night is for sleeping, not daydreaming.

Ok, mama, Nikolka sighed and flipped the switch off. He was so close to mapping out his next imaginary adventure, it was turning out fun. Unfortunately, sleeping always got in the way, even during the summer. Nikolka was very excited about the longest school break of the year, but the summer was starting kind of slow. Most of his friends were in day camps or away for the summer already. Nikolka was bored. He wished for adventures and a good company.

He yawned and turned on his side facing the wall.

Maybe, I will dream of something fun, he thought groggily. Nikolka was drifting off to sleep with Talya in his arms, when he suddenly heard a strange noise.

Grrr-drrr-brr-tssssssssss …

He snapped awake and sat up.

What was that? he exclaimed, startled. He stared wide-eyed into the darkness of the room, listening intently.

Grrr-drrr-brr-tssssssssss …

This was not the garbage truck that sounded like a dinosaur. It was too early for that. It was not loud enough for a car accident on the big street, either. It was not that loud at all, just a strange and crisp sound. Where did the noise come from?

Nikolka hugged his stuffed monkey, Talya, with all his might. In the dark, he could see only the blue rectangle of his window.

My parents will be here any second, he thought as he squeezed close to the wall, holding Talya tightly. Nikolka loved his old fluffy friend with black glazed eyes made of small buttons. He could tell Talya anything; it always listened very attentively and with understanding.

The sound repeated. Grrr-trr-grr-tsss-brrrrrr…

The noise was definitely coming from inside his bedroom.

Maybe I should call for help. Nikolka had no doubt it was necessary, because Talya was starting to look pretty scared too, even though his stuffed monkey was always exceptionally brave. I’ll take one peek at the floor and call my parents, Nikolka decided.

He leaned over the edge of his bed and saw something very strange. There on the floor was a little something moving across the room. It was dragging the old cookie tin filled with finger puppets to the farthest corner of the room.

That’s mine! yelled Nikolka.

The dragging stopped for a couple of seconds. Then the tin began to move again at an even faster pace and continued until it reached the radiator. The radiator kept his room warm during the winter; but during the summer it was cold. The radiator squeaked and creaked, and then everything went silent. Nothing was moving, and the cookie tin was nowhere to be seen. Nikolka stared into the moon lit room; it looked completely normal. All was quiet. He pulled the blanket snuggly around him and yawned.

My cookie tin, where did it go? His last thought lingered for a moment, and then Nikolka was fast asleep.

Chapter 2 – Little Things

At first when he woke up, Nikolka did not remember a thing. It was a beautiful summer morning, and there were going to be many more such mornings to enjoy, as summer vacation had just started. He ate his kasha and drank a full glass of milk. It was good.

He grabbed an apple and went to play with his toys. Then, as he was getting all worked up about a wheel that would not turn on one of his model cars, he suddenly heard the same odd noise again.

Grrr-trr-grr-tsss-brrrrrr… Nikolka quickly turned his head toward the sound and saw something really strange.

Before him stood two weird little, very little things with