Kitten Shymyr

In the midst of the deep blue sea there was an island, where different animals lived. Juicy fruit and vegetables grew here, and wonderful flowers blossomed. Day and night snow-white steamships sailed up to look at the beautiful island and admire its beauty.

On this island lived a cat-dreamer by the name of Shymyr, who very much liked to sit on the coast and look at the sea and the gulls.

When Shymyr was born, he was different from his brothers; in fact, he was born completely without fur. His parents were upset and could not understand whence this freak had come from. Nevertheless, they loved him more than the other kittens. Wherever Shymyr went, everyone laughed at him: cats, dogs, and even mice. When they saw him, they were frightened and laughed loudly, holding their bellies.