THE BOY AND THE SNAIL

  	The boy Kylian did not know that snail slime is a remedy and cure, preventing the damage of wrinkles, scars, improving the elasticity and firmness of the skin, stimulating cell renewal, as his mother told his father, begging him to buy her a small bottle of “Snail slime cream” on Amazon, which, for him, was a joke, because he always saw his mother as beautiful without the need for slime.

 	 Mom told them:
-Go look for snails for grandma.

 	 While browsing with his brother Eder in the little gardens surrounding Rita's Pergola, in Moradillo de Roa, Burgos, they found three snails to which they named Hippocrates, Zeus and Pliny; He stayed with Hippocrates, since his brother threw the other two down the toilet bowl, complaining because they had spit on her fingers.

 	 Kylian told him:
-Why did you throw them in the toilet?

	  Eder responded:
-Better sooner than later, because grandma is going to put them in the pot to cook them so they can add the verdigris and slime, and stew them and celebrate it at the table.

	  Kylian invited Hippocrates' snail to climb his hand, letting it climb to his index finger. Afterwards, he invited him again to get into one of those boxes that brought Dad's new cell phone, exclaiming:
-Better a snail in peace than snails cooked to taste.

-Daniel de Culla

To be or not to be

Harry: Hey guys, did you hear what happened? They say people have locked themselves in their houses because of something called a virus.

Larry: Hmm, such a strange way to avoid us. I thought they just moved.

Bob: Perhaps they got too bored and decided to take an extended vacation inside their houses. I would also do this if I had houses.

Harry: Okay, enough about people. Let's discuss what we will do with this junk. There, there's a piece of pizza on the floor. Anyone hungry?

Larry: No, thanks. I recently had a hearty lunch of leftover sandwiches. But what about building yourself a “cockroach empire” here?

Bob: The idea makes sense. We can create our own state, where every cockroach will have the right to free food and housing.

Harry: Yes, and we can force all the grasshoppers to give us massages and the flies to clean up after us. This is what I mean by comfort!

Larry: What about our flag? We can make it from broken plates and broken tables.

Bob: Yeah, and our anthem will be heard from the noise we make as we trudge through the cafeteria. "Ta-ta-ta-crawling empire! Ta-ta-ta-crawling empire!"

Harry: Oh yeah, that sounds like a plan! And when we rule the world, we will forbid everyone to hide from us under our feet. Now we will rule over them!

Larry: And all our decisions will be made according to the cockroach principle. If at least two of us like something, then it will be the law!

Bob: And finally, we will announce the day when we will gather all the cockroaches in the world under our rule, and then we will finally be able to say that we are the true leaders of this planet!

Harry: Yes, we will be great and terrible! We will... um... some cockroaches with world-wide ambitions!

Olin: Hey guys, you won't believe what I just found out!

Harry: Well, what did you find out, Olin?

Olin: Humanity has disappeared!

Bob: What? Disappeared? Like this?

Olin: I've searched the entire kitchen, and there's not a single sign of people. They are not there, as if they never existed!

Larry: Good! Now no one will stop us from building our cockroach empire!

Harry: That's right, we're free! Now we can rule over this world as we want!

Olin: What if... what if they come back?

Bob: Let's not think about it. We are here now and we need to enjoy our time!

Harry: Olin, let's have fun! After all our efforts, we got this whole world!

Olin: But think about it, guys. What does this mean for us? We are building our empire on the ruins of human civilization, but what will happen when it faces reality?

Harry: What do you mean, Olin?

Olin: What I mean is that humanity disappeared, leaving behind only a destroyed world. We may inherit their place, but what will we inherit? Their mistakes, their shortcomings, their vices?

Bob: Well, if they disappeared, then they must not have been as perfect as they thought they were. We can do better!

Olin: But what if their disappearance is not just the end, but the beginning of a new era? We have witnessed the end of one civilization, but it is not guaranteed that we will become the architects of a new one.

Larry: You make it sound like it has some deep meaning, Olin. We are just cockroaches, what contribution can we make?

Olin: We can become memory keepers. We can study human history to avoid their mistakes. We can create a new world based on respect for nature, solidarity and wisdom.

Harry: But how can we do this? We're just cockroaches, crazy creatures running around on the floor.

Olin: Hey guys, have you ever thought about the meaning of our lives?

Harry: Of course, Olin. I always ask myself this question when I see a slice of pizza that I want to eat.

Larry: And I think about the meaning of life when I'm climbing walls and trying to find a new shelter.

Bob: I prefer to consider the question of the meaning of life while lying on my back and looking at the ceiling. Especially when it's covered in my footprints.

Harry: Maybe you should all shut up, I'm trying to think!

Larry: So what, you always have to think? Nobody cares about your thoughts, Harry!

Bob: Come on guys, calm down. We all need to cooperate to survive in this world.

Olin: Yes, idiots! Why can't you just work together like normal cockroaches?

Harry: Who are you to tell me, Olin? Do you think you're the best?

Larry: Calm down, Harry, you're not the only one here who has something to say!

Bob: Are we really going to have to listen to this circus every day? We must find a way to resolve our differences peacefully.

Olin: You're right, Bob. We're all in this together. Let's learn to respect each other and seek compromises.

Harry: Okay, maybe I went too far. Sorry guys. Let's look at all the options and choose the best course of action.

Larry: Yes, sorry, Harry. Let's make our cooperation more harmonious.

Bob: Great, guys. Now that we are on the same page again, let's find a way out of this situation together.

Harry: Hey guys, let's play a game of "Who said it?"

Larry: Cool idea! I am the first! "I've never eaten lunch out of a trash can."

Bob: It's Olin! He's always so picky with food.

Olin: Wrong, guys! It's you, Larry! Do you remember when you tried dumpster pizza last month?

Larry: Oh yeah, exactly! Okay, it's your turn. Who is next?

Harry: You know what, guys, I think it's time for us to end this game. The game is already starting to get boring.

Larry: I agree, Harry. This game is becoming more and more predictable.

Bob: Yes, and I'm no longer interested in guessing who said what. Maybe we should come up with something else for fun?

Olin: I completely agree. Let's come up with something new and exciting. We don't want to be bored, right?

Harry: Hey guys, what if I told you something? You'll never guess what it will be.

Larry: Well, Harry, let's hear your unexpected story.

Harry: You know, actually... We're all actually mice!

Bob: What?! This is impossible, Harry! We're cockroaches!

Olin: Wait, guys, maybe he's right. I remembered how I once accidentally found a bag of cheese and couldn’t figure out where it came from...

Harry: And so, I noticed that we all have tails and big ears, and we all run around in the dark so often...

Larry: But... but what about all our adventures and conversations? It can not be true!

Bob: What if this is all just part of our collective hallucination? We might just be rodents in a laboratory!

Olin: Anything is possible, guys... Damn, what's all the noise? Is there a cat sneaking here?

Director: Hello guys. Glad to see all of you.

Harry: Oh, hi John. What's happening?

Director: Well, I have to tell you something a little strange... Remember when we started experimenting with a new way of rendering characters?

Larry: Yes, of course. But what does this have to do with us?

Director: Well, you see, we used it on all of you.

Bob: What? So, we... we're not real cockroaches?

Director: Of course, all of you are real actors. And the performance was so realistic that I forgot that you were playing the roles of cockroaches.

Olin: So what is this place? We were sure that this was our refuge.

Director: Actually, it's a scene. We built it specifically. And all of you have been used here for many years in our productions.

Harry: So we were on stage the whole time?

Director: Exactly. And I must say that you played your roles perfectly, Harry.

Larry: It's... it's a little strange, but also surprising at the same time.

Bob: So all our adventures, our struggle to survive... it was all just part of the show?

Director: Right. And I want to say that you all did a great job, Bob. Your acting was so realistic that even I began to believe that you were cockroaches.

Olin: Well, it was still a fun study in the end.

Director: So, what do you think, do you want to continue playing your roles or maybe move on to something new?

The cockroaches exchanged glances before one of them replied with a smile:

Harry: Let's continue playing. But this time, let's add even more drama and action. I am confident that we will be able to impress the audience even more.

Director: Wonderful! Then let's start rehearsing the new act. And remember, now the adventure is just beginning!

Agenda rule
Before you speak to someone, think about the pros and cons of each word. If I say these words or statements to this person, will he not be disappointed? Analyze the words you want to say over and over again.
Because: "Tongue has no bone". Only after you know that the message you heard is true and that the person who said it is right, convey it to someone.
Because it comes to a person's head through the language of kulfat. Try to be polite when you speak.
As much as possible, talk to people you don't like in a nice tone.

Kaykovus says about language in "Qobusnoma":
.... Train your tongue with good skill and do not make a habit of anything but polite words.
Nedinkim, if you teach every word in the language, say this, use the word in its place, if the word is good, but if it is used inappropriately, even though it is a good word it also sounds bad and useless. Therefore, do not talk in vain, it is useless.
Such useless words are harmful and should not be spoken if there is no sense of craft in each word.


Despite her young age, Rayhona Jumaniyazova, who has achieved many achievements, was born on June 21, 2009 in Ellikkala district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. There are 3 children in her family, family members say that she is different from others. Rayhona has talent in all directions.

As for her achievements, she's a participant of the seminar-training "Child and Youth Friendly Local Government Initiative" organized in cooperation with UNICEF. Young consultants are members of the Ellikkala district council. Her creative work was published in the "Youth of Uzbekistan" anthology organized by Muslima Murodova. In addition, several of her creative works were published in the international "Raven Gage Zine" magazine. Currently, she is the Urganch district coordinator of Golden Wing volunteers.

A dream and a goal

Many people think that a dream and a goal are the same thing. But they are wrong! The dream is different, the goal is different. Let me explain to you about dreams and goals.

Dreams are wonderful things that fit our imaginations but don’t come true! A goal is something that will definitely come true after a little effort.

A dream will not come true whether it is tried or not, it will remain as a dream in its own name.

Some of our goals remain only in our imaginations. And you may be wondering why?

Because unwritten goals remain dreams. This is because the human mind has 70,000, 80,000 and even 100,000 thoughts. That’s why you should write down your goals in a notebook. Goals written in the notebook can be achieved. But don’t think that I wrote in the notebook and now it will come true!

In order to realize our goals, we will have to make some effort, work on ourselves, and get new knowledge. Writing a goal has its own rules, let me tell you about it!

First:

Too many people are afraid of setting big goals and dreaming. In fact, we should set big goals without fear at all. Because God does not imagine what He does not give!

The second:

Overcome lust, egoism, envy and arrogance!

Know that you cannot achieve your goals if you do not overcome your ego.

And the third:

Get rid of hatred, revenge, anger and loss!

Why do you say?

Because if you have feelings of hatred, revenge, anger, jealousy towards someone, these goals will not be yours and you will achieve them with difficulty.

What I listed above were the 3 most important rules for goal setting and goal writing.

Do you know why we set goals?

Because the money that comes to us also comes based on a specific goal, in accordance with our goals!

My advice to you is to never stop working towards your goals! Believe in yourself because you can do it all.

Today, for some reason, I felt bad when I get up. Maybe it is because I went to bed very late? Actually, every day has been like this, I do not know if it is because it is summer, and I am at home every day. The reason why I slept late is because I could not look up from the phone and social networks.. Every day I say this will be the last time, but the end of it never seems to come.

    In the morning (I am embarrassed to even call it morning, it was around 11 o’clock), I got up, washed my face and hands, and went to the kitchen to have breakfast. There was no one at home, so I made breakfast for only myself. Suddenly I noticed there was no bread at home.I was chagrined, and I did not want to go to the store. Said “Ugh” and I got dressed. On top of that, my parents had not left any money at home, which made me furious. “Why do they do that, where can I get the money now? Do I have to starve myself?” – I scolded them with anger as it had been done on purpose. I started looking for money from my bag. 

On the top of that, I had spent all of my money previous day when I went out with my friends. Among various lipsticks, a napkin, a small mirror and similar things, I found a small amount of money. But it was not enough to buy baked bread, barely enough for loaf bread.I was obliged to buy loaf bread but no appetite to eat it from the morning, began complaining. Actually, I used to find excuses to complain about everything, even the summer heat. 

After reluctantly having breakfast, I went to lie down on my mother’s bed. I did not sleep, just laid my head on the pillow, I did not feel like doing anything, not even studying and not even doing housechoirs (in fact, I can not even remember I have studied since summer started).I put my hand under the pillow and touched something hard. I saw an old, big notebook. I opened it, it seems to be my mother’s, as the handwriting looked similar.

The first page was dated 2005. It was a diary. I wondered if I should read it. The year I was born, interesting, what had happened back then? Newlywed moments. The thoughts of newly married women wearing traditional clothes every day, sweeping the yard, and preparing sweet dishes for her husband who return from work crossed my mind. I began to read the diary. 

My mother had skillfull penned down the joy they felt when she told my father about her pregnancy two months after the wedding, the nights they discussed names, and the happiness of expecting a child. As I read, tears of joy rolled down my cheeks. Did they love me that much, did they look forward to me so eagerly, really they were so happy when I was born?! Actually, they love us even now, but we do not notice it because we are older, they do not pamper us like before, we also do not notice it because we do not care about their kindness. 

After reading 10-15 pages, I stopped, and what I read swirled around in my mind. Hardships, poverty… Are these really true?! But they never told us they had suffered so much! I was angry just for eating loaf bread earlier but they even had times of no enough money to buy bread. There were times when they did not have money at all, yet did they abandon life? No, patience, everything with patience. 

My mother writes: “Thanks to Allah, soon I will have my little cute happiness. These days will be forgotten. Even if I am struggling now, let my baby be born healthy. I am having severe toxicosis, I have no appetite. To say the truth, I have been craving kebabs for a while. The smell of it from the eatery below our apartment whets my appetite. I endure. 

May my husband’s work go well, then I will surely eat it. I have no desire for the food at home. I want to eat fruit. Apples… I opened the cupboard and fridge but there is nothing exept some sugar. I boiled water and made sweet tea to drink with bread. My nausea got worse. Neighbors suggest to eat things like yogurt, curd, ayran. Yogurt? How can I tell them that there is nothing ecxept sugar at home, and I’m enduring this toxicosis with sweet tea? Let me sleep now, maybe it will pass I said as I lay my head on the pillow for a moment. No, it did not. 

I got up to cook. There was no meat and carrots. I made macaroni soup with just potatoes. The smell of the meal I’m cooking made my nausea worse. I vomited 3-4 times until the food was ready. I decided to open the window to let in some fresh air, but the scent of kebab filled the air. “Is it hard to live in Tashkent, or just we live like this?” I sometimes ask myself. 

On the one hand, I wanted to go back to the village. Something caught in my throat. I wanted to cry, I want to wave my hand to all and buy some kebabs. But I can not, I have to be patient. After all, I can see how much my husband Orif is struggling. He is not eating properly either. When he got a sore throat and a fever last month and was bedridden, he jokingly said “ Because I had eaten some snow like children” mixed it with humor.

It was a cold, harsh winter day and was snowing heavily. He went to work in the morning after having breakfast at home and did not have lunch until late in the evening. “I had not have time to go to the store and buy something, I ate a hot baked bread, because the bakery is close by” he said. I kept quiet. I knew that no time means no money. He even saved money by not buying a liter of water from the store and drinking melted snow instead. How can I eat kebabs when he ate snow instead of water?! I believe that these days will pass. Our children will eat what they want. The only help I can give him is patience”. Put the diary back, I burst into tears. I felt sorry, sorry for my situation. 

"What am I doing? Am I a worthy child for them and their sacrifices? What useful thing have I spent my years on? Have I lived 18 years just going to school for hanging out with friends, coming home and sleeping under the pretext of being tired? Just because of I am a daughter? Can not a daughter be the pride of her parents? Can not a girl do anything? No, you have spent your life with making excuses and complaining. You did not value your parents, their hard work! Have you ever eaten snow instead of water? Did you ever think about your parents who could have everything for you but settled for sweet tea to cope with nausea?! Have you ever had a day when you were hungry? Have you ever eaten stale bread?” 

I go into the kitchen and open the fridge. It is filled with a lot of kinds of foods. Were you the one grumbling about eating a loaf bread in the morning? The one who was too lazy to go to the store and said “uff”? You are the eldest child, have you ever thought about how you are setting an example for your younger siblings? Yesterday, you asked your classmate where they get their motivation to read books and doing homework and if they could give you some. Here is your motivation. You always make excuses for not doing anything, looking at your other peers who are achieving, comparing your little differences with theirs, and saying that you cam not do anything. You have one year left, you will apply to university next year. You must study, did you hear me, you must study!”

       I went to the bathroom to wash my red and puffy tear-stained eyes, but suddenly my eyes fell on a piece of paper taped to the mirror.. Because of I washed my face in the kitchen earlier, I had not seen it. I remembered being angry earlier because they had not left money for bread, I had foolishly spoken without checking the shelf of perfumes.My mother had written: “There is money in the shelf, buy some bread and other food you want for breakfast.”

Muxammadiyeva Sevinch Zaripovna was born on October 10, 2005, in Tashkent. Currently, she is a second-year student at the Uzbek State University of World Languages, majoring in philology and teaching Spanish. She holds an IELTS score of 6.0 and is interested in learning languages and reading literary works.