It was freezing outside. In the morning, moms and dads had to defrost the wind shields of their cars, and Ka\u0161ko and the other ghosts had to... actually, they didn't have to do anything. Because ghosts don't feel the cold or the heat. They only feel it when they accidentally contract a kind of a ghost sickness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ka\u0161ko flew over winter Ko\u0161ice, circled around the tree, which, as every year, was already standing by Statue of Immaculata and waiting to be lit. He repaired one broken bulb in the Christmas decoration on the way and went to see his friends. He was looking forward to seeing them go a little crazy. He landed on the windowsill. Quietly. He wanted to surprise them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He looked out the frost-stained window and couldn't believe his eyes. Everything was out of place. Where there had been a pile of toys, there was now a red box. Where there had been Lego blocks, there was suddenly a carpet. Where there had been various dresses, disguises, scarves, weapons, masks, there were now two children's bathrobes hanging. One boy's and one girl's.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Where just yesterday there were papers, pencils, markers, glue sticks, scissors, now there was a desk. And where Majka's white skirt and blouse had always been, now Ka\u0161ko was smiling to himself. The mirror. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children came into the room, spread out papers on the carpet, two boots each, shoe polish, and set about cleaning them. Ka\u0161ko opened the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"What's the matter with you? What's going on with your room?\" Ka\u0161ko began without greeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We cleaned our shoes and tidied our room.\" Max\u00edk quickly replied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"But why? It was so nice here.\" Ka\u0161ko wept, not knowing if he could just sit on the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The children's room is properly cleaned five times a year,\" Max\u00edk began methodologically, \"on Mummy's birthday, on Daddy's birthday, on a sibling's birthday...\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And, of course, on Christmas and St. Nicholas.\" Majka added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Sometimes we used to clean at Easter, but since the cleaners come to Majka and make a mess in three minutes, we have a break from cleaning then.\" Max\u00edk added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"I see, clear now, and the feast of St. Nicholas is approaching. I understand now. So let me help you.\" Ka\u0161ko sat down next to the children on the floor and that's when something strangely miraculous happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The window opened and a visibly blue wind slowly entered the room. A slow wind. It walked past the children and made its way over to Ka\u0161ko. Ka\u0161ko stretched his hollow ears. His mouth slowly opened as he was listening. Suddenly he opened his coat and unbuttoned his pocket with the strange symbol in a circle of flying wind. The wind hid in the pocket and Ka\u0161ko closed it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"You can stop cleaning your boots.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children looked at Ka\u0161ko uncomprehendingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"St. Nicholas is not coming this year!\" Ka\u0161ko lowered his eyes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"What!?\" shouted Max\u00edk and Majka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"I just got a message from him.\" Disappointed Ka\u0161ko pointed to his inside pocket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"That was... from him?\" Max\u00edk couldn't believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"What don't you believe me? Listen, I'll tell you a secret. All the ghosts, fairies, and tame werewolves help St. Nicholas to deliver presents and especially to find out where the children are, where they are not and so on,\" whispered Ka\u0161ko mysteriously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Oh.\" The children still could not believe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Well, I'm a ghost after all. So, I am one of them. But there has to be a spell in the world to help him like that.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"What kind?\" Majka whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Every year a new song must be written about St Nicholas, which will give him the power to open all the windows, shutters, doors, chimneys, so that he can come to you. He or his helpers,\" Ka\u0161ko explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Really?\" Max\u00edk shook his head and nibbled on his thumb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And now that song just isn't. Nobody recorded it, sang it, or sent it.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"How come he did not send it?\" Majka didn't understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The lyrics of the song are hidden in secret places around the world. Then someone has to hum it, record it, sing it, and send it through our magic mail.\" Ka\u0161ko shook his head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Was that the breeze?\" Max\u00edk was trying to understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We're using that breeze instead of your cell phones. See, we record words or thoughts into the wind. It'll take it where we want it to go. And when you want to save the message, you do this,\" and Ka\u0161ko pointed to a pouch in his coat, \"that's the miracle pouch for miracle messages from all the fairy tale characters and mysterious creatures.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"It's nice, though, and I'd really, really like to hear some news from the fairies,\" Majka said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And I from the ancient knights.\" Max\u00edk had a fantasy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"But what are we going to do about that song?\" Ka\u0161ko looked pleadingly at Majka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"I know where the text is. You won't believe this, but in a little church in the country of Haravara.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Come on!\" Majka picked herself up from the ground and was already putting on her boots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Lead the way!\" shouted Max, already in his boots. When he made it, even Ka\u0161ko himself was wondering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Let's go! Towards Rusk\u00e1 Bystra!\" Ka\u0161ko pointed to the northeast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"But did you say it was in Haravara?\" Majka wondered. \"And we're going to Russia?\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"No. We're not going anywhere near here. The village is called Rusk\u00e1 Bystr\u00e1. \u201cLet\u2019s go.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They flew over Dargov, around Trebi\u0161ov, greeted the fish in Zemplinska \u0160\u00edrava and were on the spot. On a hill, around which trees grew. At the top of it stood a wooden church. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"It looks like it's been lifted from a movie,\" Max\u00edk mused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Or from the celebration cake,\" Majka added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"This is the church of the Transfer of the Relics of Saint Nicholas. Do you know where Nicholas was born and where he lived?\" Ka\u0161ko began to test his friends as he did at school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He was born?\" Majka blurted out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Sure. In Turkey. And that's where he lived. And to save two children from being sold by their poor father because he had nothing to give them to eat, he traded everything he had for a piece of gold. He left it at their window. That's why they leave presents on the window on St. Nicholas' Day.\" Ka\u0161ko explained to the children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And why in shoes?\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Because some ghosts, I mean female ghosts, couldn't look at children's dirty shoes and untidy rooms. So, they made up the idea of putting presents in the shoes. And they talked St. Nicholas into it.\" Ka\u0161ko sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\" And where is the song?\" Majka asked to finish her lecture on the history of St Nicholas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"I know just such an instruction. Beyond my image, where a new world opens up.\" Everyone was left a little surprised at these words of Ka\u0161ko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Hello, are you coming over?\" asked the nice lady in the doorway of the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Actually, yes.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Then be my guests.\" the guide invited them in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"What are we going to do now?\" Max whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Leave it to me.\" Ka\u0161ko replied decisively. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children and Ka\u0161ko went inside and found themselves in another world. Everything smelled beautifully of wood. There were paintings and pictures all around.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"These are icons. Pictures that tell great stories of great people. St. Nicholas, for example.\" She pointed to the pictures that were literally everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"How do they talk?\" Majka asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Icons are not drawn, not painted, but written. Like books. That is why they are read. They tell a story.\" Auntie led them to the painted door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And why do you have these three doors between these icons?\" Max\u00edk said, his curiosity uncontained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"The side ones are for the priest's assistants. And we call the ones in the middle the golden ones. Only a priest or a saint can walk on those. Behind them a new, mysterious world is revealed.\" Auntie continued.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"New world, did you hear?\" whispered Majka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"They have heard, but where is Nicholas?\", Max\u00edk was looking for Nicholas in all the pictures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And here is the patron saint of this little church, St. Nicholas,\" the lady guide pointed to the picture-icon by the golden door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"It's clear. There it is,\" Ka\u0161ko muttered under his ghostly nose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Look around calmly, I'll be at the door.\" The guide made her way out, still turning in the doorway:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And did you know that our church is one of the most beautiful and valuable monuments in the world, a UNESCO heritage site?\" She lifted her head proudly and walked out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Hurry up!\" Ka\u0161ko shouted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They came to the icon and to the golden door. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Over my picture, over my picture,\" they all hooted at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Got it. Look at the three stars or flowers here above the picture.\" Ka\u0161ko pressed one, nothing. He pressed the other, nothing. He pressed the third one, nothing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Well, never mind.\" Ka\u0161ko sneered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Wait,\" Majka got the idea, \"lift me up!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kasko lifted her up and Majka started to turn one flower, which had something in common with the star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"I know we're not supposed to, but we're saving Nicholas.\" Majka whispered to herself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was a piece of paper behind the flower-star.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Here it is.\" She handed the paper to the boys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They took a piece of paper, put back the flower-star and went out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Did you like it?\" The guide's voice echoed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"It's beautiful here.\" Max quickly replied and ran to the nearest tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We'll definitely come here with our parents.\" Majka added, running off after him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Goodbye!\" They both shouted at the same time, already in front of the trees on the hill. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The guide thought it must be those strange, hurried children from the city and went back to the church.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they were behind the tree, they unrolled the paper and quietly read the wording: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the old year goes to sleep,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the children will laugh again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In every window little children<\/p>\n\n\n\n
put out the booties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They run off to bed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
tomorrow is a big day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crescent moon is already keeping guard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good Nicholas is coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Well, can be.\" Ka\u0161ko remarked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Okay, we have the text. And where are we going to record the song?\" Majka asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"I only brought a small drum, tambourine, shaker, and jingle bells.\" Max\u00edk pointed to his backpack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"This would want more tools.\" Majka read the text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"But not an orchestra, we don't have time for that.\" Ka\u0161ko opened his eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"What a good guitar.\" Max\u00edk looked at Ka\u0161ko.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Guitars, of course!\", exclaimed Ka\u0161ko, \"let's go!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children didn't even have time to make a note and they were already standing in front of a red house. As soon as they opened their eyes, which must have been closed during the flight, they understood. On the gate, there was a sign that said Guitar Museum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Well, I'm looking forward to this.\" Max said enthusiastically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"You've got something to look forward to,\" Ka\u0161ko took them by the hands and continued, \"there was a strange man here in Sobrance - Jan\u010di Ferko. He said that he would collect the most interesting guitars from all over the world and put them on display in a museum. That way everyone could see how this beautiful instrument has evolved, reminisce about the old days, be inspired. Quite simply, there are over a thousand guitars in this house.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"A thousand?!\" Max burst out in surprise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"A thousand. But only two hundred are exposed.\" Ka\u0161ko reassured him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Only,\" said Majka. \"I wonder how you will choose the right one.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Easy,\" replied Max\u00edk, \"leave that on me.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They went in and Max\u00edk almost lost his breath. All around were guitars, guitar straps, posters of famous guitarists, photos, signatures..... simply, a musical paradise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"So, which one will it be, Max\u00edk?\" Ka\u0161ko whispered in his ear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Wait.\" Max\u00edk replied, a bit nervous.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We'll wait, but what about all the children in the world?!\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"This one,\" Max\u00edk pointed to the beautiful electric guitar, \"could have been played by John Lennon, Zak Wild, or Fero Grigl\u00e1k or \u013dubo Petru\u0161ka, or Andrej \u0160eban, or any famous guitarist.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"All right, we've already picked out the guitar,\" Ka\u0161ko stated calmly, \"now look over there.\" An electric piano was placed under the suspended guitars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Are we going for it?\" Max\u00edk asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Welcome,\" the cheerful fellow who guides people around the museum greets them, \"I see you are musicians. It's already winter, so we don't get many visitors. If you want, we can play together.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"That would be great. We have such a text here,\" Ka\u0161ko picked out the St. Nicholas paper and sat down at the piano. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The jolly fellow picked up his guitar and plugged it into the combo. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Max\u00edk prepared all the percussion and Majka got the microphone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He murmured something strange into the wind, and a familiar blue cloud appeared in the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Let's get started.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the band dropped:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When the old year goes to sleep,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
the children will laugh again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In every window little children<\/p>\n\n\n\n
put out the booties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They run off to bed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
tomorrow is a big day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The crescent moon is already keeping guard,<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Good Nicholas is coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When they finished playing, Ka\u0161ko checked to see if the song was recorded on the Miracle Pebble. It was. He whispered something and the breeze flew out. Nicholas was saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"It is saved for everyone, just not for us. We didn't have time to clean our shoes. I mean,\" Max\u00edk and Majka looked down at their boots, \u201cwe got them even dirtier. And we left newspapers and cleaning products and .... on the floor.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And don't even say it.\" Max\u00edk said for Majka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"But you have made several million children happy!\" Ka\u0161ko encouraged them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"That's right, Max\u00edk.\" Max\u00edk patted her brother's hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"So good. At least let's have a look around this museum a bit longer.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Come on, I'll show you around.\" Suddenly, a cheerful guy reappeared from somewhere. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He told them everything about the guitars. What different devices they had on them, how they evolved, why some are round, and some are like lightning. They threw a talk about famous guitarists and went home happily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The closer they got to the house, the sadder they got. When they flew to the window, something about it didn't seem right. It was full of some things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"He was here!!!\" they both screamed at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"We really did it.\" Ka\u0161ko sighed contentedly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Max\u00edk found a new guitar in the window and Majka found ten new staples. There were two more packages. In one of them, Ka\u0161ko found a new winter cap with furry ears from Nicholas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"And what about here?\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"Let's open it.\" they all whispered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They opened the third package. There were two magic pouches that only ghosts and fairy tale characters can carry. And a letter next to them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"For your not giving up.\"<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And underneath it the heart drawn with a large M inside.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children opened their bags, a blue breeze began to fly in the room and sang their song in their ears. They fell asleep within five minutes. Ka\u0161ko put on his new cap and flew home. On the way, he was singing his song and watching the children sleep with smiles on their lips.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201eOkolo \u010cane \u017eili najlep\u0161ie mamuty v celej krajine Haravara. Najrad\u0161ej som ich mal na dobrej \u0161korici, hmmm,\u201c ... ste zvedav\u00ed, ako pokra\u010dovalo Ka\u0161kovo rozpr\u00e1vanie? <\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":7649,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"class_list":["post-7631","pribehy","type-pribehy","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n