Professor Higgins was walking down Baker Street. Jonathan Swift and Arthur Conan Doyle walked towards him.
Professor and writers said Hello.
- How are your pupils, Professor? - Johnathan Swift has asked.
- Of the street flower girl I can make the great person: Buckle, Wilde and Purcell in one person.
Jonathan Swift and Arthur Conan Doyle smiled skeptically:
- It's like to combine Gulliver with the Dancing Men!
- Centuries-old traditions and methods. Education and training, - said Professor Higgins.
Continuing to smile, the writers said goodbye to the Professor and continued on their way.
Professor has approached a street flower girl:
- Mademoiselle! I am professor Higgins, the founder of the Center of personal development! I intend to engage in the development of your personality. You will become Henry Thomas Buckle, Oscar Wilde and Henry Purcell in one person.
The flower girl looked at the Professor with interest.
- I believe you made your choice. Please follow me. To my Center. Nothing educates like responsibility.
Entering the Center building, Professor concretized the own words:
- Nothing educates like responsibility! I'm appointing you Director of the Center. I myself will carry out duties of the creative head.
- I will have the position, the office-room, the finance, the stamp, the rights of the signature and appointments of the personnel? - the flower girl has suddenly specified. - About all this I have heard from passersby and buyers... Lovely, kind, generous people...
- Yes - Yes, - Professor Higgins has reacted. - You must look at a situation more widely. Prepare for personal changes. Don't focus on details.
- Show me, please, my office-room, Professor, - asked the flower girl.
- How times we to him came, - Professor opened the door in the spacious office.
- This is your new chief, - the Professor to the secretary declared. - Director. .. e-e-e...
- Ms. Flower, - said the flower-girl.
- The Director of the Center, miss Flower, will be holding the staff meeting! To convene all! - the Professor declared.
The phone rang. After a short telephone conversation, the Professor said:
- The exhibition of world importance at the Kensington Museum! I was notified in advance and agreed to attend the opening. I hope you, miss Flower, and the other staff will be able to carry out their duties for two hours without my direct supervision.
- The very atmosphere of your Center fills the staff with constructive energy, sir! - the new Director politely answered.
Professor has gone to an exhibition.
Two hours later he was again at the entrance to the Center.
The door was locked.
The Professor knocked several times.
From somewhere the one of employees of the Center ran out. He whispered something excitedly to the Professor. Then he imperceptibly disappeared.
Professor has in embarrassment looked around.
Jonathan Swift and sir Arthur Conan Doyle were returning from a book exhibition at the Baker Street. They raised their bowler hats:
- Our respects, Professor!
Then jokingly they added:
- How your 'new' Gulliver!
The Professor froze for a moment. But the British equanimity has helped out:
- Yes, gentlemen! My efforts have yielded results! The very atmosphere of my Center contributes to personal development. Three hours ago, a street flower girl - now my pupil - was engaged in a street 'business'.
She's a doctor of science now. The well-known scientist.
She wrote a concert for the organ. The news reported that after the concert an inspired people shouted: 'Bravo!'. And for the music execution there has arrived the organist from one of the islands of Polynesia.
Moreover, she wrote a book about the exhibition, which I have just visited. And she joined a local writers' organization.
Here's how!
- And what for a commemorative plaque has appeared on the building of your Center? - writers have taken an interest.
The Professor did not notice the memorial plaque at once. In his eyes darkened. But, while preserving the dignity, he expressed the thesis:
- A progress cannot be stopped!
Writers smiled. They said goodbye to the Professor and walked along the street.
The Professor was looking at the plaque.
November 07, 2017 09:39
Translation from Russian into English: June 20, 2018 07:45.
Владимир Владимирович Залесский 'Скетч о новом Гулливере'.