Stories. Inventions

Franek lifted his head and saw a young boy perched on the branch of a large tree. The boy grabbed the branch above his head, dangled and then deftly jumped down. He straightened up and dusted his hands off. His clothes resembled slightly Franek’s new outfit, except that they were all black. He also had a beret pulled on his forehead.

‘Apologies,’ said the stranger. ‘I didn’t see you there. I’m Janek,’ he introduced himself, holding out his hand and squeezing theirs. Spryciarz gave a friendly bark and the boy patted him on the side.

‘What are you doing here? Are you visiting some student?’

‘Not exactly…’ mum hesitated.

‘What is this contraption?’ asked grandpa, bending down to grab the parts which had fallen from the tree.

‘Oh, it’s just… my little idea for a student competition.’

‘Wow! Are you an inventor?’ cried Franek.

‘Ha ha! I’m trying to be a scientist. Testing your ideas in practice is necessary in science.’

‘Can we see your other inventions?’ asked Bogusia.

‘Why not? Come with me. I live at the Academy.’

The boy led them towards the two-storey brick building. When they went through a wooden gate, Franek blinked at the sight. Although they went inside, they were still outside.

‘This is our courtyard,’ explained Janek. ’We have just passed by some lecture rooms and here is the library. If you go this way, you’ll reach the kitchen and the common room which also serves as a dining room. All students eat their meals with the lecturers.’

They crossed the courtyard and peeked curiously inside the room.  At the centre there was a large wooden table with benches. Above the table was hanging an enormous candle holder, whereas smaller, additional candlesticks stood in wall niches. Several students were sitting at the table, leaning over some books. The family and Janek left the dining room and continued their journey through the building. Some students were taking a stroll holding books in their hands. Some of them were sitting together on wooden stairs laughing at something written on a piece of paper. Franek, Bogusia, their mum, grandpa and Spryciarz, following Janek, climbed the stairs to the gallery which hang over the courtyard and surrounded it. The stairs and the floor on the gallery creaked under their feet. Janek approached a wooden door with metal fittings at the end of the gallery, pushed it and gestured for them to come inside.

There was a terrible mess in the room… Every free space on the shelves, the bed, the small desk, the chair and even the floor was covered with book piles, some loose sheets, glass vials, dead candles and some objects which looked like unfinished inventions. The children were looking around fascinated, whereas Spryciarz began to sniff the piles.