| И если зависть справедливо считается недостатком, то, к великому нашему сожалению, приходится признать, что Волька иногда испытывал это чувство в достаточно сильной степени. |
| During the last few days he had been very envious of Goga. | В последние дни он завидовал Гоге. |
| Long before their exams had begun, Goga boasted that his mother had promised him an Alsatian puppy as soon as he was promoted to the 7th grade. | Ещё задолго до экзаменов Гога хвастался, будто мама обещала подарить ему щенка, овчарку, лишь только он перейдёт в седьмой класс. |
| "Sure, you just wait!" Volka had sniffed at the time, feeling that he was turning cold from envy. | - Ну да! - с натугой фыркнул тогда Волька, чувствуя, что прямо-таки холодеет от зависти. -Так тебе и купили! |
| In his heart of hearts, he had to admit that Pill's words certainly resembled the truth. The whole class knew that Goga's mother never skimped on anything for her little darling. | Но в глубине души он сознавал, что Пилюлины слова очень похожи на правду: всему классу было известно, что Г огина мама ничего не жалеет для своего сыночка. |
| She'd refuse herself the bare necessities of life, but she'd get Goga a present that would leave them all speechless. | Себе во всём откажет, а уж Г оге такой подарочек отвалит, что весь класс просто закачается. |
| "She'll certainly get me a puppy," Goga persisted. | - Обязательно подарит, - строго повторил Гога. |
| "If you want to know, my mother never refuses me anything. | - Мама для меня, если хочешь знать, ничего не жалеет. |
| If she promised, it means she'll buy me one. | Раз обещала, значит, купит. |
| If the worst comes to the worst, she'll borrow some money and buy it. | В крайнем случае, возьмёт денег в кассе взаимопомощи и купит. |
| You don't know how highly they think of her at the factory!" | Её на заводе знаешь как ценят! |
| That was true. Goga's mother was greatly respected at the factory. | Гогину маму и в самом деле очень ценили на заводе. |
| She was the senior draughtsman and was a modest, hard-working and cheerful person. | Она работала старшей чертёжницей, была женщиной скромной, весёлой, работящей. |
| Everyone liked her, both her fellow-workers and her neighbours at home. | Её все любили - и на заводе, и соседи по дому. |
| Even Goga was fond of her in his own way. | Её даже Гога по-своему любил. |
| And she really doted on Goga. | А уж она в Гоге просто души не чаяла. |
| Anyway, if she had promised to buy him a puppy, it meant she would. | Словом, раз она обещала купить овчарку, значит, купит. |
| Perhaps, at this sorrowful moment, when Volka, crushed by all he had gone through that day, was slowly mounting the stairs, Goga-the-Pill, the very same Pill who deserved such happiness less than anyone else in their class, in their school, or even in all of Moscow, was playing with a magnificent, happy, furry puppy right next door, in apartment 37. |