Blue leaves Katya had two green pencils. Lena had none. So Lena asked Katya: "Can I borrow the green pencil?" And Katya answered: "I should ask my mother first". The next day, when both girls came to the school, Lena asked: "Did your mother allow you that?" Katya let out a sigh and said: "Yes, she did, but I haven't asked my brother". "Well, then ask your brother, too", Lena said. The next day Katya came to the school. "So what, did your brother allow it?" "He did. But I'm afraid that you would break my pencil". "I will be very careful", Lena said. "You better watch out", Katya said, "Don't point it, don't press with it too hard, don't put it into your mouth. And don't draw too much". "All I need to draw is some green leaves on the trees and some green grass here and there", Lena said. "That's a whole lot", Katya said and frowned with an annoyed expression on her face. Lena looked at her and left without taking a pencil. Surprised, Katya ran after her. "What's wrong? Take it!" "I don't need it", Lena answered. Later in class the teacher asked: "Lena, dear, why do you have blue leaves on your trees?" "I don't have a green pencil". "Then why didn't you borrow it from your friend?" Lena said nothing. Katya flushed and said: "I offered it to her, but she didn't take". The teacher looked at both of them closely and said: "The thing is that you should offer the right way, so the person would take it". - Originally written by V. Oseeva, 1940s