Invent your own country

There was no need to run anywhere, no need to search for the promised land. It was right here, beside us. You just had to invent it. I could already see it in the dark. Over there, where the bathroom door is — palm trees, ships, palaces, mountains…

— Oska, land! — I exclaimed, gasping. — Land! A new game for life! Oska secured his future first. — Dibs on being the horn… and the engineer! — said Oska. — What are we playing? — A country!.. From now on, every day we’ll live not just at home, but also as if in a country… in our own state. Left ahead! I’m giving the approach signal. — Aye, left ahead! — answered Oska. — Hoooooonk!!! — Slow down! — I commanded. — Ease the bow line! Release the steam! — Sssshhh… — hissed Oska, slowing down, easing the bow line, and releasing steam. And we stepped off the bench onto the shore of a new country.

Lev Kassil. “Conduit and Shvambrania”