One warm summer day, Andrey and his friends decided to play hide-and-seek. It was their favorite game, especially in the big garden behind the house, where tall trees, dense bushes, and colorful flowerbeds grew. The garden was huge, with many hidden corners and winding paths, making the game even more exciting. Andrey was full of enthusiasm and anticipation because he always tried to find the most unusual hiding spots.

The friends agreed on who would be “it.” Andrey chose a far corner of the garden where the trees were dense. He thought it was the perfect spot where no one would find him. Quietly sneaking to his hiding place, he moved confidently through the garden, trying not to make any noise. Finally, Andrey found a good spot behind a large bush and waited, expecting his friends to start searching.

A little time passed, but no one came near his hiding place. Andrey thought that maybe his friends were looking in another part of the garden and decided to wait a bit longer. However, the silence around him grew more noticeable, and Andrey began to feel uneasy. How long had he been sitting here? What if they couldn’t find him?

Starting to feel scared, Andrey carefully left his hiding spot and decided to go back to the starting point where they had begun the game. But as soon as he started down the path, he realized he was lost. All the paths looked the same, and he couldn’t remember which one led back to the house.

Andrey stopped to calm himself and think. But the more he tried to recall the way, the more his fear grew. All he could see were trees and bushes, and it felt like he was getting farther and farther from his friends.

He remembered his father’s words: “If you ever get lost, don’t be afraid; stay calm and think about how to get out of the situation.” Andrey took a deep breath, trying to calm himself. He felt a little better and began looking around. Suddenly, he spotted a familiar figure in the distance—it was his friend Sasha!

Andrey waved his hand and shouted:

— Sasha! Help, I’m over here!

Sasha heard Andrey’s voice, came over, and immediately understood that his friend was lost.

— Andrey, did you get lost? — Sasha asked, with concern.

Andrey nodded and explained how he had been hiding for a long time and couldn’t find his way back. Sasha reassured him and said:

— Don’t worry, I know the way out. Stay close to me, and everything will be fine.

Sasha led Andrey along the path, explaining how to remember landmarks to avoid getting lost. He pointed out a tall tree with a curved branch pointing in the right direction and explained that such markers make it easier to find your way back.

After a few minutes, the boys reached a familiar clearing, and Andrey was relieved to see the house. He was so happy that his fear disappeared completely, and a smile spread across his face.

— Thank you, Sasha, for helping me, — Andrey said gratefully. — From now on, I’ll be more careful and remember more landmarks.

Sasha smiled and said he was always happy to help. They returned to their friends, and Andrey shared his story. Everyone laughed at his adventure, and Andrey joined in because now he felt much more confident.

From that day on, Andrey knew that it’s important to stay calm and not be afraid to ask for help in any situation. His friends felt even closer to him now because they were always ready to support each other in tough moments.