Sumchi

This is the short version of the story. Sumchi is dreaming. He's dreaming of Esthi, his classmate, whom he's hopelessly in love with. And of the land of Ubangi-Schari, where he'll one day go to experience adventures. But for now, luck has something else in store for him: a bicycle. Sumchi immediately sets off, determined to go straight to Ubangi-Schari. Even though it's just a women's bike. But he doesn't get that far. His first stop is his friend Aldo's house. Aldo manages to swindle him out of the bicycle in a trade for a toy train. The reason Sumchi's plans to build the train never come to fruition is quite clear: Go'el is the biggest and strongest boy around, and he ends up offering a real dog, a perfectly obedient one, in exchange for the train. But his newfound canine happiness lasts only ten minutes. After being slapped by his father, Sumchi is left with nothing but a pencil sharpener he finds on the street. But luck takes pity on him. Sumchi is allowed to spend the night at Esthi's house. How long does this love last? Almost an entire long summer.