When asked what he likes to do best, he has an answer for every season. So here is a brief portrayal of Nika's favourite activities throughout the year:
Nika's summertime
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| Nika frog jumping with friends |
"I love the summer!" exclaims the boy. Nika's playful and friendly nature makes him everyone's favourite companion for outdoor mischief making. A visitor can always see children jumping like frogs through the grass, climbing the toys, kicking a football, running between the houses or playing badminton.
Unfortunately for Nika, he too has a curfew and has to be in the house by nightfall. "He's never tired," SOS mother Nino sighs. "He runs from dawn till dusk, comes home, eats, washes up, and then watches cartoons for an hour while waiting for his turn to play games on the family computer."
Nika in the fall
Autumn is supposed to have a calming effect on Nika. But this is not noticeable at all. Hey, if it were up to him, school would be optional! But, as boring and confining as school may be, Nika finished the second grade with excellent results. His favourite subject is mathematics and his least favourite is writing.
At school he took on quite an interesting hobby, namely chess. He became a member of the chess club and now he is one of the most regular members, so he is improving his game rapidly. Still, despite the attractions school offers, Nika's favourite day is Friday because "we finish early and I can play longer outside in the afternoon!"
Snow for Nika
"The temperature cannot drop so low that Nika stays inside. He dresses up warmly to go outside and play in the snow," says mama Nino. Nika giggles when he hears stories about how he is always the leader when they make a Frosty (snowman). The children also make snow angels, have snow ball fights, and sleigh on anything which can hold them.
![Nika [right] with a friend posing in SOS Children's Village Tbilisi - Photo: K. Ilievska](/Explore-SOS/Story-of-the-week/PublishingImages/Article/tpa_picture_30314.jpg) |
| Nika [right] with a friend posing in SOS Children's Village Tbilisi |
Wintertime is brightened by Nika's favourite holiday, Christmas. Like so many other children, he never misses the chance to write a letter to Santa Claus. Last Christmas was especially important for him because he wrote his letter already in October asking for just one thing - a Spiderman suit. On Christmas morning he found it under the tree. "My boy ran around the house thanking Santa, Jesus, the village director, me, everyone," smiles mama Nino.
Spring skies
The melting of the snow brings with it longer days, warmer weather and laughter. This time of the year, though, our little Nika becomes taciturn. He often asks his SOS mother if he may stay outside longer or go out to the porch to gaze at the stars. Nika knows that up there in the clear sky, "among the million trillion gazillion twinkling lights lives my father."
Nika's father passed away one spring day when the boy was only two years old. Nika remembers his father's hand holding his own, his face and his voice, but he doesn't remember his father's words or any of the games they played together, but the boy looks up at the sky and tells his dad everything that goes on in his life, his secrets and wishes, his sorrows and joys.
When he comes back in on those long spring nights, Nika goes straight to mama Nino. He cuddles up in her lap, wraps his arms around her neck and asks her to whisper again and again the words she tells him every day: "My sweet boy, you are my happiness..."