Ivan Bastian lives alone with his father, having lost his mother years ago. A perpetual sorrow shadows him for her absence, despite the profound love he holds for his father, who tends to him and fulfills every need.
At school, Ivan endured relentless bullying and humiliation; his peers insulted, harassed, and struck him. Yet, he never complained to his father, unwilling to burden him with additional worry. His father departed at dawn and returned late at night, exhausted from labor.
While his father worked, Ivan remained solitary in his room, spending long hours immersed in novels and tales of adventure brimming with magic, mystery, and horror.
One morning, he rose early, ate breakfast, and bid his father farewell before heading to school. As he left the house, he suddenly spotted three students from his school. Upon seeing them, Ivan fled in terror, but they pursued him relentlessly. They caught him and cast him into a refuse dump, mocking him cruelly. After they departed, Ivan climbed out of the heap.
He waited until their derisive laughter faded, then crawled with difficulty from the dump, his physical wounds stinging more sharply than their words.
Yet, as soon as he emerged from the alleyway of the dump, he froze; they were still standing at the entrance of the main street. He ran again, fleeing until he reached the school, where he hid within the restrooms.
He could hear their voices conversing: "Where is that fool?" He remained hidden until they left for class, having failed to find him.
His clothes were torn and covered in filth, making it impossible to face his classmates or teachers for fear of further ridicule. He retreated to the library; it was empty, seldom visited by students. "I will read a book until school ends," he told himself, "then return home."