З життя
Мой старший сын неродной, но я вижу в нём родного сына
В тихом городке, где все друг друга знают, жизнь идёт своим чередом, размеренно и предсказуемо. Работы здесь мало, и люди выживают за счёт огородов, рыбалки и охоты.
Наша семья жила так же. Полгектара земли и сад, за которыми мы ухаживали, кормили нас и даже давали немного дохода. Муж ловил рыбу, а я занималась хозяйством: кормила скотину, следила за огородом. Мы с детства приучали своих детей к труду — у каждого были обязанности: полоть грядки, кормить кур.
По соседству жила женщина по имени Галина. У неё было больше десяти детей, и весь городок удивлялся её плодовитости. Но ни она, ни её муж Сергей не старались их содержать. Их участок стоял заброшенным, а когда соседи пытались взять его в аренду, быстро отказывались — хозяева выставляли невозможные условия.
Галина и Сергей жили за счёт подачек. Соседи по доброте помогали: кто картошку принесёт, кто яйца или мясо. Дети часто приходили к нам, предлагая помочь по хозяйству в обмен на еду. Я не отказывала.
Особенно запомнился старший сын Галины — Игорь. Он работал всегда старательно и никогда не уходил голодным.
Однажды Сергей не рассчитал с выпивкой и умер, оставив Галину одну с детьми. Она и вовсе перестала за ними следить. Главе сельсовета пришлось вызвать опеку, и детей распределили по интернатам.
Игоря тоже увезли. Мы с мужем к нему привязались, и его отсутствие нас огорчило. Я выяснила, где он находится, и стала навещать его раз в месяц. После долгих раздумий мы решили взять его в семью.
Игорь знал нас, мы — его, и с нашими детьми он быстро нашёл общий язык. В доме он стал настоящей опорой: старший, но не заносчивый, всегда помогал младшим.
Шли годы. Дети выросли, закончили школу, кто-то пошёл в техникум, кто-то — в институт, разъехались, завели свои семьи. Игорь после учёбы тоже уехал.
Сейчас ему уже за пятьдесят. У него хорошая семья, двое детей — для нас они родные внуки. От Игоря всегда веет теплом и благодарностью за нашу заботу. Я рада, что когда-то мы забрали его из интерната.
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