З життя
Батько вигнав сина, але прийняв невістку як свою дитину.
Володимир завжди був шанованою людиною у нашій громаді. Я жив з мамою, татом і дідом в одному будинку. Ми з батьками жили в основному приміщенні, а дідусь у прибудові.
Кожної неділі ми обідали разом, за одним столом. Дід наполягав на цій традиції, бо вважав її непорушною.
Коли мені було сім років, сталася важлива для мене розмова, що назавжди залишилася у пам’яті.
– Ганно, я йду від тебе. У мене нове кохання. Якщо можеш, пробач. Планую створити нову сім’ю у цьому домі, тому даю тобі тиждень, щоб знайти нове місце для життя.
Ці беземоційні слова батька здивували мене. Вони важко вразили мою маму, яка просто плакала. Сльози повільно котилися по її обличчю. Вона почала збирати речі та взяла телефон, щоб зателефонувати бабусі. Здавалося, вона хотіла сповістити її, що скоро приїдуть гості.
Дід твердо забрав речі з маминих рук і мовив:
– Ганно, я не дозволю, щоб ти залишилася без даху. Збирайся, але ти залишишся тут, а це вередливець нехай шукає собі іншого притулку.
– Що? Так не можна, це теж мій дім! Я тут житиму з новою дружиною.
– Спробуй! – застеріг дід, глянувши на нього так, ніби мороз пішов по шкірі.
– Не дивно, що в селі тебе відьмаком звуть!
– Не знали люди, бо я міг передбачати. У мене гарна інтуїція.
Він повернувся до мами та додає:
– Завжди мріяв про доньку. Бог мене почув. Живи тут зі своїм сином, я завжди буду поруч.
Батько пішов геть. З того часу я його більше не бачив. Чув, що він виїхав за кордон з новою дружиною.
Я ріс, а дідусь став для мене наставником: суворо, але справедливо. Якщо я десь провинився, мене чекала домашня робота.
Пропустив уроки – вигулював корів, нахамив мамі – колов дрова. І так далі по списку.
Коли мені виповнилося 20, ми з друзями вирішили поїхати на відпочинок на море. Мама тоді була у відрядженні, зв’язатися з нею не було можливості, тому я вирішив їхати. Прийшов до хати, почав збирати речі. Це помітив дід.
– Куди це ти?
– Їду відпочивати. Може бути?
– Добре думаєш. Не поїдеш.
– Діду, я вже дорослий. Ти не можеш мною командувати.
Я взяв речі та висунувся до дверей, але ноги не слухалися. Дід суворо поглянув на мене:
– Незалежно скільки років тобі, ти не поїдеш.
Наступного дня з новин дізнався, що автобус, яким ми планували їхати, потрапив у аварію. Спочатку не зв’язав ці події. Та пізніше зрозумів – дід врятував мені життя.
Діда не стало кілька років тому. Соромно визнавати, але через його важкий характер я не відчував суму.
Зараз я маю родину, доньку на ім’я Олеся, названа на честь матері. Одного вечора ми вирушили на гірку. Вже сутенило, і я наполягав на поверненні додому. Проте Олеся дуже хотіла спуститися з одного схилу біля дороги. Я дозволив.
Донька з розбігу спустилася з гірки. Вона швидко мчала, і її понесло на дорогу. У мене зупинилося серце.
Раптом санчата зупинилися, ніби невидима сила їх затримала.
– Олесю, все гаразд?
– Тату, все добре. А де дідусь?
– Який дідусь?
– Ну той, що вийшов на дорогу, змахнув рукою і зупинив санчата. Він сказав, що тут кататися небезпечно. Додав, що сперечатися з ним не варто.
І я зрозумів: дідусь одного разу врятував мені життя, а тепер врятував і мою доньку. Ще більше поважаю його, бо дід насправді навчив мене життю.
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