З життя
Як сусід провчив надокучливих родичів, які самовільно приходили на шашлики
**Щоденник Тараса Івановича**
Мій сусід Тарас Іванович, що мав хату під Києвом, був відомий своїми угощеннями та вмінням смачно спекти шашлик. Його секретний маринад, якому він навчився ще в Грузії після армії, робив його страву справжньою родзинкою. Але його доброта стала його ж каменем спотикання: родичі почали цим зловживати.
Кожні вихідні, як тільки над його подвір’ям з’являвся дивок від мангала, з’являлися двоюрідні брати зі своїми родинами. Вони приходили без запрошення, ніби так і треба. Завжди обіцяли допомогти, але їхня “допомога” обмежувала простою дегустацією та спустошенням столу. Ні їжі, ні напоїв вони ніколи не приносили, розраховуючи лише на господаря.
Тарас Іванович, людина вихована і тактован, довго терпів, сподіваючись, що вони самі зрозуміють свою недоречність. Але коли їхні візити перетворилися на справжнє навантаження, він вирішив дати їм урок.
В одну з субот, знаючи, що незвані гості знову прийдуть, він приготував “сюрприз”. Розпалив мангал старими дошками, що у нього залишилися після розбирання старого сараю. Диму було багато, і він мав такий кислуватий присмак, що аж у горлі першило.
Як і передбачалося, родичі не забарилися. Але, надихнувши цей “аромат”, вони одразу ж почали кривитися і кидатися знаками. Замовлені усмішки швидко зникли, коли дим став ще густішим, а запах — просто нестерпним.
“Тарасе, а чого сьогодні дим у вас такий… особливий?” — обережно промовив один з братів, затуляючи ніс хусткою.
“Та так, дрова попалися старі, ще й мокрі. Нічого, зараз розгоряться”, — спокійно відповів Тарас, підкидаючи ще одне прокляте поліно.
Через п’ять хвилин, коли очі вже були червоні від сліз, а одяг увібрав усе це “пахощі”, гості почали швидко шукати відмовки.
“Ой, а я ж забув — у мене сьогодні зустріч!”, — поспіхом сказав один.
“А ми поїдемо, бо в дитини завтра швидко в школу”, — попідхоплювали інші.
Незабаром подвір’я спорожніло. Тарас із полегшенням зітхнув, викинув залишки дощок і розпалив мангал знову — тепер уже гарними дровами. Вперше за довгий час він по-справжньому насолоджувався вечерею в тиші.
З того дня незвані гості більше не приходили без запрошення. Схоже, урок спрацював, і Тарас Іванович нарешті отримав спокій.
**Мораль:** Іноді треба трохи пожартувати, щоб люди зрозуміли межі. Гость у будинок — це радість, але лише тоді, коли він запрошений.
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