З життя
Коли ми з чоловіком познайомилися і почали жити разом, моєму сину не було й двох років.
Коли ми з чоловіком познайомилися і вирішили жити разом, моєму синові було трохи менше двох років. Я зволікала з нашим переїздом, адже мене бентежило одне: у чоловіка був чудовий песик Ярик породи бультер’єр. Собак у мене ніколи не було, і я думала, що такі собаки частенько нападають на своїх господарів. Чоловік мене заспокоїв, зазначивши, що не завжди, іноді господарі навіть виживають. Отже, ми з сином переїхали.
Якось увечері ми всі четверо були на кухні: чоловік, я, син та Ярик. Ваня крутився поруч з печивом, а пес дивився в інший бік, ніби не помічаючи хлопчика, і тим більше — того, що в нього в руках. Усі були розслаблені і спокійні.
Раптом Ярик блискавично кинувся вперед, і Ваня з розгубленим виглядом подивився на свою руку. А в ній — порожньо. Пес успішно виманив печиво і швидко його з’їв. Ваня, не довго думаючи, вчепився зубами в Ярикове вухо. Ми з чоловіком підскочили, у мене тілом пробігла хвиля страху. Усе сталося за якусь мить. Але Ярик не торкнувся дитини, навпаки, з тих пір вони стали найкращими друзями.
Ця дружба була взаємовигідною, причому більше вигод отримував пес. Вані іноді дозволяли кататися на спині Ярика, а потім Ярик падав на бік разом з вершником, що означало кінець поїздки.
Грали в догонялки один з одним: Ваня гнався за Яриком чесно, а Ярик за Ванею — тільки за смачний шматок.
Спати пес ходив строго до Вані на його маленький диванчик. Насправді у Ярика було особисте крісло, але вранці я завжди бачила одну і ту ж картину: син спить, закинувши ногу на собаку.
А згодом син і пес об’єдналися в банду. Як вони до такого докотилися і хто був ініціатором, невідомо досі. Можу припустити, що все почалося з цукрового піску, який Вані і Ярику був заборонений, але дуже їх манив.
Так ось, одного чудового ранку я виявила, що в кімнаті, де спали мій син і дочека чоловіка, весь килим засипаний цукровим піском. Причому всі троє сплять як янголята, включаючи собаку. Зрозуміло, що 16-річній дівчинці ці ігри ні до чого, собака не дотягнеться до шафи, а Вані немає сенсу їсти з підлоги. Отже, син старався для собаки і, судячи з червоних діатезних плям на щоках, себе теж не обділив. Провели виховну бесіду, він робив вигляд, що кається. Ввечері чоловік щільно закрив двері на кухню, син сам не зміг би відкрити.
Наступного ранку мене чекав ще один сюрприз. У кімнаті, окрім розсипаного піску, стояли принесені з кухні каструля з супом і сковорода з гуляшем. Їжу довелося викинути, це мене особливо “потішило”, адже я приготувала її напередодні, щоб звільнити день від готування. Двері на кухню були відкриті, дочека чоловіка запевнила, що вночі вставати не доводилося. Так хто ж відкрив двері?
Ми з чоловіком вирішили виявити зловмисників на місці злочину і вирішили не спати. Двері на кухню закрили ще щільніше, обмотавши ручку рушником, і стали чекати.
Пам’ятаю, як поглянувши на настінний годинник, відмітила час — три години ночі. І заснула.
Нас розбудив гуркіт, хтось старанно ломився у двері всім тілом. Ми з чоловіком вискочили з кімнати і побачили наступну картину. Син стояв збоку, а повз нього з розгону мчав Ярик, б’ючися плечем і боком, намагаючись вибити кухонні двері. Мабуть, напередодні двері піддалися відразу, бо були не так щільно закриті, тому ми й не прокинулися. Час-то вони вибрали вдалося — чотири години ранку, коли самий солодкий сон.
Так зловмисники були викриті і віддані колективному осуду.
Вже давно немає Ярика. Але Ваня смішить нас до сліз, коли говорить:
— Ярик був мені як брат.
З іншого боку, це звучить дуже зворушливо. Напевно, це найкраща епітафія для собаки. І коли син у чомусь не правий, і я довго читаю йому нотації, втручається чоловік:
— Ну, що ти хочеш від дитини, якого виховала собака?
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