З життя
«Ми любимо тебе, але не повертайся, будь ласка»
«Любимо тебе, сину, але більше до нас не приїжджай»
Літні батьки все своє життя прожили в маленькому хаті, що стала такою ж старою, як і вони самі. Але переїжджати нікуди не збираються.
Частенько вечорами згадують минулі роки, усі щасливі моменти, яких було чимало. Діти давно виросли і обзавелися власними сім’ями. Дочка живе в сусідньому селі, тому часто провідує батьків, онуки теж не дають нудьгувати. А ось син перебрався далеко, п’ять років не приїжджав, весь в справах та турботах, частенько відпочиває з дружиною за кордоном. Але нещодавно зателефонував Олександр і повідомив, що незабаром приїде.
Ця новина дуже потішила батьків. Одразу ж почали готуватися до приїзду сина: батько вирушив на базар за продуктами, а мати почала думати, чим би смачно почастувати коханого синочка. До приїзду Олександра старики рахували дні. Нещодавно він вдруге виграв, розлучився з першою дружиною, яка любила життя на широку ногу, дітей у них не було. Тепер він знову будує своє особисте щастя.
Приїхав Олександр на своєму авто ввечері, повечеряв і відразу ліг спати. Батьки сіли поруч, щоб хоч подивитися на улюбленого сина, поговорити особливо не встигли, бо той був втомлений.
Батько із задоволенням зауважив:
– Синку виспиться, а завтра допоможе дров накласти, приберемо гній з хліва, по ялинку з’їздимо, наш будинок прикрасимо, як раніше, бо кілька років не ставили ялинку на Новий рік.
Мати додала:
– У коморі ще підлогу підремонтувати треба, а то провалиться.
Тато пішов відпочивати, а мама все ніяк не могла залишити синочка: то ковдру підправить, то подушку.
Батько зранку встав, піч натопив, щоб син не прокинувся в холоді.
Мама ж пироги почала пекти. Олександр ближче до обіду прокинувся, сказав, що давно так міцно не спав. Поснідав, телевізор увімкнув та влаштувався фільм дивитися.
Мама питає:
– Ти б, може, допоміг батькові дрова накласти?
– Мамо, я на кілька днів приїхав, встигну, нехай краще баню натопить.
Подалися батьки воду з колодязя носити, мовчки.
Після обіду батько просив:
– Гній у хліві потрібно прибрати. Ти молодий, сил повно, піди зроби!
– Ти що, тату, думаєш, я в місті не втомлююся? Приїхав до вас відпочити, а ти відразу на роботу примушуєш.
Після лазні Олександр повечеряв, спиртним напоєм, що привіз, насолодився, став жалітися на життя. За весь день мати з батьком стомилися, а Олександр тільки про квартиру свою та собаку породисту розповідав: жінки недолугі, а працювати набридло.
Батьки лягли спати, але Саша, образившись, вирішив поїхати до сестри, бо з батьками нудно. Мати просила не сідати за кермо, ключі забрала. Саша трохи двері не висадив, а потім пішов у кімнату, включив телевізор на повну гучність.
Люди похилого віку лежать без сну. Батько знову пішов до сина і побачив, що той уже хропе на весь голос. Тоді телевізор вимкнув і спокійно ліг спати.
Наступного ранку Олександр прогулявся лісом, замерз і радів вдома теплу й гарячому чаю. Про вчорашнє й не згадував. А у мами весь день голова боліла.
Батьки сину зібрали сумку сільськими гостинцями, Саша не став відмовлятися.
– Скільки всього ви поклали! Дружину порадую, вона ніколи такого смачного компоту не спробувала. У нас все є, але ображати вас не хочу, тому візьму. Шкода, Нового року подарунків не привіз, але наступного разу привезу.
Мати сльозу витерла і сказала:
– Більше, синку, не приїжджай до нас! Любимо, хвилюємось, але на дивані полежати можна і вдома, там же телевізор є кращий.
Саша зрозумів, що засмутив батьків, але не знав, що сказати. Помахав рукою, сів у машину і поїхав у місто, де на нього чекали звичні клопоти.
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