З життя
«Ми тебе любимо, але просимо більше не приїжджати»
«Ми тебе любимо, сину, але не приїжджай до нас більше»
Пара на схилі літ прожила все життя в маленькій хатині, яка зістарілася разом із ними. Однак з’їжджати вони не збиралися.
Увечері вони часто згадують прожиті дні, всі ті щасливі моменти, яких було чимало. Діти давно подорослішали та створили власні сім’ї. Дочка живе в сусідньому селі, тому часто навідується до батьків, а онуки не дають сумувати. Син, навпаки, виїхав далеко, вже п’ять років не приїжджав, весь в роботі та клопотах, часто відпочиває з дружиною за кордоном. Але нещодавно подзвонив Олексій, повідомив, що скоро навідається.
Ця звістка втішила батьків, тому вони відразу ж почали готуватись до приїзду: батько поїхав на коні по продукти, а мати гадала, що б таке смачненьке приготувати, аби порадувати коханого сина. До приїзду Олексія старенькі рахували дні. Він нещодавно вдруге одружився, бо перша дружина полюбляла гуляти, через що він подав на розлучення. Дітей у них не було, просто розійшлись. А тепер він знову будує сімейне життя.
Олексій прибув ввечері на своєму авто, повечеряв і відразу ж ліг спати. Батьки тихо сіли поруч, хоча б подивитися на свого сина, адже поговорити не вдалося — дорога його втомила.
Батько радісно сказав:
— Синок виспиться гарненько, і завтра з дровами допоможе, подбаємо про гній у стайні, за ялинкою з’їздимо, прикрасимо дім, як раніше, вже кілька років на Новий Рік ялинки не ставили.
Мати додала:
— У коморі підлога потребує ремонту, а то ще провалиться.
Батько пішов спати, а мати все не могла залишити сина: то ковдрою накриє, то подушку поправить.
Рано-вранці батько встав піч топити, аби синочок прокинувся в теплі. Мати теж прокинулася і почала пекти пиріжки. Олексій підвівся ближче до обіду, сказав, що давно так міцно не спав. Відіграв сніданок, включив телевізор і втупився у фільм.
Мати запитала:
— Сину, може, дрова допоможеш колоти?
— Мамо, я на кілька днів приїхав, встигну, нехай краще тато баню натопить.
Пішли батьки воду з колодязя носити, нічого не сказавши.
Після обіду батько попросив:
— Потрібно у стайні порядок навести. Ти молодий і сил у тебе багато, піди зроби!
— Тату, невже думаєш, що в місті не втомився від роботи? Приїхав відпочити, а ти відразу до роботи мене женеш.
Олексій після лазні поїв, випив трохи алкогольного напою, який привіз із собою, і почав жалітися на життя. За день батьки втомилися, а Олексій все розповідає про свою велику квартиру з дорогими меблями, про свою породисту собаку, але жінки все не такі, і робота вже надокучила.
Батьки не витримали і пішли спати. Олексій образився і сказав, що поїде до сестри, бо з ними нудно. Мати почала плакати і просити, щоб не сідав за кермо, забрала ключі від машини. Олексій мало не побив двері кулаками, зайшов до кімнати, ввімкнув телевізор на повну гучність.
Батьки лягли, хочеться спати, але заснути неможливо через шум. Батько пішов до сина, бачить — той вже хропе на всю. Тоді вимкнув телевізор і спокійно ліг спати.
На ранок Олексій пішов до лісу прогулятися. Там замерз, повернувся додому і зрадів теплу і гарячому чаю, сидячи на дивані. Про вчора навіть не згадав. А в матері весь день болить голова.
Батьки синові зібрали сумку з гостинцями, Олексій не став відмовлятися.
— Скільки всього ви поклали! Дружину порадує, вона ніколи не куштувала таких смачних валісів. У нас, звісно, все є, але я не хочу вас образити, тому заберу. Тільки я зовсім забув вам подарунки до Нового Року привезти, ну, нічого, наступного разу.
Мати витерла сльозу і сказала:
— Більше, синку, не приїжджай до нас! Ми тебе любимо, турбуємося, але на дивані полежати ти можеш і вдома, там і телевізор кращий за наш.
Олексій зрозумів, що образив батьків, але не знав, що сказати. Помахав рукою, сів у машину і поїхав до міста, де на нього чекала звична суєта.
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