З життя
Несподіване відкриття вдома: колись подарований кошеня виріс!
Василь повернувся додому і ахнув…
Півроку тому йому подарували маленьке кошеня, якого назвали Куля. Племінниця, інколи навідувалася до нього в гості з родиною, знайшла малюка на вулиці. І, передаючи з рук в руки, сказала:
— Ти ж живеш самотньо. Пару ніяк не знайдеш. Робота у тебе нервова — водій автобуса. Прийдеш додому, а тут на тебе чекають. Коти — вони створюють затишок і спокій…
Ну, як! Він повірив. Чому б і ні, думає. Можливо, і насправді так. Повертаєшся додому, весь вимотаний пасажирами і водіями, які не бажають поступитися дорогою, а тут поряд — спокійно лежить на дивані. Муркоче й гладитись хоче.
Ну, ви, звісно, розумієте, пані та панове, це він з неопитності так думав. Кіт не виправдав його очікувань і з слухняного й приємного малюка перетворився на підлітка-неслуха. На руках сидіти він не любив, а от пустувати… Скільки хочеш!
З неопитності Василь купив мухобійку, якою ловив мух. Маленьких вертких чи величезних, яких чомусь називають гноєвими. І слідкував Куля за Василем, що бив мух наполегливо, дуже уважно. Запам’ятовував, напевно, інформацію збирав. І одного разу вирішив догодити своєму людині. І догодив…
Ну, так ось, повертаємося до того моменту, з якого почали.
***
Василь зайшов до хати і ахнув. Нічого! Цілком нічого не лежало і не стояло в його квартирі. Розгром був такий, що можна було припустити, що дві банди гангстерів влаштували розбірки прямо у нього дома, і вони працювали… бітами!
Столи були перевернені. Вазони, келихи і загалом усе, що стояло чи лежало на столі, підвіконнях і тумбочках, тепер вкрило підлогу, рівномірно розподіливши осколки скла, глини та пластмаси…
Штори нагадували смужки спідниці якоїсь модниці, а на кухні… Кетчуп перетік в солоні помідори і варення. Там же акуратними гірками були розсипані сіль, цукор і перець. Вилки та ложки валялися купками. Штори на кухні були оборвані разом з карнизом і лежали у всьому цьому розкішному безладі, а на абсолютно порожньому обідньому столі…
Сидів дуже задоволений Куля, і перед ним лежала муха. Величезна, як літак. Куля дивився на Василя очима переможця і задоволено муркотів.
От зараз! Зараз Василь похвалить його. Цілий день, не змикаючи лап і не шкодуючи зусиль, він ганявся по квартирі, ловлячи цю нахабну муху. Зморився надзвичайно, але спіймав! І тепер може виставити її напоказ і отримати заслужену нагороду.
Від таких приємних думок Куля аж лапками затрусив.
Василь підняв стілець і сів на нього. Він не знав, що робити спочатку: прибирати, вечеряти чи лаятися з Кулею, але довго думати не довелося. Бо в двері подзвонили. Він піднявся і, пройшовши в коридор, відкрив. Тепер його здивування зросло.
У коридорі стояли троє поліцейських, а за ними — чоловік десять сусідів. Поліцейські тримали руки на рукоятках пістолетів.
— Нам подзвонили… — почав один із них.
— Багато разів, — додав інший. — І повідомили, що у вас в квартирі відбувається щось дуже погане. Падають меблі і ламаються тарілки. Чується страшний вереск і виття. Чи не могли б ви дозволити нам увійти в квартиру і переконатися, що все гаразд, а ви… про всяк випадок… підніміть руки, будь ласка, схрестіть їх на голові й відійдіть у дальній кут кімнати.
Сусіди дивилися на Василя з острахом і засудженням.
— Ось воно як вийшло, — сказав Василь. І додав: — Проходьте, прошу!
Він відійшов у дальній кут кімнати і схрестив руки на голові. Поліцейські обходили квартиру, спостерігаючи страшний розгром і щось шукаючи, переходячи з кімнати в кімнату.
— Що ви шукаєте? — поцікавився Василь.
— Тіло, — відповів один з поліцейських. — І ваше пояснення того, що сталося.
— Ах, тіло! Тіло я вам зараз покажу, — погодився Василь.
Поліцейські миттєво насторожилися і опустили руки на рукоятки пістолетів. Обережно, по стіні, намагаючись не робити різких рухів, Василь пройшов до кухні. І, розчинивши двері, зробив широкий жест.
— Прошу! — сказав він. — Ось тіло.
Поліцейські відштовхнули його в бік і ввалилися на кухню. Тіло сиділо на столі і нахабно усміхалося. Тілу подобалася увага. А перед ним лежала муха.
Кілька секунд у кімнаті запанувала тиша, поки поліцейські приходили до тями і оглядалися. А потім в їхніх очах почало означатися розуміння. Першим засміявся той, який почав розмову, а слідом за ним розвеселилися й інші.
Вони реготали і не могли зупинитися, а Куля дивився на них і на Василя переможним поглядом, наче кажучи: «Ну от. Бачиш? Всі задоволені. А отже, я старався не дарма!».
Потім поліцейські ще півгодини робили фотографії з мухою і Кулею на руках на фоні влаштованого ним розгрому. Всі сміялися і були дуже задоволені. Найбільше був задоволений кіт. Ще би! Усі оцінили його старання належним чином.
***
Коли поліція та сусіди пішли, Василь знову сів на стілець.
— Я вам допоможу, — почув він голос і обернувся. Поруч стояла жінка з першого поверху.
— У мене сьогодні вихідний, — сказала вона і усміхнулася. — Ви самі провозитесь до ночі, а разом ми швиденько впораємося.
— Мені так незручно вас турбувати, — зніяковів Василь.
— Що ви! — усміхнулася йому у відповідь жінка. — Все нормально. Мені все одно нічого робити. Я одна. Нікого у мене немає. Тільки мама. У неї квартира поблизу. А ви будете якось карати цього шибеника, ну, чи хоч трохи сварити? — спитала вона з кивком на Кулю.
Той сидів на столі на кухні й ганяв правою лапою величезну муху.
— Що ж, сварити… — Зітхнув Василь. — Зараз посварю…
Він піднявся і, підійшовши до Кулі, взяв його на руки:
— Ти ж якийсь шибеник! Хіба так можна? Ні. Не можна.
Куля перебирал лапами — тато сварив його. Причому так красиво й ласкаво, що втриматися було неможливо, і він, потягнувшись угору, лизнув свого чоловіка прямо в ліву щоку, а Василь… Поцілував його в ніс.
— Ну й добре. Ось і молодець, — сказав він Кулі. — Значить, все правильно зрозумів. Щоб більше такого не робив.
І опустив кота на підлогу. Куля задер хвіст і пішов тертися об ноги жінки. Та сміялась.
— Ох як гарно ви його посварили, — посміхнулася вона. — А чому я вас раніше не помічала?
— Не знаю, — відповів Василь. — Може, тому що я раніше нещасний був, а тепер, як у мене з’явився Куля, щастя додалося.
І він рукою показав на розгром, влаштований котом.
Жінка набрала телефон знайомого майстра, і на наступний день Василю поставили міцну сітку на всі вікна. І Куля тепер міг спокійно лежати на підвіконні і дивитися на пташок і великих жирних мух.
А жінка і Василь прибрали весь безлад, винесли і викинули всі розбиті тарілки, помили підлогу, зняли порвані штори. І поїхали по магазинах вибирати нові.
Повернулися вони ввечері, Василь накупив різних закусок і дуже смачний тортик. І пляшку шампанського. Ну, ви розумієте, пані та панове. Щоб відсвяткувати новосілля. У стару квартиру. Разом з жінкою.
Вони сиділи за столом на кухні, їли, пили і розмовляли. І їм було добре, а особливо добре було Кулі. Він лежав на колінах у жінки і замислив… нову допомогу татові.
***
Загалом, все закінчилося відмінно. І Куля, звичайно, відчайдушно допомагає двом. Татові і новій мамі. Яка прийшла в їхню квартиру єдино тому, що знайшла його, Кулю. І визнала в ньому свого рідненького кота.
І тепер тато з мамою разом усувають наслідки його допомоги.
А що ж ви собі думаєте?
А як інакше?
А інакше ніяк…
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You Don’t Deserve It — “After my divorce, I thought I’d never be able to trust anyone again,” Andrew said, turning an empty espresso cup between his fingers. His voice broke and trembled so convincingly that Ksenia instinctively leaned closer. “You know, when you’ve been betrayed, it’s like losing a part of yourself. She left a scar I’ll never get over. I truly believed I wouldn’t survive it…” Andrew sighed heavily and talked for a long time—about the wife who never appreciated him, about the pain that wouldn’t let go, about how terrified he was to start over. Every word settled in Ksenia’s heart like a warm pebble, and she already imagined she’d be the woman to restore his faith in love. Together, they would heal his wounds. He’d finally see that real happiness was possible—with her. It wasn’t until their second date, between dessert and coffee, that Andrew mentioned Maxim… “I have a son, by the way. He’s seven. He lives with his mother, but spends every weekend with me. The court decided that.” “That’s wonderful!” Ksenia gave a bright smile. “Children are such a blessing.” She pictured Saturday morning breakfasts for three, trips to the park, cozy evenings watching TV. The boy would need a woman’s care, a mother’s warmth. She would be his second mum—not to replace the real one, of course, but to be someone close, someone he could rely on… “You’re really sure you don’t mind?” Andrew looked at her with an odd smirk that Ksenia mistook for distrust. “Most women run for the hills when they hear I have a child.” “I’m not most women,” she replied proudly. …The first weekend with Maxim was a proper celebration. Ksenia made blueberry pancakes—his favourite, as Andrew had warned her. She patiently sat with a maths textbook, making problems easy to understand, washed his dinosaur T-shirt, ironed his school uniform, made sure he was in bed by nine. “You should take a break,” she told Andrew one day, noticing how he sprawled out on the sofa with the remote in his hand. “I’ve got this.” Andrew nodded—gratefully, so she thought at the time. Now she realised it was the nod of a man accepting what was rightfully his. …Months became years. Ksenia worked as a manager in a logistics company—out at eight in the morning, back at seven at night. The pay was pretty decent, as far as London went. Enough for two. But there were three of them. “They’ve delayed the project again,” Andrew would announce as if reporting a natural disaster. “The client bailed. But there’s a big contract just round the corner, I promise.” The big contract hovered on the horizon for a year and a half. Sometimes it seemed closer, sometimes it drifted away, but it never actually arrived. The bills, on the other hand, showed up right on cue. Rent. Electricity. Internet. Groceries. Child maintenance for Marina. New trainers for Max. School fees. Ksenia paid the lot without complaint. She saved on lunches, brought in tubs of pasta, refused to take a taxi even in the pouring rain. She hadn’t splashed out on a manicure for over a year—did her own nails, trying not to think about how she used to afford pampering at the salon. In three years Andrew gave her flowers exactly three times. She remembered each bunch—cheap, slightly withered supermarket roses from the corner stall, the thorns already broken off. Probably a discount… The first bouquet came as an apology after Andrew called her hysterical in front of Max. The second—after a row when her friend visited with no warning. The third was brought home after he missed her birthday because he stayed out with his mates (or simply forgot…) “Andrew, I don’t need expensive presents,” she tried to keep her voice gentle, choosing every word. “But sometimes, I’d just like to know you’re thinking of me. Even a card…” His face twisted instantly. “Money, it’s always about money with you, isn’t it? Presents, presents. Does love mean anything to you? All I’ve been through, and you complain?” “I didn’t mean—” “You don’t deserve it.” Andrew spat the words at her like mud. “After everything I’ve done for you, you still find something to whinge about.” Ksenia fell silent. She always did—it was just easier that way. Easier to live, easier to breathe, easier to pretend everything was fine. Strangely, Andrew always managed to find money for nights out with friends. Pubs, watching the football, café meetups every Thursday. He’d come home tipsy and cheerful, reeking of sweat and cigarettes, falling onto the bed without noticing Ksenia was still awake. She told herself: this is just how things are. Love means sacrifice. Love means patience. He’ll change. Of course he’ll change. I just have to wait a bit longer, love him a bit harder, give him all the support he needs—he’s been through so much… …Any talk of a wedding was like walking through a minefield. “We’re happy as we are—why do we need a piece of paper?” Andrew would shrug off the subject as if batting away a fly. “After what happened with Marina, I need time.” “Three years, Andrew. Three years is a long time.” “You’re putting pressure on me! It’s always the same with you.” He’d storm out of the room and end the conversation. Ksenia really wanted children. Her own, flesh and blood. She was twenty-eight, and her biological clock seemed to tick louder every month. But Andrew wasn’t up for being a father again—he already had a son, and, in his mind, that was plenty. …That Saturday she only asked for one day. Just one single day. “The girls have invited me round. We haven’t seen each other in ages. I’ll be back by evening.” Andrew looked at her as if she’d just announced plans to run off to another continent. “And Max?” “You’re his dad. You can spend the day with your son.” “So now you’re abandoning us? On a Saturday? When I was planning to have a break?” Ksenia blinked. Then blinked again. In three years she had never left them alone. Not once. She cooked, cleaned, helped with schoolwork, did the washing, ironing—all while holding down a full-time job. “I just want to see my friends. For a few hours… And he’s your son, Andrew. Surely you can spend one day with him without me?” “You should love my son as you love me!” Andrew suddenly roared. “You’re living in my flat, eating my food, and now you’re showing your true colours?!” His flat. His food. Ksenia was the one paying the rent. Ksenia bought the food from her wages. For three years she’d supported a man who shouted at her for wanting a day with her friends. She looked at Andrew—at his twisted face, the vein bulging on his forehead, clenched fists—and for the first time, truly saw him. Not the tragic victim of fate, not some lost soul in need of saving, but a grown man who was a master at exploiting someone else’s kindness. To him, Ksenia wasn’t a beloved partner or a future wife—just a financial backer and unpaid housekeeper. Nothing more. When Andrew left to drop Max off with Marina, Ksenia pulled out a travel bag. Her hands moved calmly, confidently—no shaking, no doubt. Passport. Phone. Charger. A couple of T-shirts. Jeans. The rest she could buy later. The rest didn’t matter. She didn’t bother leaving a note. What was the point of explaining things to someone who never really saw her anyway? The door closed quietly behind her. No drama. The phone calls started within the hour. First one, then another, then a deluge—an incessant ringing that made the phone vibrate in her hand. “Ksenia, where are you?! What’s going on?! I come home and you’re not here! How dare you? Where’s dinner? Am I supposed to go hungry? What’s all this nonsense?” She listened to his voice—angry, demanding, full of self-righteous outrage—and was amazed. Even now, when she’d left, Andrew only thought about himself. His inconvenience. Who would cook for him now? Not a single “sorry.” Not one “are you okay?” Just “how dare you.” Ksenia blocked his number. Then she found his profile in her chat app—blocked it. Social media—blocked. Every avenue he could use to reach her, she built a wall. Three years. Three years of living with a man who didn’t love her. Who used her kindness like it was disposable. Who convinced her that sacrificing herself was what love was all about. But love isn’t like that. Love doesn’t humiliate. Love doesn’t turn a living, breathing person into the hired help. Ksenia walked through the London evening—and, for the first time in ages, breathing came easy. She vowed to herself: never again would she confuse love with self-sacrifice. Never again would she rescue those who only trade on pity. Always, from now on, she would choose herself. Only herself.
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