З життя
Одиночество більше не полегшують дні, сповнені людського спілкування.
Анні завжди подобалось спілкуватися з людьми на роботі, тому самотність її не особливо турбувала. Але після виходу на пенсію раптово усвідомила, що вона зовсім одна. Її особисте життя не склалося, ще в юності вона була до нестями закохана у хлопця з сусіднього села. Він навіть не здогадувався про її почуття, бо Анна не вміла показувати себе, не знала, як привернути увагу. Вона була дуже невпевненою через свою зовнішність, надто скромна та сором’язлива.
Тим часом Віктора забрали в армію, і вона вирішила, що коли він повернеться, обов’язково його підкорить. Але він не повернувся, знайшовши своє кохання за кордоном. Анна важко це пережила, ще більше замкнулася в собі і більше нікого не полюбила. Ось їй вже скоро шістдесят, а в селі її називають “вічною дівкою”. Вона не ображається, бо в цьому є доля правди.
Цієї весни світ навкруги купався у блакитному небі, білих хмарах квітучих садів і теплому подиху вітру. Анна з подивом оглядала стару яблуню, яка вже кілька років не родила, і думала найняти когось для її зрізання. Але дерево раптово вкрилося біло-рожевими квітами, нагадуючи паску з рясною глазур’ю.
“Анно Іванівно, цього року наварите яблучного повидла,” – раптом почула голос. Анна здригнулася, не помітивши, як підійшов Леонід. “Вибач, що налякав, – мовив він, – от в місто їздив і вирішив купити тобі цукерок…” Він незграбно простягнув їй великий пакет. “Куди стільки! – здивувалася Анна, – мені цього на рік вистачить!” “Ну, я пам’ятаю, що ти солодке любиш, – пробурмотів він, – тому й вирішив… Вони хороші, шоколадні…” “Дякую велике, я тобі в кінці літа принесутяблука в обмін!” – відповіла жінка, ніяково усміхаючись. Леонід ще трохи походив біля яблуні, дивуючись її рясному цвіту, і попрощавшись, пішов.
“Невже він зі мною фліртує?” – замислилася Анна. “Неможливо! В молодості ніхто уваги не звертав, а тепер!? А чому б і ні? Леонід вже три роки як овдовів… Ой, ні. Що люди скажуть? В старості заміж виходити…” Їй одразу здалося, що дівчинка, яка гралася на сусідній ділянці, поглянула на неї хитро, і Анна поспішила до хати.
Ввечері Леонід знову завітав до Анни під якимось благовидним приводом. З ввічливості вона запропонувала йому чаю з тими самими шоколадними цукерками. І непомітно для себе ці вечірні зустрічі стали звичкою. Вона з нетерпінням чекала на ту мить, коли день зміниться вечором, і Леонід з’явиться на порозі. Анна змінилася: її голос став дзвінкішим, погляд — кокетливим, а на душі радісніше.
Та неочікувано події набули іншого оберту. Анна складала у кошик пиріжки, вдягнула солом’яний капелюх і підмалювала губи. Вона прямувала до Леоніда, що жив на сусідній вулиці. “Анно, це ти?” – почула вона позаду. Солідний чоловік, приблизно її віку, стояв і усміхався. Щось у цій усмішці було знайоме, від чого в грудях солодко занило, й вона ледь не випустила кошик. Це був Віктор, той самий, якого вона колись так любила.
Невдовзі Анна і Віктор вже сиділи на кухні і смакували пиріжки, призначені для Леоніда. Він розповідав про своє розлучення, про бажання старіти в рідному селі, займатися бджільництвом. З гордістю дістав з гаманця фотографію, розгладжуючи її: “Ось моя доцюня. Діаночка.” На фото була яскрава красуня. “Так, справді красуня, – погодилася Анна, – і ім’я гарне.”
З того дня Анна Іванівна, яку називали “вічною дівкою,” мала одразу двох шанувальників. “Ну й цікаво, – думала вона, – в кращі роки не було залицяльників, а тут одразу два! А кого ж обрати? До Леоніда звикла вже, знаємо одне одного як облуплені, стільки років на сусідніх вулицях живемо. Але Віктор, хоча й наче чужий, але спогади про перше кохання хвилюють серце.”
Ціле село спостерігало за розвитком подій, Віктор і Леонід при зустрічі неохоче подавали руки і кидали один на одного такі погляди, що різали без ножа. Коли неочікувано нагрянули приморозки, і Віктор з Леонідом прибігли ввечері допомагати Анні вкривати розсаду, вона злякалась, що все може закінчитися справжньою бійкою. Зрозумівши, що потрібно визначитись, після деяких роздумів вона вибрала Віктора.
Але, напевно, доля недарма розлучила їх багато років тому – їм не було суджено бути разом і зараз. Коли Віктор розповів по телефону Діаночці про своє пізнє кохання, вона розлютилася. Їй здавалося, що в такому віці, як у Віктора, можна лише сапою працювати на грядках і нарікати на радикуліт, і ніяк не думати про “любові”. Вона порадила не сміятися з людей і пригрозила розірвати з ним усі зв’язки, якщо Анна не зникне з горизонту. Віктору нічого не залишалося, як зробити вибір на користь улюбленої дочки.
Анна залишилася сама, Леонід був ображений на те, що вона спочатку вибрала не його, і вони більше не спілкувалися. Жінка повернулася до свого самотнього життя, але ні про що не жаліла. Хоча б на пенсії вона побувала дамою, за яку боролися два лицарі.
Літо наближалося до кінця. Фарби природи тьмяніли, знеможені спекою, у крони дерев прокралися перші жовті відтінки, вночі потягло прохолодою, люди діставали із шаф теплі ковдри. Анна з сумом дивилася на стару яблуню, що так буйно зацвіла весною, але так і не родила. Пізні приморозки знищили зав’язь, і дерево стояло сумно, шелестячи листям.
Анна на щось наступила в траві і, на її здивування, це виявилося яблуко. Пошукавши ще, вона знайшла кілька плодів, все ж таки стара яблуня потішила. Жінка зібрала їх у відерце та відправилася до Леоніда. “Ось, – сказала, простягаючи плоди, – я ж обіцяла тобі тоді…” Анна хвилювалася, ніби від того, чи візьме він це відерце, залежала її доля. Той похитав головою і, жартівливо мовив: “А ти, Анно Іванівно, вертихвістка…” Це визначення її не образило, а, скоріше, повеселило. “Стільки років була скромною і сором’язливою, – сказала, – що тепер можна і побути трохи вертихвісткою!” Він усміхнувся, приймаючи з її рук відерце та запрошуючи в дім.
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