З життя
Подивився їй прямо в очі: Не хочемо невістку-забрудненця!
Казав їй прямо в очі: Ми не хочемо невістку-бідну!
Мені 57 років, я не маю родини та дітей, але хочу дати пораду всім батькам – не втручайтеся в життя своїх синів і дочок, не примушуйте їх жити за вашими правилами, адже немає гарантії, що те, що робить вас щасливими, принесе щастя і їм.
Я – живий приклад того, як бажання моїх батьків забезпечити мені найкраще розділило мене з жінкою, яку я любив більше за себе.
Марія походила з бідної родини, а мої батьки мали спадкові землі та нерухомість і вважали себе надто важливими.
Коли я привів її, щоб познайомити з ними, вони просто виставили її за двері, сказавши, що не приймуть бідну невістку. І вона пішла – ображена, але з гордо піднятою головою.
Вона відмовилася від ідеї поїхати кудись далеко тільки вдвох. Говорила, що рано чи пізно мої батьки зроблять усе, щоб нас розлучити.
Згодом вона вийшла заміж за сусіда – він, як і вона, нічого не мав. Але обидва працювали старанно і побудували будинок на околиці міста.
У них народилося троє дітей, і скільки разів я її зустрічав на вулиці, вона завжди була усміхненою і здавалася щасливою.
Одного разу я запитав її, чи любить вона свого чоловіка.
Марія відповіла, що зрозуміла, що для сім’ї важливіше стабільність і взаєморозуміння між подружжям. Без цього не можна жити лише на одній любові.
Я не погоджувався з нею, але не міг сперечатися, у мене не було права, бо почувався зрадником.
Я ніколи не зміг забути Марію і, на відміну від неї, так і не одружився.
Не уявляв, що зможу жити з іншою жінкою і мати дітей, якщо не кохаю її.
Мої батьки намагалися знайти для мене наречених, яких вони вважали підходящими, але я категорично відмовлявся.
Зрештою вони змирилися і почали просити мене, щоб я обрав собі дружину на свій смак, аби продовжити наш рід.
Але я хотів лише Марію, хоча вона давно вже влаштувала своє життя, і місця в ньому для мене не було.
Батьки постаріли, захворіли та повмирали один за одним. Я залишився сам в нашому великому триповерховому домі.
Все рідше зустрічаюся з друзями, адже вони вже няньчать онуків і їм не до мене. А я їх уникаю.
Я радію їхньому щастю, але водночас мені від цього боляче.
У суботу та неділю я проводжу час, фарбуючи і ремонтуючи гойдалки, гірки та ігрові майданчики в нашому місті.
Іноді допомагаю в дитячих садках.
Роблю це абсолютно добровільно і безкоштовно, бо не потребую грошей. Так я роблю щасливими чужих дітей і онуків.
Я продав усі землі та маєтки батьків.
На отримані гроші я зробив пожертви в декілька шкіл і дитячих будинків.
Один друг запитав мене, чому я не допоможу також будинку для літніх людей. Але я не хочу.
Як би жорстоко це не звучало, так я мщу батькам, через яких залишився сам.
До того ж майбутнє в дітях, а не в старих, правда?
Маленькі потребують більше уваги і доброго старту в житті.
А коли я помру, мій дім стане власністю школи, яку я закінчив.
Якщо захочуть, нехай використовують, якщо ні – нехай продають.
Головне, щоб це пішло на добру справу!
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