– Mum, why are you sitting on the porch all alone? Come to us to drink tea. It’s evening, it’s getting cold, – said the daughter.
– I’m waiting for my aunt, – the woman replied with an offended face. – I’ll sit here, I’ve been waiting for her for three days.
– Mom, did you quarrel with your aunt? What do you have to quarrel about? You have only one sister left. She has her own house, I can see through the window, she is digging in the garden. Her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are with her. And you have all of us here. And also grandchildren and great-grandchildren. What’s the matter, Mom?
– She told me something, and I found a document. I was digging in the box at midnight last night, and I found it! Now I’m waiting to show her that I’m telling the truth.
– And I think, Mom, why don’t you sleep, you’re always fiddling behind the wall at night. I even came to you, remember, and asked if everything was all right. And you said no.
– It doesn’t matter! She doesn’t remember anything! She says that in 1946 she worked in the garden with her mother, although she was only eleven. And I was studying agronomy then and did nothing at home! This is not true! I was working at the factory to feed my family! I worked from dawn to dusk for two years until my father finally returned. And then I started to study. After graduation, I was sent to work. As an agronomist! And I always sent money to my mother.
But she doesn’t remember anything. I start to tell her – she just waves her hand. You were always in charge, she says. And I was with my mother. And my mother was unwell, she could not carry heavy things, so I had to do it for both of us! But I understand her, she had it hard too. She’s still smart. But she is five years younger than me. And she keeps reproaching me that even then I did not do the housework, and now I do not help my daughter and grandchildren enough. And I, I would like to, but I can not, my daughter, I have no strength!
– Well, mommy, don’t pay attention.
– Eh, – my mother waved her hand, but I want to remember our times with my sister. For good, for good. And she keeps counting. I start to tell her something about our childhood, and she turns everything over. Why does she do that?
A few days later my aunt came right from the doorstep:
– I painted the floor and the porch. My family will come soon, let there be order.
– Sit down, I will show you something, – the woman began peacefully.
– But I have no time, I have a lot to do, – the aunt sat down on the edge of the porch.
– Do you remember when dad came back? Mom was worried that he had found another family. Here, look, – the woman with a trembling hand began to try to get a leaf darkened by time, but it would not give.
The woman silently put the old leaf in the folder.
– Mom, what are you doing again? You didn’t talk to her?
– I can’t get through to her. She is very businesslike, always has been. She’s always showing me my worthlessness. It makes her feel good. I’m sorry I’m not such a good helper.
– Mom, I boiled potatoes in their skins, let’s make vinaigrette together. You like to peel hot potatoes.
When my wife died, my aunt was angry at first:
– Why didn’t you save her? And she herself was getting lazier and lazier. Here I am all in business, I have no time for illnesses.
Then my aunt calmed down and began to come to them.
– “May I sit here on your porch? I will not disturb you?
She sits and talks quietly to herself.
Once my aunt came very happy:
– “I dreamt about my sister today. What a joy. She said she was not offended by me. She understood that I was not ready to hear her, I was always proving something. She also told me not to be sad. To live while living. And I started to get tired. My parents do not believe me, they are surprised.
And my sister said, when this fuss is over, we will talk. There will be plenty of time there.
