Frank still couldn’t get used to the new place. What an unpredictable life. The former director of a large factory, the father of three children, could not even think of living in an old people’s home.
And once his life was bright and interesting, full of joy and prosperity. Her husband had a high-paying job, a fairly large apartment, a car, a good hostess wife and three sweet and wonderful children. Frank and his wife raised a wonderful son and two beautiful daughters. They were loved and respected by all.
Their life was full of prosperity. Only now, as the years passed, did Frank miss something in raising his children. Although he and his wife tried to raise good children. His wife, unfortunately, passed away 10 years ago. And then came the time when the aged father was completely unnecessary to his own three children. The son went to work abroad in Portugal 10 years ago. He got married there and has a good job. He comes once a year
to visit his father and sisters. In recent years he visited less often, he did not have much luck.
His daughters live nearby, but there is a lot to do, because each has her own family, their own affairs and worries. The middle-aged man looked out of the window sadly as it was snowing. December 30 was already on the calendar. People and acquaintances were getting ready to celebrate the New Year. Everyone was walking by, hurrying home, carrying gifts for everyone. Someone was in a hurry, carrying home fluffy Christmas trees, and Frank closed his eyes and smiled. Suddenly his husband remembered how merry the holidays had once been in their family, his wife had tried so hard for it. Always relatives and nephews came to them. It was also his birthday tomorrow.
A lonely birthday, which he would meet for the first time without greetings, no one would even think of him. No one needs him. And so the day passed in heavy and unnecessary reflection. And the next morning the relatives of the elderly grandparents began to gather at the nursing home. Who the children took home to celebrate, and who brought a lot of goodies.
Suddenly, someone knocked on Frank’s door, too. – Come in! – Mumbled the surprised grandfather. – Happy New Year! Happy birthday to you! – Such a warm and familiar voice sounded. Frank instantly smiled. Instantly his oldest son Alex snuggled up to him. His father no longer remembers how many years they had not seen each other. What a handsome man, a real solid handsome man had grown up.
– Alex, is that you? Am I dreaming? – Father asked in surprise. He was so pleasantly surprised, he could not say anything else. – Daddy, it’s me, of course it’s me. I came yesterday, I wanted to surprise you. Why didn’t you write that your sisters sent you here? I sent them money every month, good money for you. And they didn’t tell me anything at all. I didn’t know you were here.
Daddy, pack your things quickly. I’m ordering tickets on the phone. We’ll have a train tonight, we’ll go with you. We’ll all stay with my wife’s parents for the time being. We’ll do the paperwork for you. We’ll do it properly. And you’ll fly with us to Portugal, we’ll live there together now. – Where to, son? I’m not a young man anymore? What Portugal, what abroad? – Frank was genuinely surprised by his son’s proposal.
Don’t worry, my wife is a very good person, she knows everything already, she understands everything and is waiting for us there. You want to meet your granddaughter! – Alex, I can’t believe it. It’s so unexpected, – the man didn’t believe it. – I won’t leave you here even for an hour longer. That’s not the kind of old age you’ve earned from me, Daddy! Get your things and come with me.
– What a wonderful son Frank brought up! Such a kind man,” those who saw and understood what had happened said in their wake. And Alexander later took his father with him to Portugal. Yes, the old man began, one might say, his second youth. In the circle of relatives and close kind people. Wise people say: “Only our old age will show what kind of children we brought up.
