Night.
Sitting with a friend at night outside McDonald’s, eating some American buns with patties and potatoes. There’s a knock on the window. Opening. A bummy-looking man with some bags in a checker and a little behind, a boy of 10 years.
Give me a few pennies to feed my son!
At first, there was a wave of distrust. Again, these beggars were whisking at alcohol, but still asked him:
— Why don’t you want to go to work to earn your family a decent life like everyone else? Aren’t you ashamed to beg with your son?
— Excuse me.
He turned his eyes unsteady, took his son by the hand and dragged his bags away.
I don’t know why, but something told me to get out of the car.
— Hey, man! What happened? Why are you here at three in the morning?
— There’s no way we can get home. I came to my wife in the hospital from the village, and there are such prices for medicines that I gave everything… and owed, so that I don’t even know how to give now… I don’t think I’d feed myself a little! I haven’t eaten anything all day. I’m so ashamed…
Without talking, the two of them jumped out of the car and went to the order window.
— Wait, man!
We bought a lot of stuff, put it in their hands. The father was shy at first, and then pounced on food with his son.
Meanwhile, we asked them that their train leaves for one and a half to two hours and they plan to try to get hares to their native village.
— How much is the ticket?
46 rubles.
Called the exact amount of the man with a full mouth.
— 200 rubles is enough for you to drive?
— Oh, come on, half is enough!
Here, man, maybe you can buy your son some water on the way.
— I will! Thank you, good people, let’s write down the phone, I’ll be back in a week, I’ll return everything!
— No, go with God.
— Say thank you to your uncles!
The boy sniffed, something illegible, but his eyes said everything without his father’s orders.
I will never forget the emotion I felt as I watched these two men rushing to the train station with their checkered bags, looking back all the time.
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Orthodox stories from life
