There was a grandfather in the yard of our store.
Not an alcoholic or a homeless person.
But I’ve never seen him before, even though I’ve lived here my whole life.
He stands every day, stops everyone who passes by, and asks for only thirty minutes of our time.
Like everyone else, I would pass by every time, either poking my phone, pretending I didn’t notice it, or just saying I didn’t have time.
I really don’t have much of it: family, work, friends – you know.
But recently I went out for a walk and cleared my head.
Grandfather stood in the same place and looked at everyone with a look that read that he needed someone to talk to.
I decided that today I would not pass by and went to the old man.
— Grandpa, do you just want to talk or do you need help?
— I just need thirty minutes of your time, and then you decide what to do. — The old man answered.
I doubted it. On the one hand, I had a lot of time, and on the other, I didn’t really want to listen to the old man’s ravings. After a little thought, he decided that he needed to step out of his comfort zone and said he was ready to listen.
— You’re the first to respond. — Grandpa said, turned and went to the bench, which was hiding in the shadow of the maple at the playground.
And I, like glued, followed him, thinking to myself,
I’m sorry I got involved in this story. He didn’t say a word.
As we walked and just sat down, he continued.
— My name is Sergei Ivanovich. I am eighty-seven years old and a widower.
Seven months ago, my wife died, with whom we had been married for sixty-two years. We were walking with her in the park when she got sick and left. The old man looked up somewhere, smiled and remained silent for a few minutes.
The sun in his eyes began to shine brighter, memories began to roll down his skin through tears, falling into wrinkles.
who have guided them.
— We had a wonderful life, but God did not give us children.
We were hoping for a miracle that never happened, and when we decided it was time to take the baby from the orphanage, we were told,
People with first and second disability cannot do this. Of course, we were disappointed, because at that time we were both
It was almost fifty years, but if fate decided so, then we
They must obey her.
The old man interrupted his monologue, looked at his wrinkled hands and clutched his knuckles. I even thought he was ashamed.
I have three children and I can’t imagine what my life would be like without them. Who should I dedicate to if not the children?
I think everyone has their own answer to that question. That’s life.
Someone she gives children, someone talent or wealth, and someone all of this or vice versa nothing. Which of them is the happiest, and the question will never be answered. I had time to think about it, looking at my interlocutor. I felt sorry for him, but feeling sorry for me is worse than not having a conscience. So I tried to throw it away.
These feelings came out of my head, the more the old man continued his story.
For more than thirty years we have lived soul to soul and never raised this topic. They took care of each other and just lived. Both my wife and I were the only children in our families and had long since lost their parents. So they were left to themselves and did not even think about what would happen next. And after she died, I was left alone. Being an old man isn’t easy.
And I’m not even talking about health or loneliness, I’m talking about the people who have come into my life. They think I don’t understand anything,
He once believed that people in old age lose their minds and do not understand what is happening around, but this is a misconception.
We are changing our attitude towards life and values.
And no one can ever explain to a forty-year-old.
That’s what happens at eighty, and all because he’s not ready yet. But I got distracted and I’m getting to the most important thing.
He thought again, apparently choosing the right words. And I thought about my childhood, which was just yesterday, and now I’m thirty-six, and I’m sure that before I have time to look back, I will turn into the same old man with wrinkles and sore joints.
— I didn’t ask your name, I’m sorry.
— Oleg.
Oleg, you can get up and leave, but please take my phone number now before I tell you the main thing.
Because it takes time to think.
— He handed me a piece of paper that had the number and his name on it.
I am not a poor person, I have an apartment and savings, but I have no one to leave them and I do not want to give them away either.
I see a ring on your arm, and I saw you with three kids a couple of days ago, so you’re the one I want to help. You may think I’m an angry old man, but I don’t want to help alcoholics and people who don’t want to do anything but ask. My dream is to help someone who struggles and lives on their own, and a gift in the form of an apartment and money will be a pleasant bonus for work and diligence. I’m willing to take risks and give everything in my life despite the risk of staying on the street, and in return, I only ask you to be a friend of your family, so that you will visit me from time to time, play chess and invite me to lunch. If your apartment is smaller than mine or you rent, you can move to mine and I will move to yours.
I want to feel needed.
— He was embarrassed and embarrassed to say those words.
Once he was a strong man, and now you have to beg a stranger not to leave him.
We broke up and exchanged a few more words.
He gave me five days to think with the words:
«I don’t think I can give more.» He said he wouldn’t be looking for anyone for five days, he’d be waiting for my call.
We really live in a one-bedroom apartment, my wife sits with the kids, and I work. We do not need and have never asked anyone for anything.
But now that thought does not go away. My wife, conscientiously, said that without an apartment and money, she was ready to take her grandfather for a walk when she walked with the children. Which I agreed to. We are very close to this grandfather. His wife had no parents, and if not his father, so his grandfather. We refused the apartment in every possible way. But Grandpa’s persistence took its toll. We eventually moved into that apartment. But Grandpa was left with us. Our children now call him Grandpa.
The advice can always help, and the hands are golden. He is like a father, treating us with love. And you know, my wife’s been missing it all her life, and she called him dad the other day. He cried. These are the stories that happen in life.
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Orthodox stories from life
