Four-year-old Andrew looked at his aunt with his big and intelligent eyes, begging for something. And then he asked her for an ice cream cone. His aunt could not refuse him, and she did everything for him with pleasure.
Margaret (Andrew’s aunt) was divorced. She was already forty, and she could not experience personal happiness. A terrible diagnosis – infertility. That is why she was left alone – no husband, no children. Although, it was her dream and goal of her life.
Margaret was quite a smart woman, successful in her work, well read and very intelligent. Margaret’s niece Astrid came to visit her aunt, tried to get a job, meanwhile asked Margaret to look after her son Andrew. She was a single mother. Her son was a burden to her, and she did not even hide it. One day Astrid offered Margaret to take her son away from her forever.
– Listen, you’re so busy with him, why don’t you take him to your place? I’m thinking of going to the city to get back on my feet, and this is just getting in the way.
Margaret was embarrassed by such attitude to the child, the thought that if she had her own son, she would never give him to anyone and answered:
– Yes, of course, it’s my pleasure!
Without any regret or hesitation, Astrid said goodbye to Margaret and her son and left. Andrew hugged Margaret tightly, he felt safe. Margaret was surprised every time at what a grateful boy he was. He was happy for any little thing. Margaret took his education and development seriously. She sent him to tutors and sports. Astrid used to call them sometimes and ask how they were doing. But eventually she stopped calling at all.
She appeared a year later with an announcement that the president promised to help single mothers, and she needed a son, because she had no money at all. Margaret fell into a difficult emotional state, these words were very painful for her “Yet she is a mother, and who am I?”. She looked at Andrew and involuntarily tears flowed down her cheeks.
A few weeks later Margaret received a phone call to inform her that her niece Astrid had been convicted and the court had decided to take her into custody for several years for theft and use of illegal substances. Margaret felt sorry for her niece, but the joy that Andrew would stay with her filled her soul with light. Margaret devoted her whole life to her beloved Andrew.
