I was eight years old when my mother’s father came to live with us. I had only seen him a few times before – he lived somewhere far away, in the north. I knew that somewhere far away there was such a man, my mother’s father, my grandfather. But it didn’t affect anything. And then it started.
I’m eight years old! – Grandpa! Can you draw snowflakes? Grandfather bravely takes up his pencil. Then he admits to me that he can’t draw at all. Nothing! But it was just him and me at home, so there was no one to ask for help. And – oh, my God! Grandpa drew!
I’m eleven! I ran into his room crying loudly: – Grandpa! – My girl, what are you doing? Are you crying? – I’m coming with you! I want to go with you! – Well, let’s go! Get dressed. – Mother… She won’t let go… Grandpa leaves silently. And comes back five minutes later: – Let’s go, mom said it’s okay. But she said that if you don’t do your homework properly afterwards, I will be responsible for everything! We go mushrooming with grandfather. Then, after bringing home full baskets, we go our separate ways. I – to do my homework, grandfather – to the kitchen, to clean mushrooms. I try very hard – I can not let my grandfather down. The next day I get three straight A’s from school.
I am twelve! – My girl, do not judge people so harshly, think about it, after all, she is your friend. – Ex-girlfriend! Ex-girlfriend! – Well, don’t be so categorical. Here you talk, talk about what happened, and you may change your mind. And when you do, believe me, you’ll be embarrassed that you wanted, as you say, to rip her head off and pull her hair out! – I won’t! It won’t! It won’t! – You’re just really upset, wait till tomorrow, it’ll all work out. I’ve had an incident in my life… And my grandfather tells some similar story, after which it no longer seemed to me that my quarrel with my best friend was the end of everything and a universal catastrophe. This conversation between my grandfather and me teaches me to analyze the situation, trying not to do rash things.
I’m thirteen now! – My parents are summoned to the school principal’s office. Grandpa, how about you…? – What did you do? – I didn’t do anything. – Then why are they calling me? – It’s just that the girls were smoking and… – You mean the girls? – I was just standing there, that’s all! – Listen, sunshine, it’s mine. I’ll go to school, and I won’t tell my parents anything. But you have to promise… – Grandpa, I promise I’ll never do it again, I promise! And I really didn’t even pick up a cigarette anymore.
I’m fourteen! – My God, my girl, what happened to your hair? You dyed it, didn’t you? But your mother told you to! – Mom said it was okay,” I sobbed. I really wanted to dye my hair, my mother for a long time did not let me, scolded, shouted, and then just waved her hand: do what you want. And now I’m standing in the bathroom in front of the mirror. My hair was such a wild shade, like I was going to be in a horror movie. And my grandfather looks at me and starts laughing hysterically. It makes me sob even louder. – Okay, don’t cry, let’s go to the hairdresser. In the evening I greet my parents with a gorgeous new hair color. – It looks good on you,” said my mother.
I’m fifteen! I come home from a birthday party. In the hallway, my mother runs out to meet me. – Have you been drinking? – Just a little,” I answer, but I feel my tongue slurring. – Oh, just a little! Well, my mother makes a scandal. At the scream my dad and grandfather ran out. The latter, assessing the situation, quickly pushes me into one room and my parents – in another: all talk – in the morning. The next day I sneak into the kitchen, horrified to think that my parents are already sitting there. They need a way to explain. And then I hear my grandfather’s voice: – Aha, you see how right you are! Remember you! – What about me? – What? You also went to a dance with your friends when you were fifteen. And from there you were led under the arms. You were no longer able to walk by yourself! So, your daughter is still a good girl. Well, she drank a drop. What did you think? I walked boldly into the kitchen. Nobody said a word to me.
I’m twenty-three! – Grandpa, you’re going to be a great-grandfather. – Well, I’m glad! When exactly? – I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow and find out! – Have you told your mother? And your husband? – I haven’t told anyone yet, only you. – Well, tell them. And don’t let them know that I found out first. – Oh, grandfather, really…
I’m twenty-four! Our son is one month old. All the relatives are gathered for the occasion. I overhear my grandfather talking to my mother: “Well,” he says, “I seem to have fulfilled all my obligations, I lived long enough to see my great-grandson, the only thing left to do is to… – Get married! – Mom laughs. – What’s so funny? – Granddad says seriously. – Yes, get married! – Well, go on, look for a bride… – Mama laughs. – Already! Mom stops laughing. Both she and father look at Grandpa with their mouths open. Then I start laughing. – Why are you laughing? Did you know everything? Well, my daughter… Well, how do I explain to her that I know the bride for a long time, that I really like her, and that we bought a suit for the wedding with grandfather?
What’s your relationship to Grandpa?
