– Maria, I need you to look after John. Put him with someone. We have four widows in the house and as many divorced! And all about his age! What’s a man to be sad about?
Olivia threw up her hands at the last word and looked at her neighbor.
– I’m not a matchmaker, Olivia, – Maria replied.
– Well, he’s not a groom, he’s a pensioner, that’s true… – Olivia continued – But the man is bored, wandering around the yard, even has no one to talk to.
– “Yeah, I thought you had an interest in the new tenant, not just worried!” laughed Maria, “What’s the matter, no one’s man is giving you a hard time? Or… Wait, maybe you have your eye on him yourself!
Olivia gasped.
– Maria, come on! Are you crazy?! I have Sam!
– Sam is here today and gone tomorrow, – laughed Maria, – Okay. I’ll take a closer look at the new tenant. He looks really sad. His children, as I understand it, moved him from the village closer to themselves.
– They did… And now live as you can…
…At one time Maria held good management positions. Now she’s retired. Her children have moved away, they live far away now. She divorced her husband when her youngest son was still at school. Not to be sad. She started to go to the church choir. I became involved in social activities. And life went on, returned to normal…
We were just talking to Olivia when John came outside.
– Good morning! – Maria greeted him.
– Good morning, Maria…
– I see that you are much younger than me.
Maria laughed.
– Younger? Yes, the same as you, a pensioner.
Word for word, we started talking. Maria invited John to the choir’s performance on Friday. She wrote a note and explained how to get there. The man liked the performance, but refused to take part in amateur performances.
– I am not your assistant here. I have never even picked up a tool. If you want to help with men’s work, you are welcome. And this… I’m not into music. But I like to watch others perform.
Maria thought.
– It must be boring for you to sit around all day.
– Boring, John nodded.
– Maybe you could entertain my girls? I have women who live alone. They don’t really need anything. They just have no one to talk to. They used to gather at the entrance, but there are no topics left to talk about, or for some reason they do not agree. I don’t know. But we’re bored, and I don’t have time. Let me take you, John, as my assistant? Do you agree?
– It’s awkward going to other people’s women.
– Why? You’re on community service, so to speak. Someone needs help at home, to turn the tap, grease the curtains on the door and talk.
– Oh, well, if so, you can…
– I’ll be right there. I need help too – Maria smiled.
And that was the agreement. And for Maria it is a double benefit. Both help and people do not get bored.
Somehow Maria got tickets to a concert. She would have gone herself, but John promised to send her somewhere with one of her neighbors. The occasion was perfect.
Lisa looked at the tickets and then at Maria.
– Oh, Maria, I don’t like this.
– How so? Such a concert, come on! – objected Maria. – I would love to go. I’ve been wanting to introduce you to John for a long time, maybe you’ll like him. You will have a wonderful time. At our age, we have to go out to keep ourselves in good shape, – and Maria demonstratively straightened her back, and her neighbor nodded in response, – That’s good. I will give John the tickets, he will come to you in the evening. Do you hear?
– Yes, Maria, thank you, – the neighbor replied.
Then she sent John to visit the next neighbor. She advised the neighbor to bake pies for a treat. Her husband likes pies very much, she said. The neighbor shrugged.
– I do not make the dough myself, only buy it. And what kind of pies are those from the store?
Maria helped here too. She baked pies. With mushrooms.
The next day Maria met John and asked how her neighbor was doing.
– She is doing well. I fed her pies, – the man said without enthusiasm.
– Are they tasty?
– Yes, – John praised, – with mushrooms. My favorite.
– Oh, and mine, – Maria smiled.
– Maria, John suddenly said, “Is it just me or are you trying to woo me? These women don’t really need my help…
– Really?” Maria threw up her hands. “They’re all adults!
– And you, Maria, don’t you have anything to fix?” the man suddenly asked, switching to the first name.
Maria really needed to repair the shelf in the closet. She thought about it.
– Oh…
– Don’t be ashamed. All for people and nothing for yourself. I’ll come by tonight if you’re not busy.
– No, no, I’m not busy today… – Maria muttered.
She was even confused. She had an unexpected guess.
Usually she went to visit and solve someone’s problems. But today she had to receive a guest…
Maria was working in the kitchen when John arrived.
He stood on the threshold with a huge bag.
– What is this?” Maria looked at her husband in surprise.
She did not understand what was happening.
– Don’t worry, I took everything I had. The tools. I don’t know what exactly you have to do.
– “Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah,” Maria said and let the guest in.
When they drank tea and cake, they laughed and joked for a long time, until Maria remembered:
– I saw you with that bag…
– What? – John suddenly looked at her seriously. – Maria, you kept wooing me, wooing me, and you were alone. And I liked you right away. And I ate your pies at the neighbor’s, right? And I wanted to go to the concert with you, but Lisa didn’t like it anyway. And anyway…
– Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, we’re having a good time,” Maria laughed.
– Okay, – said John, – but I think I’m not indifferent to you… And you like me too, don’t you?
Maria blushed. Then she did not know what to answer…
…And six months later the whole house was at the wedding of two elderly lonely people…
