Unexpected help

Ivan Andreevich saw the doctor and returned to his wife's room. He went to the table and took the recipe with a determined movement. “You will see, my dear Lizonka,” he said affectionately to his wife, “you will recover.” I'm going for medicine now. ”

Ivan Andreevich opened the cabinet door, in which they kept their money for many years, and put his hand in an old box. At the bottom lay a stack of small bills. “Well, that's not enough,” he said, counting the money. - Nothing, I’ll go to the neighbors. I will lend. You don’t need much, ”Ivan Andreevich reassured himself. I went to the site and rang the doorbell.

“Hello, dear neighbor,” Irina Vladimirovna said sweetly smiling, “what have they come to us with?” “You see, I don’t have enough money for medicine. Could you lend, ”Ivan Andreevich asked confusedly. A smile slowly slipped from the neighbor’s face. “Here is such a situation,” Irina Vladimirovna said, squeezing out the words, “I promised my son to give him a new smartphone for his birthday, and if I don’t have enough, well, do you understand what he’ll think?” “Yes, yes, of course,” Ivan Andreevich said confusedly. - Sorry". The door quickly slammed shut.

“Or maybe you should go to Svetlana Semenovna?”, Whispered Ivan Andreevich, turning to herself, “she always borrowed.” And he resolutely rang the doorbell. “Who is it?” The neighbor asked without opening, “it’s me - Your neighbor, "he said loudly." I'm listening to you, "they answered behind the door. Ivan Andreyevich confusedly explained that he was asking him to lend him some money for medicine to his wife." I would give you, but, you know, lend money after you call the sun is a bad omen. Come in the afternoon. ”After these words, Ivan Andreevich’s legs became heavier, and a como approached the throat . "Well, I'm standing, as the pharmacy there are discounts, go, maybe it will be enough," - encouraged himself.
“Discounts do not apply to this medicine,” the cashier of the next pharmacy, which included tired Ivan Andreevich, answered. My heart pinched and pounded. He went outside. A cold wind drove thick tears down his face.

“Man, why are you crying, huh?” - through the noise of the wind came to him. Ivan Andreevich turned his head and below, next to him, he saw a legless invalid on a trolley asking for alms. Passers-by sometimes threw copper and small bills into a plastic cup. “My wife is seriously ill, I need medicine, but I don’t have enough money,” said Ivan Andreevich. ““ Wife, ”the beggar said in a drawn voice,“ I had a wife. ” Died. Now I'm here. "After these words, he rummaged through his pockets, pulled out a handful of crumpled banknotes and handed them to Ivan Andreevich." Take it. They will help me, "he said. Ivan bent over, took the money and kissed the beggar on the cheek." Yes okay, go, ”he said softly.



Archpriest Vasily Mazur