In the New Year, don't take anything old.

Anya started preparing for the holiday on December thirtieth. It was her favorite time of the year, when the very air seemed to be filled with fairy tales and magic.

Once upon a time, a long time ago, Anna believed in Santa Claus. She wrote letters with her cherished desires in a neat handwriting and hid them under her pillow. And each time, the fabulous Grandfather studied them carefully. How did Anya know that? Yes, because on the first of January, she always found a "hello from Lapland" in the form of dolls, lush bows or apple marshmallows under a beautiful Christmas tree.

And then Anya somehow imperceptibly matured. There were no more of those sweet moments that had so impressed her as a child. Santa Claus turned out to be an invention, and I had to look for and buy gifts on my own. And to create a New Year's mood, you need to work hard the day before: garlands, tinsel, paper snowflakes will not hang themselves! But there was always a certain charming air of mystery in the last days of December.

It's a good thing that her parents once helped her believe in fairy tales! She will certainly do something similar for her children when they are born.

That's what she thought.

But everything didn't go according to plan. Anya wanted to get married before she was twenty, but it turned out only at thirty. And God didn't give us children either. For ten whole years of endless attempts, examinations, consultations... "You are both perfectly healthy," repeated every next specialist Anya and Adam turned to. But no miracle happened.

And for ten years, a desperate Anya made only one cherished wish to the sound of the chimes: to become a mother! But it's all in vain.

Will she make a wish for the eleventh time? Yes! But now there is one weighty "but"…

The sound of the notification distracted Anya from untangling the old garland. She reluctantly reached for her phone—she knew the contents of the message in advance. It was Adam.

"The meeting. I'll be late"

Over the past six months, Anna has been receiving such messages very often. And this meant that Adam would not come to spend the night today. He'll arrive in the morning, change his clothes, and go back to work. They say that the authorities require mandatory attendance at the morning meeting, even after a late meeting…

Anya knew what these "meetings" and "planning sessions" were... and forgave. Because she loved Adam and hoped that his adventures would end with the birth of a child. But there was still no child, and the adventures became regular. Even daily…

Anna tried to talk to her husband, after all, she did not need "trouble" in the form of some kind of infection. But Adam just waved it off.: "You're winding yourself up! I'm not cheating on you." And then he disappeared for the night again.…

Perhaps Anna would have continued to forgive her reveler husband for many more years in a row. But the sudden ringing of the doorbell was a harbinger of drastic life changes.

— Hello, who are you visiting?

An unknown girl in her twenties stood on the threshold. She shamelessly pushed past Anya into the apartment.

— To you! — Madame was aggressive. — Let's make an amicable decision!

— What will we decide? Who are you?

— Adam and I have been living as husband and wife for six months now, and I will not leave him to you! You'd better give in! She clung to the man with pincers — she couldn't tear him off! And he loves me!

Anya was about to push the boorish person out the door, but she shouted, "I'm expecting a baby from him!"

Time seemed to have stopped. How? They've been dreaming about having children for so many years! And this cheeky girl stole a dream so easily and quickly!

"Get out!"

Anna slammed the door.

No, well, she could still forgive casual relationships! But a pregnant lover is already beyond the limit!

Suddenly, anger turned to envy. After all, Anna deserved to become a mother more than this person! And what about the family? It was only now that Anna realized that there had been no family for a long time. So, we lived out of habit…

Maybe it's a good thing that this professional turned up. Otherwise, Anya would not have dared to expunge Adam from her life for a long time.…

"I'm not going to let anyone spoil my holiday," Anya said, distracted from her unpleasant thoughts. There's still so much to do!"

Since childhood, the thirty-first of December has been associated with the pre-holiday rush. Mom had been cooking all sorts of goodies since the morning, dad kept adjusting the colorful light bulbs on the window, which the old cat Tishka diligently knocked down with a massive paw. Anya herself was rereading the message to Santa Claus — hadn't she forgotten to ask him for something?

And now, many years later, the morning turned out to be exciting again. Now she will wait for Adam, solemnly hand over his suitcases and step into the new year in the status of a single childless woman.

— Okay, I'm taking a shower and going to work. I'll have breakfast there," Adam didn't even look at his wife and went to the bathroom. —Where's my toothbrush?"

"In the suitcase, where should she be?" said Anya in a calm tone.

Strangely, she didn't feel any emotions, as if she was kicking her husband out of the house every day.

"What are you talking about?" What kind of suitcase? I don't have time to play your stupid games!

— The suitcase that you will carry to the boorish person who demanded "not to hold on to you with pincers." And without a toothbrush, it's somehow indecent to move into a new house.

- what? Was Lisa here?

"You know, she didn't introduce herself. But I think her demand is quite justified: six months of a relationship is no joke! By the way, I've brought you a couple of fresh towels, so I suggest you take a shower at Lisa's.

—An, listen," Adam's tone softened, but there was no regret in his words.… We've been doing exactly the same lately.… Boring… And here's Liza! So young, spectacular, even... if you want... liberated. Well, I couldn't resist! What about now? I'm a man, I want to love with my eyes. Not with your borscht! Look at you! You've lost it completely in the last few years! And there are still no children. I can imagine what you'll turn into if they show up!

— Not "if", but "when", — if Anya still had doubts about the correctness of the decision before this tirade, now they have disappeared, — but from now on it's not your problem. Get your stuff and get out.

— This is my house too!

"Not really. I got the apartment from my parents before my marriage. And you can take everything that's yours in it. It's not a pity. Believe me, I really want to update the interior to get rid of shared memories. But remember, you only have ten days. Then I'll change the locks.

"Are you letting me go so easily?"

—Did you expect me to be hysterical, to fall at your feet, begging you not to leave me to my fate?" I am an adult and self-sufficient woman. Yes, sometimes boring. But I'm still independent and strong on my feet. But you need fun and passion! What else can a twenty-year-old give you? Oh, yes... don't flatter yourself too much, she'll be fine soon too.

— It won't stop! Adam shouted from the doorway.

"Don't even doubt it!

Yeah, apparently the mistress hasn't reported the pregnancy news yet. Well, advice to them and love.

***

Twinkling garlands hung everywhere created a magical atmosphere in the room. Anna was sitting at the table with a glass of sparkling wine and waiting for the chimes to strike. Now she knew exactly what she was going to ask for.

Bom... "I want in the coming year..."

Bom... "Becoming a mom!.."

Bom... "Becoming a happy mom..."

Bom... "To be happy..."

Bom... "Just to be happy!.."

— Happy New Year to me! Anya drained her glass at the twelfth stroke. — Everything will be fine now!

***

The early rays of the spring sun easily penetrated through a small crack between the heavy curtains. Anya had a wonderful dream today in which she was gently hugging a baby to her chest. I didn't want to lose that warm feeling of happiness when I woke up.…

But the March sun stubbornly slipped through the curtains, and the birdsong became louder and more melodious. "Spring is coming! Make way for spring!" read the chaotic chirping of the birds.

For more than a month, Anna was officially divorced. And I'm just as happy. With a new man.

Igor was a Pilates instructor, to whom she signed up immediately after the New Year holidays.

— Can you imagine, almost my ex-husband claims that I'm "fucked up"! — Anna complained at the first lesson with Igor.

"It's a good thing he's almost ex-boyfriend. You have a wonderful stretch. And the figure is an hourglass. And the extra centimeters are not a sentence. If you promise to work hard, you won't recognize yourself after ten to fifteen classes.

And Anya promised. And Igor praised her for her perseverance every time. Soon, the attraction became so strong that they plunged headlong into a pool of unexpected passion.

Anya realized that she had been living in a daze all this time, taking care of others and forgetting about herself. She didn't even live, but existed! And now, for the first time in many years, I felt alive! Emotions were overwhelming, I wanted to scream with happiness!

— Good morning, sweetheart! Igor came into the room with two glasses of warm mineral water. — Here you go. We'll have breakfast in half an hour and go to training.

"I'm sorry, Igor , but I can't come to your training today,— Anya feigned contrition, "I have a scheduled checkup with a doctor.

— Well, no, Anna , I will gladly postpone the time of our lesson. Then you will have time to see a doctor and to train!

— Oh, I couldn't mow it down! Anya snuggled up to Igor. — What a strict coach you are!

— But a caring guy! Igor kissed Anya. "I'm going to make a healthy breakfast."

***

The routine inspection did not go according to plan.

— Suspicion of pregnancy, — the doctor did not choose his expressions, — now I will give you a referral for tests. After we get the results, we will decide what to do next.

"Suspicion of pregnancy..." Anna repeated the phrase to herself, not yet realizing what had happened. "It's like we're talking about some kind of unpleasant disease."

Stop! What?

— How's the pregnancy? I don't have the slightest signs!

Suddenly Anya stopped talking… Why not? I haven't had nausea or menstruation for a long time — with a new relationship, I forgot to follow the cycle, I didn't pay attention. Anna attributed all this to age-related changes, the transition to proper nutrition.… And that's how it is… Unexpectedly! But how joyful!

Anya flew home as if on the wings of happiness. Has it really come true? She's finally going to be a mom! But how can I tell Igor about this? They haven't known each other that long. Although... no matter what decision he makes, Anya won't give up on the baby.

—Igor, I have a serious conversation with you," Anna began bluntly. "I'm pregnant." And this is a long-awaited event for me. But I'm not going to put pressure on you, I'll make any decision. You don't have to do anything for me or the baby. I'm sorry for putting it in front of the fact. I'm just as shocked, believe me.

— An, I've avoided serious relationships all my life. And here's the result — at forty there is no family or children. And when you showed up, I realized that I was lost.… I love you and I want to be a father. Of course, we haven't known each other for a long time, and there will probably be "surprises" in our family life… But let's take a chance?

"Is that a suggestion?"

— Well, that's it, yes!

— Let's try it!

***

Anya hugged the sleeping baby to her chest: "You are my New Year's miracle! How can you not believe in Santa Claus after that?!"

Everything was not going smoothly with Igor, now he was living separately altogether — he asked for a break, to take a break from family life. But he loved his daughter very much, he either stopped by or called every day. Once a week he brought groceries and all sorts of small things for the little one.

Anya was quite satisfied with this arrangement. Now she had the meaning of life that she had dreamed of for so many years. She is the happiest woman in the world!

Everything else is meaningless.…

Mom! Mommy...

couldn't sleep last night. Her bones ached (for the rain, apparently), then suddenly her decrepit heart began to pound so hard that even could hear it. She sighed for a long time, got out of bed with a groan and, feeling for her flip-flops on the cold floor, shuffled to the cupboard, where there was a first-aid kit with medicines.

I took the pills and sat listening to myself. It seems to have let go. You can get some sleep until morning. It was going to be a busy day.should get enough sleep: it's not right to go out on potatoes like a sleepy fly. Work requires nimble hands. Sleep! Sleep!

The pain in my joints has calmed down. Like departing thunderclouds, she sauntered away, snarling softly. My out-of-breath heart stopped pounding and became more regular, like an old mechanical watch. But – the law of meanness: unpleasant feelings have replaced unpleasant, annoying, painful thoughts.

Matveyevna was thinking about the children. However, she hadn't stopped thinking about her sons for a second since they were born. And if she used to think of Adam and Gosha with anxiety and burning love, now she also feels resentment. Bitter and bewildered resentment. It seems that Matveyevna is not to blame for anything, but she is ashamed to tears in front of herself and her neighbors... in front of my sons.

Marya , or rather Marya Ivanova, was not always a villager. She used to come to this site with a huge birch tree hugging a solid five-wall, covered with gray slate, only in summer, to stay with her aunt with her children and her husband. Marya Matveyevna's family was relaxing here from the hustle and bustle of the city: Anton, her husband, was fishing on the lake, the children were puffing up with fresh milk, and Marya herself was taking her soul away in her aunt's beds with strawberries and tomatoes stuck right into the greasy, sun-warmed earth. My aunt had no idea about any greenhouses. There had never been such a thing in their fertile lands – everything grew and bore fruit in the wild, without fear of an unknown disease called late blight.

The boys grew up and grew stronger, while the aunt aged and fell ill. Sometime in nineteen ninety-one, she died, not forgetting to first sign the house with a vegetable garden in her niece's name.

And thank God! Anton had been laid off at work by that time. Who needs components for radios? Marya worked at least as a salesman in a store, supplying her family with scarce delicacies, if eggs and sugar can be called such at all. We survived somehow. And the vegetable garden, sold by my aunt three years ago, helped. There is no cow, and the land, which has been soaring every spring, has been enjoying harvests for ten years, until it is exhausted and torn from constant plowing. Anton also broke down. He went out to his native garden, smoked a cigarette, leaned back against the fence, and sat there for three hours until Marya screamed wildly, realizing what was what. They buried him, mourned him, and erected a simple monument.

Well, by that time, the guys had grown up, and life had become easier.

Marya gasped one day, looking at her legs: beautiful, marble, light, they were covered with a network of swollen veins. Here it is an "easy" and "satisfying" job at the grocery store! Marya, who was not old yet, could physically feel the ice on the concrete store floor, penetrating to her very heart. I tried to pave the floor at the counter with wooden pallets, but the boss, who replaced the understanding Marya , the former director of a large store, saw the boards, screamed like a victim and stamped his feet.

- What do we have here? A village store? The market? Eh? Remove it! Immediately! The chief's mouth was foaming furiously, like a cornered gelding's.

I had to obey. Marya suffered for another year, until she realized that in a little more time she would be provided with a coffin with music. Sasha and Goshka couldn't look at their mother's torments calmly, they got excited, balked, and swore:

- That's it, mother, I've worked hard! Rest now. We'll feed you!

She relied on her sons and quit. Yes, how! With fanfare! I spat in the boss's red face and sent him three funny letters in front of all the honest people! They even applauded her!

They began to live and live with their sons in a spacious "Stalinist" three-bedroom apartment. There was plenty of room for everyone until Sasha brought Nina's fiancee into the house. So, the wedding was played, and then the grandson, the loudmouth, appeared. A girl was born right after him. It's troublesome, noisy, and fun. Gosha got himself a girlfriend. We wanted to live separately, rent a private apartment. What's the big deal? The salary at the Josh factory is tears!

I had to sit down at the table and decide as a family what to do next. We decided to change the apartment into two. And so lucky: Sasha and Ninochka got a two–room apartment in Khrushchev, and George and his girlfriend Anyuta got a one-room apartment with a small surcharge. Marya spread her hands and went to the village. We agreed that she lives in the village in the summer, and from November to March she stays at Adam's house. All the help: there is someone to sit with the grandchildren, cook soup again...

Three seasons went by without a hitch. Nina didn't say a word against it, she understood that her mother-in-law didn't huddle on a folding chair in the kitchen every winter. It's no joke, she gave the apartment to be torn apart. But over time, Nina's character deteriorated: worries, work, husband, children. began to annoy her incredibly. The night cuckoo will call the day cuckoo. So did Nina: like a woodpecker in the dark, she hammered Sasha every day.:

"Your mom's fucked up!" It's no use: the soup is always too salty, it's impossible to eat! He does not work with children: lessons are not done until the evening! And I get tired like a dog at work, I need a rest! And this chicken is dangling under my feet!

accidentally overheard the conversation. After all, Nina wasn't scolding Sanya in a whisper: she was talking loudly on purpose so that "mama" would understand. Marya almost lost consciousness from resentment: that's an ungrateful bitch! May you burn with fire and blue flame together with your henpecked husband! She packed her bag and slammed the door in her anger. I took a bus to the other side of the city and went to Gosha. I went up to the fifth floor and rang the doorbell. No one is at home. I settled down on the stairs and decided to wait for the young ones. I waited for three hours, even dozed off. And then... It would be better if she had never seen it!

The lock clicked softly on the door of Josh 's apartment: her son's shaggy head and her daughter–in-law's smooth, neat head poked out through the crack.

"Gone?" – Pansies crystal voice.

"I think so,— Goshin said hoarsely.

- Oh, I do not know what to do now, because she will not leave us alone, and she will keep coming! — Anya became worried, - our normal life is over, damn it!

Marya rose heavily from the step, stood in front of the children, and bowed at their feet.:

- Thank you, Josh , for the warmth, for the affection. And thank you, Anya! There's one thing I don't understand: How did you turn from normal sons into such freaks? Fie on you parasites! Be happy, I won't bother you ever again!

spat right in Josh 's face, turned around abruptly and ran down the stairs like a young man. I bought a ticket to the village at the train station and drove off into the night, out of the freezing darkness, to hell in the middle of nowhere in a bus all by myself. She looked out the window and, not shy of the surprised look of the driver, roared excitedly all the way.

The bus turned around with difficulty at the last stop, having adjusted itself for the way back. The elderly driver cursed to himself: what kind of idiot came up with this? Winter, there's no one in the village, why drive equipment into a snowstorm? There's a woman in the salon, and she's crying like a beluga all the way! Crazy, in a word! They're sitting at home normally! And he, like a damned man, for a hundred and forty rubles in revenue, has to fight his way through the drifts and pray that the road doesn't get up to his ears.

"Hey, lady?" Are you going to get out or are you going back? I asked loudly.

The lady wiped her nose and left the heated salon in a snowstorm. Something pricked the driver's heart, because he wasn't the last scoundrel, after all.

- Who will meet you? Something happened? Maybe you won't go anywhere? The man's voice is worried.

- thanks. I live nearby. There is firewood, the house is winter. Don't worry, I'll manage," Marya smiled through her tears, "how will you get there?" We'd better wait, the grader will go and clean it in the morning.

- Don't. Must not. Our host is strict. If he doesn't see the bus in the park, he will be fined, or even fired altogether.

- And you will call, tell me that you are stuck... What's your name?" Marya asked.

"Valery — the elderly driver introduced himself.

Together they dug a path through the snowdrifts to the house. The stove was flooded, which smoked sleepily at first and began to smoke. But Valery, a grated roll, crumpled the old newspaper into a rough ball and held it out, set on fire right into the furnace's black mouth. The flame flared up, and the thrust went. The dry firewood, lovingly stacked in the woodpile, burst into flames, hummed and illuminated Marya 's face. It seemed young and beautiful.

Marya put the kettle on the stove. She laughed.

- Oh, my God, I forgot to go to the grocery store in my heart! I'm such a fool!

- How can you say that, Marya Matveyevna!

- Oh, it's not scary! I'm good at something too! – she just smiled and looked prettier.

With difficulty, Marya pulled out an iron box painted with green paint from under the bed. She clicked the lock and... a magic casket opened in front of Valery ! Tin cans with stewed meat and sprat in tomatoes, packs of pasta and cereals, sunflower oil, matches, biscuits, sweets, biscuits and a couple of bottles of vodka are placed in the drawer in even columns.

- My late aunt taught me that. Have a reserve. You never know – war or the end of the world. So that you can last two months. There are potatoes and carrots in the basement. So you can have a feast for the whole world," explained .

"For what pleasure?" Valery asked.

"Not out of joy, but out of spite," Marya laughed.

The house was gradually warming up. The window panes began to cry, behind which a blizzard was raging so that the walls were shaking. In just an hour, the snow was waist-deep. Valery mentally crossed himself: it was a good thing that he did not go and warned the dispatcher. The bus was taken off the flight, the road workers were threatened with all kinds of punishments, demanding departure to the line. He will spend the night with the hostess, drink hot tea, sleep on a feather bed. He hadn't slept on a feather bed in a hundred years, since he was a child, at his mother's in the same God-forsaken village.

Marya shook and fluffed the feather pillows, warmed the blankets on the stove.

- Well, the house is dry, the laundry has not had time to get wet.

- Good! — Valery agreed, - but I still don't understand why you came here in this weather. What happened?

Marya was not shy – the barely contained dam burst, and tears gushed out like hot lava. My soul was asking for relief, looking for a silent and understanding listener. So I found it...

That's how they became friends.

Continuation of the story in the next publication