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At the iconostasis, the priest in a long robe to the toe was standing with his back to the parishioners and singing a prayer book in a singing voice:
– Our Father, Thou art in heaven. Hallowed be Thy name. They will be done…
The church choir, from pious old women, sang along with his sonorous voices. Fedosy Kuzmovich stood facing the choir in a black suit and shiny boots, leaning on a narrow platform. On his long nose sat round glasses. Through them he examined the texts of the Bible and sang with a tenor with the choir. In the church hall a crowd of people was crowded, quickly crossed in the pauses of the choir. And the sign of the cross, and the choir, and the solemn silence of the parishioners, filled the space of the church hall and my imagination with the sensation of some mystery. And succumbing to the general impulse of piety, I folded the three thumbs of my right hand into the "bundle", as my grandmother taught me, and with a sinking heart – was baptized. The gesture made a trembling sense of expectation of a miracle. I suddenly thought that, here, something should happen. At that time the choir sang:
– God, have mercy, Lord, have mercy. Have mercy upon…
From church high and long windows, the sheaves of sunlight fell on the iconostasis, clearly appearing in the particles of the dust of the church. It seemed that just about, one more moment, and according to the formed rays Archangel St. Michael or Gabriel would come down and sanctify all the flock and Easter of the parishioners with his presence. But apart from the voices of the choir, and the rustling of the clothes of the baptized, nothing unusual happened. But my grandmother, I looked at my grandson, with tears of affection, the warmth gently and affectionately. I felt so much confidence in myself, my spiritual strength from this look, that there are no barriers in the world that I ca
Home from the church came back fun. Pious grandmothers praised my grandmother's grandson. And I felt at that moment not alone.
"Look, there he is!"
"Who?" Exactly he?!
"There's that boy among the devout old ladies, you see!"
"Are you sure it's our boy?"
– Sca
"But will you have to check?"
"Commander, this is your prince- trust, but check, it only hinders." – A reproach in the voice.
Chapter 4
I am five years old. One morning my grandmother said:
– You have not been in kindergarten for a long time. Get ready, today we'll go!
– And Where’s Mama? I rubbed my eyes with my fists.
– She's at a meeting in Kiev.
So the grandmother called the conference of collective farmers, where my mother was sent. Oh, how I did not like to go to this kindergarten, God only knows. In the kindergarten, children often teased me with the nickname "deputy", as the son of the mother of a former deputy of the Supreme Council of Ukraine, and now a deputy of the village council of Shpitki village. It hurt and displeased me. For this, sometimes, I was even angry with my mother for her deputyship. At all mother, as mother, and at me any not similar on all. She always has business. Everywhere she needs to have time, to visit both at work, and at gatherings and at a farm, and at an exhibition. Well, it's not a man, it's a matter. Of course, I did not understand the mother's conscientiousness, which had long earned her respect. She was loved by workers of the state farm, fellow- villagers. But their children almost hated her son. I rarely saw my mother. But, there were moments when she appeared at home and hurried to listen not to her son, but to his cousin Nyushu. My sister often speculated about her situation in the family and complained about my i
– You know; you tell me everything in order. I can give you medicine, what you need, I'll give you something, and then I'll bring the money. Good?
I nodded, in agreement, saying:
Do you have a cure for evil? – And looked inquiringly at the apothecary.
He did not understand at first that I asked. Then he jumped to his feet, turning away from me, obviously hiding a smile, quickly became behind the counter of the pharmacy, pretending that he was looking for a cure for evil. A little later, he lifted his head from the glass shelf with medicines, said: "And what's the matter with you that you came for medicines against evil?" – And gave me a paper napkin, so I wiped away my tears and blew my nose. Wiping myself with a napkin, I answered:
"Yes, all evil, mother, Nyuska. And even my grandmother ca
– Wait, I'll bring the medicine from evil soon. – And the utility room disappeared behind the door. After a while he returned, holding in his hand two round packets of pills.
– This is a pill from evil. We will take it after meals three times a day.
I was delighted and accepted the medicine with gratitude. In my heart I felt warm and happy that my escape from the house was so easily solved, and there is no longer any desire to escape anywhere, I jumped out of the pharmacy. Lenya Ochkolyas passed by. At twenty meters he fell behind his mother, who was ahead.
– And are you a Valik?
– Do not you see that it's me? I answered him.
– What did you do in the pharmacy?
– Thus I bought a cure for evil.
– There is no such medicine. – Authoritatively stated Ochkolyas.
– You look! – I solemnly showed him two packages.
It's glucose. – Without batting an eyelid, answered Lenya.
I did not know yet what glucose is. But there was no escape, and I asked:
– And what is it? Glue, glucose?
– And let me show you.
– On. – I gave Lena a bag. He busily unfolded it, took out one large pill and put it in his mouth. Then he took out another one. Stretching to me, he said: