There was a small poverty-stricken cottage on the right bank of twisty river in remote settlement of Russia. An old pair with two grown-up children lived in this house, far from the city and its temptations. But last year more and more often children left their parents alone in empty house, looking for the better life in neighboring villages. It was wicked December with great amount of snow and hard frost, so that old parents were sitting at home near the smoky furnace, trying to get warm. Although old father was grey-haired and his face was covered with deep wrinkles, his courage was strong and every day he spent working in the house or in the garden. He never parted with his threadbare sheepskin coat, which he wore since youth and which he got from his father. Old mother was not so robust, that’s why she usually wrapped herself up in large dawn shawl, but, like her husband, she never sat without any occupation.
Old pair had two children – elder daughter, who worked in the town not far from the settlement and provided almost the whole family, and younger son, who was very lazy and silly. The son didn’t have any job, he even couldn’t finish the university, and his main duties were to waste a sum of money he was given to study and appear from time to time at home. Lately, the guy spent most of the time with doubtful girls in unknown clubs and restaurants. So nobody knew exactly, where Vlad was at that moment, but one thing was clear – he was not at work and not at home. Sveta, the elder daughter, was a hard-working woman and most of the time she spent earning money, so she could see her parents rarely. That’s why this old pair was not so happy – every day parents worked in the garden, planting fruits and vegetables or preparing the soil for spring. Sometimes it was necessary to repair something in the house or to buy provisions and some important things at the market. They also cooked food, but unfortunately for themselves, cleaned the house and washed the clothes.
Life was not the same thirty years ago, when young parents were happy to buy such a wonderful house near the river in big and popular settlement that was expected to grow into the city. That life was fascinating – new wooden house, lots of friendly neighbors, spectacular views from all windows, beautiful garden and great harvest. And the main part of life – two nice kids, running among trees and houses, laughing and smiling brighter than the sun. Years passed quickly and suddenly everything changed – children wanted to stay with parents no more and they didn’t want to work in the garden. So the house was desolate, like old parents and the whole village. Cities widened and developed and most neighbors moved there, changing their wooden houses for stone flats and rural life – for modern existence.
Only two old parents still loved their home and garden and settlement, like thirty years ago in spite of globalization and poverty. There were only several happy days for them in the year –holidays, when both children returned home and all members of the small family were together as it was in old good times. It was the Christmas Eve, so parents were impatiently waiting for the arrival of their beloved children. Since morning old mother was cooking simple dishes. Water was very cold, but she washed fruits and vegetables for salads and then cut them, although her hands were so weak. She also baked big apple pie and traditional chicken with spices. They didn’t have much money, but old father bought some smoked salmon, honey and chocolate sweets at the market. He chopped lots of firewood and used the stove to keep warm and cozy atmosphere at home. Old parents cleaned everything carefully, set fire to candles and decorated their house with fir branches.
So, it was evening and two old people were waiting for their children in high spirits. Suddenly someone knocked on the door and old father, who was sitting in his armchair drawing the plan of new barn, stood up and hastily went towards the front door. He was surprised, when he saw one of the neighbors instead of Sveta or Vlad.
“Good evening, old Felix” said the guest “I’ve got some news for you”.
“Nice to see you, Ivan” answered old father “So, what news have you brought? Maybe something from our children?”
“You’re right, Felix” agreed Ivan “That’s from your daughter. She was so sorry, but she told one of my friends that she couldn’t come to your dinner. She has to work this night, because one of her colleagues is in hospital now. I sympathize”.
“What a pity!” grieved old father “But thank you, Ivan, for your kindness and support. My wife and I wish you and your family Merry Christmas”.
“Thanks” answered Ivan “I hope you would celebrate it, too. Maybe your son will arrive…I’ll try to keep you informed”.
“Thank you again, Ivan” smiled old father “Good-bye”.
“Bye”.
Then old father returned to the room and retold the conversation to his wife. Tears shined in her eyes, but she tried not to cry and asked her husband to have the dinner right now, because it was late and they didn’t know, if their son was going to come or not. So old pair cut the bread and poured out the soup, when suddenly someone again knocked on the door. And again old father stood up and went towards the entrance. This time it was not Ivan, their son, Vlad, was standing behind the door with unknown girl in mini-skirt and short fur-coat.
“Vlad, you are here! That’s wonderful!” exclaimed old father “We were waiting for you! Your mother has cooked a lot of tasty dishes. Please, come in!”
“I needn’t your invitations” contemptuously said Vlad “It’s my house and I can come here wherever I want to. And you forgot about one detail, old man. I’m not alone – this is my future wife, Maria, so be polite with her”.
“I understand” old father was a little bit embarrassed “Certainly, it’s your house, too and I’m glad to get acquainted with Maria – she can have a dinner with us”.
“No, you don’t understand me” said Vlad with determination “We are going to marry soon, so we would like to spend several weeks here and alone…”
“What’s the matter, my dear?” asked old mother, who came from the dining room “Vlad, I’m so happy to see you! Why are you standing here, near the door? Please, come in and let’s have a dinner – we have cooked…”
“I’ve heard all this rubbish!” rudely interrupted Vlad “I’m trying to explain you and your husband, that my future wife and I want to celebrate this holiday together, without any relatives. But her flat is occupied and we should stay here. So, let’s go for a walk”.
“What are you doing, Vlad?” old father was frightened “You want us to come out? Are you drunk? There is enough space in the house and we won’t disturb you…”
“I don’t want to hear these silly words any more!” shouted Vlad “I’m tired and I want to rest with my girl without your senile grumbling!”
“My dear son, Vlad” plaintively asked old mother “Are you ill? How can you treat us this way?”
But drunk and angry son was implacable – he sharply pushed his parents out of the house and locked the door. They were shouting and asking him to change his decision, but Vlad was irritated. So he sat on the sofa with Maria and switched on the radio. Songs sounded loudly, drowning parents’ words and appeals of conscience. Soon old parents were tired of the attempts to come into the house. They looked around, but the night was dark and there was no light apart the shining moon. Old people didn’t remember, where the sentry-box with the telephone was, but it was very far and they couldn’t take their bearings in darkness. Helpless and hopeless, they slowly walked along the moon path, thinking with warmth about their daughter and pitying for their son. There was the thick forest in front of old parents; behind them was only their native house and nobody around. There was only the deep silence, darkness, immense space and shining moon. The frost was very hard and soon old arms and legs started freezing…
Then it was sunny morning, when the daughter finally came home in high spirits. She opened the front door and was surprised, because the house seemed to be empty and silent, although it was cleaned and decorated. Sveta opened the door to her parents’ room and suddenly saw her brother, who was sitting on the sofa and crying soundless. There was old father’s sheepskin coat, hanging on the back of chair, and old mother’s dawn shawl, laying on the table…