If you get drenched from head to toe
Everyone has probably, at one point or another, gotten splashed by water from a puddle as a car passed by. It’s better if you aren’t splashed too much, but what if you get soaked from head to toe?
This would happen in old movies. A young couple would walk around the city all night, and early in the morning, they return home along a deserted street. And then a car would speed by and drench them from head to toe in cold water! They wouldn’t get mad, but instead would laugh joyfully—they were happy to be together, walking in wet clothes!
One time, something happened to me that was quite the opposite.
I took my youngest child to see a pediatrician. I walked there and back because it wasn’t too far from my house; I just had to cross the bridge. This bridge was not very big, but it was big enough. It was a workday, so my child and I were home alone. I was in a great mood; the doctor said that the boy was healthy and developing well for his age. I was pushing the stroller and mentally planning what needed to be done around the house. We crossed about half of the bridge, and then there was a slight climb. And suddenly a streetcleaner appeared out of nowhere, and the arrogant driver turns on the water. Oh my God! All the dirt and sand from the bridge flew in our direction. My child was wrapped in a white blanket and a small, white hat. He looked very cute! I myself was dressed in a light beige coat and also looked nice. And now a chunk of earth was flying at us because this villain-driver decided to mock us and turn on the water right at the highest point of the bridge! I began to look for the license plate, but the car quickly vanished, and I couldn’t see the number! I peered into the stroller—oh, what horror! My little son was literally covered in mud, his face turned black, and the little white bedspread was a terrible, earthy color! Sadly, brushing myself off, I went home, cursing the driver of the car all the way.
Outraged and angry, I got home and began to call various municipal agencies to find out who was driver who had splashed us. The search yielded nothing.
The driver went unpunished. I had to pay to have all my things dry-cleaned get dirt from out of my hair—and even worry about the health of my son. Imagine what kind of sickness you could get if street dirt gets into your eyes! It turned out OK, but perplexity and resentment remained in my soul for a long time.
If you are doused with dirt,
Swear, turn around,
And take your dirty clothes to the dry-cleaning.
— Sergey Pivovarenko