\u201cMom, my sneakers\u2026 well\u2026 you know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re torn?\u201d Marina looked at her son anxiously. \u201cBut we only just bought them!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re the only pair I have. I wear them every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve been playing football again, haven\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Misha scowled and let out an irritated snort. His little sister, Sveta, who was four years younger than him, immediately put an arm around his shoulder.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, why are you always picking on him? All boys play football. What do you expect? Should ours start playing with dolls instead?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina took a deep breath, trying to keep her frustration under control.<\/p>\n
\u201cI understand you, my dears, but you need to understand me, too. The factory has closed down. Your father doesn’t pay alimony. Where am I supposed to find money for everything?\u201d<\/p>\n
Misha shot back bitterly:<\/p>\n
\u201cSo what does that have to do with us? Were we born just so we could have less than everyone else?\u201d<\/p>\n
With that, he abruptly pushed back his chair, stood up, and disappeared into his room, leaving Marina sitting alone at the table.<\/p>\n
Her eyes filled with tears, but she couldn’t afford to sit there and cry. She had to leave for work in two hours, and there was still plenty to do.<\/p>\n
Work\u2026 She had spent ten years at the factory, gradually working her way up to the position of team leader. She had been proud of her job and believed she had finally found some stability. Then, almost overnight, everything disappeared. The company shut down, and so did the life she had known.<\/p>\n
At first, everyone hoped the closure would only be temporary. People reassured one another that production would resume and that their jobs would eventually return. But as the weeks passed, it became painfully clear that the factory was never going to reopen.<\/p>\n
The enterprise had been taken over by a private owner, and nobody in town knew what was happening behind its gates anymore.<\/p>\n
The only thing people knew for certain was that the old employees were no longer working there. The workforce had been replaced by outsiders.<\/p>\n
At night, buses brought in groups of people of a different nationality, and the townspeople could only watch and wonder what had become of the place where so many of them had once earned their living.<\/p>\n
Marina’s former husband, who had also worked at the factory, had tried his hand at being a taxi driver after the closure. But that job didn’t last long either.<\/p>\n
One day, he came home, packed his belongings into a bag, and announced:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat kind of life is this nowadays? We’re doing nothing but digging our own graves.\u201d<\/p>\n
At first, Marina thought he was joking. She even gave a short, sarcastic laugh.<\/p>\n
\u201cFine, then. I’ll go with you!\u201d<\/p>\n
But the expression on his face quickly wiped the smile from hers. He wasn’t joking. He had already made up his mind.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean, Rom? What about me? What about the children? They’re your children too!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat can I do? Think of me as a scoundrel if you want, but I’m leaving. I can’t take this anymore. I feel like I’m going to lose my mind.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I’m supposed to hold everything together by myself?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, my mind is made up. You’ll figure something out somehow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Those were his final words. He picked up his things, walked out of the apartment, and disappeared from their lives.<\/p>\n
That was the moment Marina truly understood what fear felt like. Misha was still in school, and Sveta was only a little girl. Both children depended entirely on her.<\/p>\n
Even if she forgot about new clothes, toys, and other little pleasures, providing food and paying the utility bills alone required a reasonably steady income.<\/p>\n
But jobs had become almost impossible to find in their city. Even janitorial positions attracted long queues of applicants, and every other person standing in line seemed to have a college degree.<\/p>\n
Marina spent two exhausting days running from one place to another. At first, she applied for jobs with decent salaries. Then she lowered her expectations and tried positions that paid less. Eventually, she stopped being particular altogether and began looking for absolutely anything that would bring home some money.<\/p>\n
There were plenty of advertisements claiming that companies were hiring. The problem was that the salaries were either promised \u201cin the future\u201d or calculated \u201cbased on performance.\u201d<\/p>\n
After countless disappointments, she somehow managed to secure a position as a cleaning lady in one of the newly constructed office buildings.<\/p>\n
Buildings like that were appearing all over the city. New companies kept opening their doors, although nobody seemed to know exactly what most of them did or where their money came from.<\/p>\n
The salary wasn’t impressive, but it was enough to keep the family afloat, provided Marina didn’t expect anything extra.<\/p>\n
There was no sausage, no butter, and certainly no money for treats. Even buying something as ordinary as a pair of shoes or a new jacket immediately turned into a financial crisis.<\/p>\n
She had to borrow money whenever an unexpected expense came up. But every loan had to be repaid, and as soon as she managed to clear one debt, another problem appeared, forcing her to borrow again.<\/p>\n
Marina had already sold her gold chain and wedding ring. There was practically nothing of value left in the apartment that she could turn into cash.<\/p>\n
What she was supposed to do next, she honestly didn’t know. But Misha needed sneakers, and that problem couldn’t be postponed any longer.<\/p>\n
There was only one question: where could she get the money? Payday was still a whole week away.<\/p>\n
Perhaps she could ask her employer for an advance.<\/p>\n
She knew that a few employees had received advances before, although they weren’t cleaners. They held more respectable positions and probably had a much better relationship with the management.<\/p>\n
Marina usually tried to avoid the boss altogether. There was something unpleasant about him, something that made her uncomfortable whenever he was around.<\/p>\n
Every now and then, she heard him shouting at younger employees so harshly that some of them ended up in tears.<\/p>\n
Still, she could endure a little shouting. If she had to swallow her pride and listen to a lecture, so be it. Getting that advance was what mattered.<\/p>\n
\u201cMish, Sveta, I’m leaving!\u201d Marina called as she stepped out of the apartment.<\/p>\n
A muffled \u201cOkay\u201d or something similar came from one of the rooms. Neither child came out to see her off.<\/p>\n
Marina sighed. Of course, some of the blame was hers. She had always tried to protect the children from hardship and had perhaps spoiled them a little.<\/p>\n
But she understood their frustration, too. Other children had decent clothes and shoes, while hers sometimes struggled to find something presentable enough to wear outside.<\/p>\n
As she walked down the street, thoughts of her ex-husband once again crept into her mind. After he abandoned them, Marina had been the one to file for divorce.<\/p>\n
She had also applied for child support, but the result had been the same as before: absolutely nothing.<\/p>\n
Either Roman wasn’t working, or he was hiding his income. A whole year had passed since the separation, and she hadn’t received a single ruble from him.<\/p>\n
She hadn’t married him out of some overwhelming, passionate love. At the time, it had simply seemed like the sensible thing to do.<\/p>\n
Roman worked at the factory, didn’t drink, and was generally quiet and dependable. He seemed like the kind of man with whom a woman could build a peaceful family life.<\/p>\n
They hadn’t dated for very long. One day, he simply looked at her and said:<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, why drag this out? You can see we’re good together.\u201d<\/p>\n
And she had agreed. At the time, she genuinely believed they were.<\/p>\n
Like Marina, Roman disliked noisy parties and preferred spending quiet evenings at home. He seemed content with a simple life, and she had never demanded anything extraordinary from him.<\/p>\n
What he eventually did, however, was something she could never have imagined.<\/p>\n
Even if someone had warned her years earlier that Roman was capable of abandoning his own children and leaving his wife to struggle alone, she would have laughed and dismissed the idea as complete nonsense.<\/p>\n
Marina reached the office building almost without realizing how much time had passed. She had been so absorbed in her thoughts that the journey seemed to fly by.<\/p>\n
The moment she stepped inside, however, she sensed that something was wrong.<\/p>\n
The female employees were gathered in small groups, whispering among themselves. Nobody seemed interested in working, and the usual morning routine had been replaced by an atmosphere of nervous anticipation.<\/p>\n
Marina greeted everyone briefly and looked around.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat’s with all the long faces? Did something happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMarina, you haven’t heard anything yet? Remember that important deal our company was preparing?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course! You were all running around here like the building was on fire.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, it looks as though the boss has managed to ruin everything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like it, or are you sure?\u201d Alla, who was sitting nearby, interrupted.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlmost certainly. That’s what everyone’s saying.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCome on, girls,\u201d Marina said, trying to sound reassuring. \u201cNothing has been confirmed yet, and you’re already panicking.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow can we not panic? If things really are as bad as they seem, our Pavel Vasilievich will probably be fired.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we might end up paying for it, too. He’s not the kind of person who will simply accept responsibility for his mistakes. You know what he’s like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina let out a weary sigh.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn\u2026 and I was just about to go and see him.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo ask for an advance. Mishka’s sneakers are practically falling apart, and I don’t have enough money to replace them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, you’ve certainly picked an unfortunate day. But what choice do you have? Go and talk to him. Perhaps you’ll learn something about what’s happening while you’re there.\u201d<\/p>\n
After taking a moment to collect herself, Marina walked down the corridor toward the boss’s office. She stopped outside the door and knocked cautiously.<\/p>\n
\u201cAndrey Alexandrovich, may I come in?\u201d<\/p>\n
He was about to refuse, but then seemed to reconsider. After a brief pause, he gestured for her to enter.<\/p>\n
If he remembered correctly, this was their cleaning lady.<\/p>\n
Her circumstances were hardly a secret. Her husband had abandoned her, the factory had closed, and she was raising two children on her own.<\/p>\n
The HR representative had mentioned her situation to him once.<\/p>\n
A few thoughts crossed his mind as he looked at her. He seemed to be considering something, although he hadn’t yet settled on a definite plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Andrey Alexandrovich. I need to speak with you about something.\u201d<\/p>\n
The boss smiled and motioned toward the chair opposite his desk.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course. Please, have a seat.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you, but I’d rather stand,\u201d Marina replied nervously. \u201cAndrey Alexandrovich, I wanted to ask whether it might be possible to give me an advance on my salary.\u201d<\/p>\n
She hesitated before continuing.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son’s shoes are completely ruined. He has practically nothing decent to wear to school, and payday is still a whole week away. I wouldn’t normally ask, but I really don’t know what else to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Andrey studied her face for a moment. Then he leaned back in his chair and broke into a broad smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cGo ahead and sit down, Marina. As a matter of fact, I have a proposal for you, too.\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused, carefully choosing his words. He knew he had to approach the matter delicately. The woman was clearly struggling financially, and he didn’t want to frighten her away before he had explained what he wanted.<\/p>\n
Andrey was convinced that a woman in her circumstances would find it difficult to refuse a substantial amount of money.<\/p>\n
If he could somehow shift the blame for the failed deal onto another employee, preferably the chief accountant, management might overlook his own mistakes.<\/p>\n
Besides, he had a personal grudge against the woman.<\/p>\n
The chief accountant had once dismissed one of his ideas as completely insane. Andrey had never forgotten the humiliation. His pride had been wounded, and he had been waiting for an opportunity to get even.<\/p>\n
Now, with the failed deal hanging over his head, he saw a chance to accomplish two things at once: take revenge and escape responsibility.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly would I have to do?\u201d Marina asked timidly.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon’t be frightened. Nothing terrible is going to happen. The task is simply\u2026 a little unusual.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina felt her palms growing damp. Something about his tone made her uneasy, and Andrey noticed her discomfort.<\/p>\n
He quickly picked up a pen, wrote a figure on a piece of paper, and pushed it across the desk.<\/p>\n
Marina stared at the number. For a moment, she thought she might faint. It was an enormous amount of money compared with anything she had ever earned.<\/p>\n
With that kind of money, she could buy Misha new sneakers, pay off her outstanding debts, replace some of the children’s worn-out clothes, and perhaps even afford a few small pleasures for the family.<\/p>\n
For the first time in a long while, she could imagine living without constantly calculating every ruble.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly do you want me to do?\u201d she asked, swallowing nervously.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s quite simple. You need to replace the documents in the folder that the chief accountant always carries with her.\u201d<\/p>\n
He leaned forward slightly and continued:<\/p>\n
\u201cBring me the documents that are currently inside, and put my documents in their place.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina stared at him, trying to understand what he was asking.<\/p>\n
\u201cWill she get into trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, but not in the way you’re imagining. At worst, she’ll lose her job.\u201d<\/p>\n
He shrugged as though the matter were insignificant.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone with her experience will find another position without much difficulty. You don’t need to torment yourself over it. Besides, I’ll compensate you very generously for taking this risk. Think about it until this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina remained silent for a moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll right,\u201d she finally replied.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd remember, not a word to anyone. The big boss is arriving in two days, so we don’t have much time. Everything must be taken care of before then.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina walked out of the office in a daze. The moment she returned to the staff area, her coworkers surrounded her with questions.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell? Did he give you the advance?\u201d<\/p>\n
She nodded automatically, then immediately shook her head and waved them away before heading toward her locker.<\/p>\n
Her thoughts were racing. Her first instinct was to refuse. Whatever her circumstances, she had never considered herself dishonest, and her conscience wouldn’t let her betray another person just to get money.<\/p>\n
But then another thought crept in: if she refused, Andrey would simply find someone else.<\/p>\n
Perhaps she could take the money and pretend to agree. But that was dangerous, too. What if the plan went wrong? What if she became involved in something she couldn’t escape?<\/p>\n
She had two children depending on her. She couldn’t afford to put their future at risk.<\/p>\n
Just as she was trying to make sense of everything, someone knocked on the door.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman standing in the doorway was Olga Gavrilovna, the company’s chief accountant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHello, Marinachka. Andrey Alexandrovich has left, and I wanted to have a little talk with you.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina jumped to her feet, her emotions suddenly overwhelming her.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, I’m so glad you’ve come!\u201d<\/p>\n
Before she could say anything else, she burst into tears. The older woman quietly pulled up a seat and sat down on a crate nearby.<\/p>\n
\u201cI knew it,\u201d Olga Gavrilovna said softly. \u201cHe’s decided to make me the scapegoat.\u201d<\/p>\n
Their conversation didn’t last long, but before leaving, Olga Gavrilovna took an envelope from her bag and placed it in Marina’s hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cHere, dear. There’s a little money inside. It should be enough to buy those sneakers for your son. Please, take it. And think carefully about everything until this evening.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina looked at the envelope, then at the woman standing before her. For a moment, she didn’t know what to say.<\/p>\n
Back home, the children were waiting for her. As soon as she opened the door, Misha approached her. He was the first to break the uncomfortable silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cMom, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to speak to you like that. I just\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s all right, son. I understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
She smiled gently and held up the shopping bags.<\/p>\n
\u201cLook what I’ve brought! New sneakers and a cake. We’re having guests tonight, so I need your help getting the apartment ready. Will you help me tidy everything up?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, Mom!\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina tried to push aside the troubling thought that she had already agreed to Andrey Alexandrovich’s request.<\/p>\n
Although, if she was honest with herself, she regretted those words almost immediately.<\/p>\n
The money he had promised was still sitting in a bag, untouched. She hadn’t even dared to take it out and look at it again.<\/p>\n
It felt as though the money were burning a hole through the bag, and the weight of what she had agreed to was pressing down on her conscience.<\/p>\n
That evening, Olga Gavrilovna and another guest were expected to visit.<\/p>\n
Marina had never met the company’s big boss in person. She knew almost nothing about him beyond his name and position. But the moment he stepped through the door, she froze in astonishment.<\/p>\n
\u201cVanka?.. I mean\u2026 Ivan Nikolaevich! I’m sorry!\u201d<\/p>\n
The man who had arrived with the chief accountant blinked in disbelief. Then his face lit up.<\/p>\n
\u201cMarinka? Is that really you? I can’t believe it!\u201d<\/p>\n
They had attended the same school many years earlier.<\/p>\n
After her parents died, Marina had gone to trade school because she needed to learn a profession and find a way to support herself as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
Vanya, on the other hand, had stayed in school and completed both tenth and eleventh grades. About a year later, his family moved away, and their paths went in different directions.<\/p>\n
They had always shared a warm friendship, although Marina had gradually begun keeping her distance as their lives took different turns. She never imagined that they would meet again under such unexpected circumstances.<\/p>\n
The evening passed with stories, laughter, and memories of their school days. They talked so long that the children had already gone to bed before Olga Gavrilovna finally stood up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I think it’s time for me to leave. You two probably have plenty more to catch up on.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ivan accompanied her to her car.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for everything, Olga Gavrilovna. Please get some rest. I’m sure a week will be enough for me to sort everything out.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for your trust, Ivan Nikolaevich.\u201d<\/p>\n
After Olga Gavrilovna drove away, Ivan returned to the apartment. For the first time that evening, the two old friends were alone in the kitchen.<\/p>\n
They sat together, remembering their school days and occasionally falling silent as old memories came back to them.<\/p>\n
Finally, Ivan broke the silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, tell me, Marinka. How did the girl I used to copy homework from end up becoming a cleaning lady?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina sighed and began explaining how her life had unfolded.<\/p>\n
\u201cStraight after trade school, I started working at the factory. Then I got married\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah, there weren’t exactly many opportunities,\u201d she continued. \u201cI chose the path of least resistance, I suppose.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ivan studied her thoughtfully.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s not like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was afraid to fight for anything. I just wanted a peaceful life.\u201d<\/p>\n
She paused, then added:<\/p>\n
\u201cYou remember how I lived with my parents. Every day felt like a ticking bomb. There were arguments, drinking, and constant tension. I just wanted to get away from all of it. I wanted a home where nobody shouted and where the children could feel safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ivan tapped his fingers thoughtfully against the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember. And I also remember that you were one of the strongest people in our class, even if you didn’t realize it.\u201d<\/p>\n
He looked at her with quiet determination.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, Marin, you’re going back to school.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina stared at him in disbelief.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you serious? Who goes back to studying at my age?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPlenty of people. Including me. And don’t even think about arguing. I’ll help you financially, and I’ll support you in every way I can.\u201d<\/p>\n
He paused before adding:<\/p>\n
\u201cI have plenty of free time these days. I just got divorced myself.\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina looked at him, surprised by the unexpected confession, but Ivan continued before she could ask anything.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd once you’ve completed your education, you’ll come back to the company. But not as a cleaning lady.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cVanya, I can’t do that. It’s too much. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.\u201d<\/p>\n
He smiled.<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you remember how you used to insist that I had to understand physics, even when I was convinced I couldn’t?\u201d<\/p>\n
Marina couldn’t help smiling.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou’d slam that textbook onto the desk and refuse to let me say I didn’t understand a thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cExactly! And you wouldn’t let me give up, either.\u201d<\/p>\n
He leaned back and looked at her with a familiar, determined expression.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo we’re doing the same thing again. This time, I’m the one who won’t let you give up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then his expression became more serious.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, give me your\u2026 ex-husband’s details. I think it’s about time he remembered that he has children and that they’re entitled to his support.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three years later, Marina Valentinovna was taking charge of the company’s affairs.<\/p>\n
She could have accepted Ivan’s offer much earlier, but she had made a promise to herself: she wanted to complete her education first, even if she had to do it through an accelerated program. She wanted to know that she had earned her position through her own effort and determination.<\/p>\n
By then, very few people would have recognized the woman she had once been. Her posture had changed, her clothes were different, and even the way she spoke carried a new confidence.<\/p>\n
But the greatest transformation had taken place inside her. She was no longer the frightened, exhausted woman who counted every ruble and wondered how she would feed her children. She had become confident, independent, successful, and, perhaps most importantly, happy.<\/p>\n
She had discovered that she was capable of much more than she had ever allowed herself to believe.<\/p>\n
And she was loved.<\/p>\n
Not simply because of her intelligence, professional achievements, or new position, but because of the person she had always been beneath years of hardship: kind, sincere, and strong-hearted.<\/p>\n
Her husband was Vanya\u2014the same boy who had once copied her homework, the same friend who had returned to her life when she needed help most, and the same man who had never believed she would remain defeated.<\/p>\n
He had believed in her even when she had stopped believing in herself.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cMom, my sneakers\u2026 well\u2026 you know.\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re torn?\u201d Marina looked at her son anxiously. \u201cBut we only just bought them!\u201d \u201cThey\u2019re the only pair I have. I wear them every single day.\u201d \u201cYou\u2019ve been playing football again, haven\u2019t you?\u201d Misha scowled and let out an irritated snort. His little sister, Sveta, who was four years […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":38887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tales"],"yoast_head":"\n