Arcady Petrovich absentmindedly drew crosses in his diary, trying to turn them into some kind of pattern. His soul felt empty and gloomy. From his laptop screen, the sad eyes of his dog, a Ca de Bou, stared back at him—a gift from his best friend Andrey who had left to serve in the Far East several years ago. Arcady and Andrey had been through many trials together, sharing hardships, and at one point, Arcady was seriously wounded in a hot spot and was discharged from the army. He went into business, while Andrey continued his military career.
«Here, buddy, you won’t get bored with him,» Andrey had said, handing Arcady a box containing a strong puppy. Arcady immediately hugged it, and the puppy, unafraid, began exploring his new home, running around the room. Within minutes, they found him at the door with a slipper in his teeth. The dog was named Azart.
Andrey left, and each time he called, he asked about the dog. Arcady remained alone, and Azart became a real support for him. He and his wife had parted amicably, without scandals or cheating. One day, sitting at the table, they realized that their life had become dull and bland. «It lacks fire,» Elena had said.
«Let’s live separately,» Arcady suggested, and Elena agreed.
It all started as a joke but ended in divorce. They kept in touch, especially for the sake of their son Zhenya, who often stayed with Arcady, particularly after Azart’s arrival. But it was no longer the family that used to dine together, have supper, and go out into nature…
Then Jeanne entered Arcady’s life. She was beautiful and charming, quickly capturing his attention. Arcady was amazed at how well they understood each other—with half a word, with half a glance. One day he decided that he couldn’t find a better woman, proposed to Jeanne, and she soon moved in with him.
But as soon as she became the mistress of his house, everything changed. Jeanne transformed from a sweet and modest girl into a demanding woman with pretensions. She was annoyed by Darya Matveyevna, who had helped Arcady around the house for many years.
«Fire this lazy fat old woman!» Jeanne demanded, which greatly angered Arcady. «Listen, Jeanne, Darya Matveyevna is neither lazy nor a ‘fat old woman,’ as you put it. She’s not a servant here, but a person who has been helping me around the house for a long time,» Arcady sharply replied.
After this conflict, a little time passed, and Jeanne shifted her focus to Azart:
«I’m afraid of him! He’s big and scary, like the Hound of the Baskervilles,» she complained.
«Wait,» Arcady couldn’t stand it. «While we were dating, you adored him, cuddled, and kissed him. And now suddenly he’s scary? He’s an absolutely predictable and well-trained dog. And you know, if it comes to choosing between you and Azart, I’ll choose him,» Arcady said firmly.
He was almost glad for her to take offense and leave him, but Jeanne immediately became dejected, apologized, citing a bad mood, and regained her composure. She even started walking Azart in the nearest park.
But a few days ago, she returned home in tears, her hands trembling, and she almost fell to her knees.
«Forgive me, Arkasha, Azart was hit by a truck… Nothing was left of him,» she blurted out through tears…
Arcady wiped away the tears that flooded his eyes again. He couldn’t believe what had happened. Jeanne explained that the dog had run after a cat, and she couldn’t hold him back. But how could Azart, who had spent so much time with a dog trainer, chase after some cat? This question tormented him.
Someone knocked on the office door. A young girl stood on the threshold, shyly looking around. Arcady then thought she was about 13-14 years old, but it turned out she was a graduate of an orphanage.
«Why a cleaner?» Arcady Petrovich was surprised. «Young, pretty, you could work as a salesperson or a waitress. You should be studying, not cleaning floors.»
«I study by correspondence,» she replied, «I want to work as a cleaner because you have a flexible schedule here.»
Arcady nodded. Many took this low-paying job precisely because of the flexible schedule. The girl hesitated at the door, blushing and turning pale.
«Well, say what you wanted,» Arcady Petrovich encouraged her.
«Can I take the expired products? You throw them away anyway,» she asked, looking down.
A wave of pity washed over Arcady.
«Veronica, aren’t you eating enough? Maybe you need financial help?»
«No, thank you, I manage… May I take the expired products?» she asked again.
«Of course, take them,» shrugged the boss, «I don’t mind. But if you need something, just tell me, okay?»
She smiled, thanked him, and joyfully ran out the door.
From that day on, some store employees noticed that Veronica was taking a lot of products and whispered: «She’ll have enough to feed all the city’s homeless!» Arcady, although he did not object, began to wonder: why did she need so much food? Maybe she was in need but did not want to ask for help?
One day, leaving the store, he saw Veronica walking down the street with a heavy bag. She was dressed in a light coat and clearly struggling with gusts of wind. Arcady decided to follow her unnoticed. She walked quickly, clearly in a hurry, and soon Arcady saw that she was heading to the private sector. When she approached a house, she first ran not into the house itself, but to a shed on the property. Opening the door, she joyfully exclaimed:
«Hello, my dears! I’ve come, now I’ll feed you!»
From the shed came joyful barking, and several dogs rushed out to Veronica, licking her from head to toe. But Arcady couldn’t believe his eyes: among those dogs was his Azart, alive and unharmed!
«Azart!» he exclaimed and rushed to his dog.
The dog, sniffing, first froze, then recognizing his owner, wagged his tail and rushed to him.
«Stray, back! Fie!» Veronica cried, trying to stop the dog.
The dog was confused, hesitating, not knowing whom to choose—Veronica or Arcady Petrovich. But after a few seconds, he still rushed to Arcady, putting his powerful paws on his chest and began licking the salty tears from his cheeks. Veronica, seeing the unexpected guest, exclaimed in surprise:
«You?! How did you get here?»
«I just came to find out if you needed help,» Arcady replied, «and here it turns out, my dog Azart…»
Veronica’s gaze became cold and cautious. She firmly said:
«He’s not your dog anymore. His name is Stray, and I won’t give him back to you. How could you be so cruel to a dog?!» she exclaimed, unable to hold back tears. «I nursed him back to health, he was dying in my arms, I barely saved him!»
«Wait, it’s not what you think,» Arcady began to defend himself. «And I, it seems, also didn’t know much,» he added, growing sad. «Let me help you feed your animals, and then invite me for tea, and we’ll discuss everything.»
Veronica, somewhat calmed, nodded. In the shed, besides dogs, there were many other animals in spacious enclosures: cats, squirrels, a raccoon, and even a mini-pig.
«Wow! You’ve got a whole zoo here!» Arcady Petrovich whistled, opening a can of feed.
«It’s not a zoo, but rather a shelter for animals hurt by people,» corrected Veronica. «All these poor creatures have been through hell, and I literally had to pull them back from the other side.»
«How do you manage? After all, treating animals requires special skills and knowledge,» Arcady asked in surprise.
«My father was a veterinarian, the best in town. He passed away when I was fourteen. I learned a lot from him,» she explained. «And I’m also studying at a veterinary academy by correspondence.»
«So you’re a future Dr. Dolittle?» Arcady noted with a smile.
«Something like that,» she answered, finishing feeding the animals.
«Well, shall we go to the house? I have tea and cookies,» Veronica offered.
As they sat down to drink tea, Arcady asked a question that had been bothering him:
«What happened to your parents, Veronica?»
«They died,» she sadly answered. «They went to the theater and never returned. An accident. After that, I ended up in an orphanage, and then returned here, to our parental home. Now I’m trying to continue my father’s work, treating animals.»
«And how did Azart end up with you?» asked Arcady.
«I found him at the cemetery when I went to my parents’ grave. Someone had put a strict collar on him and tied him to the fence. The poor thing was left without water and food, he howled and cried, and people shied away from him as if he had the plague. I took off my jacket, laid him on it, and dragged him home,» Veronica narrated.
«How did you manage to drag him? He’s big!» Arcady was surprised.
«Not without help. One taxi driver helped, and he didn’t even take money,» she answered, then stared intently at Arcady and asked: «If it wasn’t you who tied him up, then why didn’t you look for him? Why didn’t you raise the alarm?»
«You’re right. One person, whom I thought was close to me, told me that Azart was hit by a car,» Arcady explained. «But now I understand that this person was not who they seemed to be.»
«Then that person is definitely not a friend,» Veronica quietly said, looking down.
«Yes, now I’m sure of that,» Arcady nodded. «Today I will have a serious conversation with this person.»
Arcady proudly walked down the street, holding Azart on a leash. The dog ran ahead, looking back at his owner as if to check that he wasn’t lagging behind. Soon they returned to the store where Arcady’s car was parked. Opening the door, he said:
«Well, take your place, Azart.»
The dog, recognizing familiar smells, wagged his tail joyfully and, with one leap, was on the front seat of the car.
«Well, buddy, let’s go home, face the truth,» said Arcady.
The dog barked joyfully, as if confirming his readiness for a new stage. On the way, Arcady dialed his wife’s number.
«Jeanne, I have a surprise for you. Pack your bags,» he informed her.
«Are we really flying to Thailand?» she asked excitedly.
«Maybe there, as you wish,» Arcady laughed, anticipating the effect of their upcoming meeting. «Well, buddy,» he gently patted Azart on the withers, «shall we show your mistress a surprise?»
The dog barked merrily in response. Arcady continued:
«Don’t worry, we won’t be tying you to the fence anymore. Who knows, maybe good people rest there. It’s not worth disturbing them.»
Azart, as if understanding, wagged his tail. Their meeting with Jeanne indeed turned out to be impressive. His wife’s face turned pale.
«Well, Jeanne, recognize the ‘dead man’? Did you tie him to the cemetery fence yourself or hire someone?»
Jeanne froze, her face contorted with shock.
«Forgive me… I don’t know what came over me,» she stammered.
«Of course, you don’t know. But you won’t be doing that anymore. At least, not in my house,» Arcady responded dryly. «Are the traitors not needed here. Did you pack your things?»
Jeanne stood motionless, clutching a bright swimsuit she was probably planning to take with her. Her world collapsed in an instant: no more husband who indulged all her whims, no cozy home with servants. Instead, she faced life with her alcoholic mother, an unemployed live-in boyfriend, three younger brothers, and possibly a job in a village store. Plus, the condemning glances of village gossips. Realizing this, Jeanne fell to her knees:
«Forgive me, don’t leave me,» she pleaded.
But Arcady was resolute. Jeanne no longer seemed to him the attractive woman he had known. She went back to her native village Klyuev.
Arcady soon reconciled with his first wife Lena. As it turned out, all it took for reconciliation was to take the first step and say, «I’m sorry.»
Veronica graduated from the veterinary academy and received her diploma. In gratitude for saving his beloved dog, Arcady gave her a veterinary clinic, which he named after the dog—»Azart.»
«You didn’t just save my friend, Veronica,» said Arcady, handing the girl the keys and documents to the clinic. «You helped me realize that the person next to me was not who they seemed to be, very dangerous and cunning.»
Veronica, with a smile on her face, accepted his gift.
