Grandfather Miron lit a memorial candle by the photograph of his wife, sat down on a stool, and sighed heavily… «Here, Tanya, it’s been forty days since you passed. I feel so lost without you,» he thought with bitterness. «It’s time for me to follow you… What am I doing here? The children are grown. They have their own lives. I’m just a burden to them. Nothing holds me here. The farm has only one chicken left, and even that one’s too old, not even good for soup. I’ll give it to the neighbor… Summer has started, it’s warm. It’ll be easier to bury me…»
His thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. Annoyed, he picked up the receiver. It was his daughter.
«Dad, tomorrow Serhiy will come to visit. He has a school break. He’s a big boy now, fourteen years old. He’ll help with the farm. We’re planning to visit you, so please, make sure to welcome him.»
«Daughter,» the old man faltered in surprise at the news, «I don’t think I can manage. I have other plans…»
«Dad,» the daughter insisted firmly, «he’s already on the train. We’re busy. We really need your help. Watch over him,» she continued. «No objections. Make sure to meet him tomorrow. We’re in touch…»
Grandfather Miron shook his head, dug into his stash, and went to the store — he had to feed his grandson!
On the first day of Serhiy’s visit, he looked around the small, forlorn farm and was surprised.
«Grandpa, why is the yard so overgrown? It’s all weeds and junk scattered everywhere…»
«Well, your grandma was sick for a long time, and then she passed. Now, who cares?» Grandpa waved his hand dismissively. «I’ll be gone soon. She’s all alone there without me…»
«Alright, Grandpa, you can die, but when people come to bury you, the yard will be in such a mess. That would be shameful! We’ll clean up, dig the garden beds, and then you can go in peace.»
«Why dig the garden beds?» Grandpa asked, surprised.
«Why? We’ll plant onions and other things. Don’t you know how expensive everything is in the stores? We’ll bury you, but do we need to pray for you? If we bring everything from the city, it’ll cost too much. So we’ll plant, grow, and then you can go with God!»
Grandfather Miron thought for a moment and scratched his head. The grandson was right. He didn’t want to impose unnecessary expenses on the children. There was nothing to be done; they would have to wait a little longer.
Work began…
A week later, the yard was cleaned up, and the garden was in order. But something unexpected happened: Serhiy fell ill. Grandpa Miron became anxious.
«Grandpa, I really want some homemade chicken soup,» the grandson whispered quietly. «It gives strength. I’ll eat it and get better.»
«I don’t have any chickens. The only one left is an old hen. What kind of soup can I make with that?» the old man was confused.
«Go to the neighbor. I made a deal with him,» Serhiy almost gave himself away. «He promised to bring you ten hens and a rooster. By the way, he also has a goat. I need to drink some goat milk. It’s very healing…»
Serhiy recovered quickly — fresh products helped…
…A week later, Grandpa became concerned.
«What am I going to do with the animals when I die?»
«You’ll give them to the neighbor, no problem,» the grandson laughed.
By evening, Serhiy brought home a small, scruffy puppy.
«He’s sickly, all mangy…» Grandpa Miron said, examining the new addition. «What will happen to him when I die?»
«Don’t worry, Grandpa,» Serhiy quickly reassured him. «We’ll treat him, feed him. Then he can run around the village. Good people won’t leave him hungry.»
The puppy was very weak. It had to be nursed back to health, and they took turns feeding him, even at night. Grandpa Miron and Serhiy cared for the little pup. He got stronger, ran around the yard, chased the chickens, and greeted the owners with joyful barks. Life became livelier with him around.
At the end of the summer, the daughter arrived. She helped harvest the crops. Everything they grew was processed, stored for later, and preserved.
Not long before leaving, the daughter brought in a pregnant cat.
«Why did you bring her here? She’s about to give birth… What am I supposed to do with them?» Grandpa Miron protested.
«Well, Dad… we can’t just leave her. Remember how much Mom loved cats? You always had two cats. They caught mice in the barn…» his daughter argued.
«Serhiy and I are leaving. He needs to go to school. He’ll visit you during the fall break, just when the kittens grow up. We’ll give them away to the neighbors.»
…Summer flew by quickly. Grandpa Miron saw the family off, feeling a little emotional as he said goodbye. He went to his wife’s photograph, lit a memorial candle, and sat on the stool.
«You know, Tanya,» he spoke to his wife, «don’t be upset, but I can’t join you just yet. I need to wait a little longer. Serhiy will come soon. And who will feed the chickens? The neighbor feeds his with all sorts of garbage, but I feed mine with select wheat. You should see the eggs they lay, they’re a sight to behold. No one else has eggs like mine…»
Grandfather Miron looked out the window. The grown puppy lay near the gate.
«I got a dog. I treated her, and now she’s grown into a big mare. What should I do with her? I can’t just let her die… Without me, she’ll be lost…» he continued. «And Serhiy is sick. Goat milk really helps him. I’m thinking of buying a goat from the neighbor. When he arrives, he can get better…»
Grandfather Miron listened closely. From the room came the sound of a cat meowing.
«Tanya, it’s starting… I’ll go check. What if she squashes the kitten? What a disaster! What am I going to do with them?» The old man shuffled to the room… «What a disaster! Oh, there are already two…»
Grandfather Miron sat down opposite the cat. He took the kittens in his hands, smiling with joy, and placed them under the mother’s belly.
«Eat, you need to get stronger. When you grow up, you’ll catch mice…»
