Little Alyonka, a four-year-old girl, was studying the “newcomer” who had recently appeared in their courtyard. He was a gray-haired pensioner sitting on a bench. In his hands he held a cane, which he leaned on like a wizard from a fairy tale.
Alyonka asked him outright:
“Grandpa, are you a wizard?”
Getting a no in reply, she looked a little disappointed.
“Then why do you need a staff?” the girl continued.
“It helps me walk, makes it easier to get around…” added Yegor Ivanovich, introducing himself to the girl.
“So you’re very old?” the curious Alyona asked again.
“By your standards—old; by mine—not so much. My leg just hurts; it was broken not long ago. I fell badly. So for now I’m getting around with a stick.”
Just then the girl’s grandmother came out, took her by the hand, and led her to the park. Vera Sergeyevna greeted the new neighbor; he smiled. But the sixty-two-year-old man struck up more of a friendship with Alyonka. While waiting for her grandmother, the girl would come out to the yard a little earlier and manage to tell her older friend all the news: about the weather, what Grandma had made for lunch, and what her little friend had been sick with a week ago…
Yegor Ivanovich unfailingly treated his little neighbor to a nice chocolate candy. And he was amazed: every time the girl thanked him, unwrapped the candy, took exactly half a bite, and carefully wrapped the other half back up and tucked it into the pocket of her jacket.
“Why didn’t you eat it all? Didn’t you like it?” Yegor Ivanovich would ask.
“It’s very tasty. But I need to treat my grandma too…” the girl would reply.
The pensioner was touched, and next time he presented the girl with two candies. Still, the little one bit off half and put the rest away.
“And now who are you saving it for?” Yegor Ivanovich asked, astonished by the child’s thrift.
“Now I can give some to Mom and Dad. They can buy it themselves, of course, but they’re very happy when someone treats them,” Alyona explained her plans.
“I see. You must have a very close-knit family,” the neighbor surmised. “You’re a lucky girl. And you have a kind heart.”
“So does my grandma. Because she loves everyone very much…” the girl began to tell him, but Grandma had already come out of the entrance and held out her hand to her granddaughter.
“Ah, by the way, Yegor Ivanovich, thank you for the treats. But my granddaughter—and I as well—shouldn’t be eating sweets. Forgive us…”
“Then what am I to do? I’m at a loss… What can you have?” he asked.
“Oh, we have everything we need at home… Thank you, we don’t need anything,” Grandma smiled.
“No, I can’t accept that. I really want to treat you. And besides, I’m establishing good-neighborly relations, I won’t hide it,” Yegor Ivanovich smiled.
“In that case, let’s switch to nuts. And we’ll only eat them at home, with clean hands. All right?” Grandma was now addressing both the neighbor and her granddaughter.
The girl and Yegor nodded in agreement, and next time Vera Sergeyevna would find several walnuts or hazelnuts in her granddaughter’s pockets.
“Oh my, my little squirrel. Carrying nuts. You do know that nowadays it’s a pricey indulgence, and Grandpa needs his medicine—see, he limps?”
“He’s not old at all, and he doesn’t limp,” the girl jumped to her friend’s defense. “His leg is getting better, and he wants to get back on skis by winter.”
“On skis as well?” Grandma was doubtful. “Well then, good for him.”
“Will you buy me skis, Grandma?” Alyonka asked. “Then Yegor Ivanovich and I can ski together. He promised to teach me…”
While walking in the park with her granddaughter, Vera began seeing the neighbor, too, who was briskly striding along the alley and already without his cane.
“Grandpa, I’m coming with you!” the girl would catch up to Yegor Ivanovich and walk beside him with a lively step.
“Then wait for me as well,” Vera Sergeyevna hurried after her granddaughter.
That’s how they started walking as a threesome, and soon Vera Sergeyevna took a liking to this kind of walking, while for the girl it became a fun game. You could envy her energy: she managed to run a bit, dance in front of the elders on the path, climb onto a bench to greet Grandma and the neighbor, and then walk beside them again, calling commands:
“One-two, three-four! Step firmer, eyes ahead!”
After their walk, Grandma and the neighbor would sit on the bench in the courtyard, while the girl played with her friends, and before parting she invariably accepted a few nuts from Yegor Ivanovich.
“You’re spoiling her,” Grandma said, embarrassed. “Let’s save this tradition for holidays. Please.”
Yegor Ivanovich began telling Vera that he had been a widower for five years, and had only now finally insisted on splitting his three-room apartment into two: a studio, which he had now moved into, and a two-room flat for his son’s family.
“I like it here. And though I don’t much seek out company, one still needs companions—especially next door.”
Two days later the doorbell rang at Yegor Ivanovich’s place. On the threshold he saw Alyonka and Vera Sergeyevna with a plate of pies.
“We want to treat you,” Vera greeted the neighbor.
“Do you have a kettle?” Alyonka asked.
“Of course—what a pleasure!” Yegor flung the door open.
Over tea it was cozy and warm for everyone. Then the girl examined the neighbor’s library and painting collection with great interest, while Vera Sergeyevna watched her granddaughter’s joy and the patient way the neighbor showed and told her about each painting.
“My grandchildren live quite far away… and they’re already students. I miss them,” Yegor added. “And your grandmother is still young!”
He stroked the girl’s head and handed her a pencil and paper.
“I’ve only been retired for two years, and there’s no time for boredom,” Vera nodded toward her granddaughter with her eyes. “Besides, my daughter is already expecting her second child. We’re lucky we live in neighboring entrances. We managed to arrange it that way. You could say we’re all together.”
All summer the neighbors kept each other company, and by winter Grandma, as promised, bought her granddaughter skis, and the trio began training on the skis in their park, where there was always an excellent ski track laid in winter.
Yegor and Vera grew so close that they only walked together now. And Alyonka, who didn’t attend kindergarten, was almost always with her grandmother. So the trio met every day. But one day Yegor Ivanovich went to visit relatives in the capital.
Alyonka missed him and kept asking Grandma when Yegor Ivanovich would return.
“He’s gone for a long time. He said he’d stay a whole month now that he’s managed to go. And in the meantime we’re keeping an eye on his apartment, since we’re friends,” Grandma explained. Vera herself had already gotten used to the attentive neighbor’s company, and like Alyonka she was happy about his little gifts, his smile, and his ever-good mood. Yegor Ivanovich also helped them out: he’d fasten a loose outlet on the wall, or replace a burnt-out bulb in the chandelier.
Only a week had passed, and Vera and Alyonka already missed their friend. They would go outside and look at the empty bench where he usually waited for them, eager to get going.
On the eighth day, Vera Sergeyevna was coming out of the entrance, hurrying to her granddaughter, when she saw Yegor in his usual spot.
“Hello, dear neighbor…” Vera was astonished. “We weren’t expecting you so soon! You said you’d stay longer as a guest.”
“Ah,” Yegor waved his hand, “the big-city noise got to me. My folks are all at work and busy. Why should I wait for them alone until evening? I saw them, we talked, and that’s enough. And here I’ve grown attached to the place; I missed you, as if you’d become family to me…”
“Grandpa, what did you give your grandkids? Candy?” Alyonka asked.
The adults laughed.
“No, sweetie… Candy is bad for them too. And they’re already quite grown up. I had to give them money. That’s better for them,” admitted Yegor Ivanovich. “Let them study and grow wise.”
“I’m glad you came back quickly—feels like my soul is at peace. Our whole little ‘family’ is home,” Vera smiled too.
Alyonka hugged Yegor, which touched him to the core.
“We’ve got lots of blini today. With different fillings. And they’re no worse than pies. Very delicate and not greasy. Come have tea, and you can tell us how Moscow was,” Vera invited.
“What can I say about Moscow? The beautiful capital is still there. Everything’s in its place. I brought you gifts, too. You’ll never guess what…” Yegor took Vera by the arm and Alyonka by the hand, and they headed back home, as the first spring drizzle had begun. The thaw was unexpected, early, premature.
“And why has it gotten so warm today?” Yegor asked, looking at Vera.
“Because spring is coming soon!” the girl answered. “Women’s Day is soon, and Grandma will set the table and invite guests. And you too, Grandpa.”
“Oh, how I love you, my dear neighbors…” Yegor said, climbing the stairs.
After the blini, the souvenirs were presented: for Alyonka—a real bright wooden matryoshka, and for Vera—a silver brooch. The trio went outside again and set off along their usual “well-trod,” as Grandpa called it, route in the park. The snow had turned gray, soaked up water like a sponge, and the paths were bare. Alyonka hopped along the drying paving stones and rejoiced in the warm air:
“Grandma, Grandpa, catch up with me! One-two, three-four! Step firmer, eyes ahead!”
