Life bumps, how toВ correct
Vladimir Kovalenko
The hero of the book is an ordinary person, no better or worse than others. From his problems, the hero falls into depression, but the task that the author solves is not to arouse sympathy and pity for the unfortunate in readers. On the example of the difficult life of the hero, the reader is convinced of the existence of an effective method of dealing with problems: having mastered and applied it, the hero changes his life for the better and becomes a happy person.
Life bumps, how toВ correct
Vladimir Kovalenko
© Vladimir Kovalenko, 2022
ISBNВ 978-5-0056-9730-1
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
Content
Chapter 1 – Introduction
The last person left the audience. And it became quiet. At last the nightmare was over. Director was very excited today and, like always, demanded unrealistic tasks, telling off teachers for non-existent mistakes. Robert was not going to leave, or whether he simply didn’t want, or didn’t have the strength to make at least one step in the direction of the house. What was the reason for that? He could not give it to himself. Still, one thought compelled him to gather his papers into his briefcase and get up from the table. His daughter was waiting for him. It must have been twenty minutes since classes had ended, and she was certainly still there. How else could she be? He had to hurry. And he tried to walk quickly, as much as possible without glancing at the fidgeting teachers, the guard, who was discussing something loudly with the superintendent, as usual. The last thing he wanted, surely, was to come across Mrs. Marble, the principal, who was not herself at such moments, setting many tasks, most of which would lose their relevance the next day, but she was always spoiling his mood.
Finally the front door was behind her, and there were no meetings, which Robert was undoubtedly pleased about. Of course, the director would find a moment to call him, but to talk to her on the phone is better than to look into her fat eyes, nervously smeared lipstick, unironed jacket, listen to her husky voice, spoiled by smoking, the fact of which she carefully hid from everyone… But…
Generally, I didn’t want to think about it. He didn’t want to think about anything else at all. So the cold that hit him all over the place right after he left the school was an escape. Robert wrapped into his coat and stopped for a minute. He looked at the light shining dimly, breathed in the fresh November air, and walked to his car.
He knew he would be late, that his daughter’s class was already finished. He imagined her sitting on the couch in the dark lobby of the Social Center, where the vocal lessons were being held. This picture was constantly in front of Robert’s eyes, for he had been late very often.
«Oh, poor girl, she’s used to it,» he thought, remembering how just a week ago he’d been delayed in the same way. Unfortunately, it had been happening very often recently, work took up too much time and, most disgusting of all, took away a lot of energy that could be spent for communication with his daughter. As an educator and as a father, Robert was clearly aware of this, but there was nothing he could do to change it. This time he humbly turned the car key and, to the quiet roar of the engine, turned out of the parking lot and drove down the dark street. It took about half an hour to drive.
My daughter was sitting in the same place where she usually waited for him many, many times. The lobby was completely dark, and all girls had gone out. However, she wasn’t bored: with a dreamy smile, she was looking out the big windows overlooking the road. Robert always discerned her figure in the dim room of the hall, her hat with a pompon, a pink jacket with glitter. Sitting quietly and obediently, she was easy-going. Robert typed in her phone number:
– Alice, I’m here, you can come out. I’m sorry I’m late again, I have to work. Anyway, come out, I’m here,» said Robert in an upset voice.
Even his own voice was terribly irritating. Robert frowned, closed his eyes for a second. «One… two… three… four… five…» he began to count. And, as if through a mist, it came from the speaker:
– Okay, Daddy, I’m coming out…
Robert felt not only a shame, but also anxiety. It was important not to show his emotions, it was important that she should not think anything bad about him. She loves him, of course, and joyfully rushes home, but as an teacher he knew that this love would be eclipsed by disappointment and anger. It shouldn’t last that long, but right now Robert had no strength to change the situation. He was late very often, and he was worried not only about the situation with his daughter, but also about what to expect at home: how his wife would react once again, what his mother-in-law would say, whether there would be another scandal or everything would be settled by the regular lectures.
Robert was lost in these anxious thoughts even as his daughter sat in the back seat of the car and hugged him. The warm little arms around him were the only joy of the day. How could he keep from smiling? Who can’t remember that he is the father of such a wonderful clever daughter, that tomorrow is a new day. Besides, there’s a road ahead and we have to go home.
– How was your day? – he asked, trying to see the girl’s face in the mirror, though it was dark.
– I got an A in spelling. Didn’t do well in the singing today, actually…
– That song about butterflies? – Robert remembered how last night his daughter and his wife were practicing it very loudly and prevented him from filling out electronic forms.
– Yes, I could not do it… Sally over-sang me…
«Cheer her up?» – the thought flashed. Yes, he could tell that everything was all right, that she was wonderful.
They stood at a traffic light. The last intersection before the turn to the edge of town, there would be no more crossroads. Thirty seconds to go… How slowly time dragged on. Robert looked to the right, a girl in a blow-up jacket, with headphones on her head, was walking along the sidewalk. Slim, fit and fast. She was smiling, and her eyes, even in the dark, seemed to glow with joy. The girl’s face seemed very familiar… Where and when could he have seen her? Where?
– Dad…
He was awakened from his thoughtful mood by his daughter’s voice and the annoying horn coming from the car behind him. He needed to go forward and faster. He pushed on the gas, but didn’t go straight ahead, turning right instead.
– Would you like some pizza? Or ice cream?
– Me? Of course I would. What do we tell Mommy? It’s cold, right?
«Silly girl, you’d better think about exactly how and which one of us your mother will scold first when we get home,» Robert thought sorrowfully. But one thought could not help but warm him up: in about an hour they would be able to be together with Alice, at least for a while, but together. And even though it was Tuesday and the whole week was ahead of them, they would still have a good time.
The phone on the seat buzzed, and in the blink of an eye, the director’s picture popped up on the screen. Mm… that was to be expected. I should answer it, of course, but I didn’t want to, and now they were near the cafe. She had to get out of the car. The phone stopped ringing, and the screen turned off.
«I’m fed up with everything…", thought Robert. And then he opened the door, helped his daughter out of the car, and they entered the spacious hall of the cafe, found a table near the window.
Pleasant music played. There were almost nobody in the hall. The waitress went straight to their table. The waitress came over and smiled. They didn’t have to think too long before choosing something from the menu. Her daughter immediately blurted it out:
– We’d like a chicken pizza and some chocolate ice cream, please.
«Business-like… Just like me,» Robert thought to himself as he paid the waitress. The daughter was smiling. And she was really happy today. He, on the other hand, not so much. In general, the state of joy and happiness was practically unfamiliar to him in recent days.
The pizza was warm, the hot slices reminded me ofВ some beautiful, unknown, as if from childhood, pleasant event. Robert was hungry, because at work inВ the abyss ofВ endless school cares he sometimes forgot toВ eat. And today, enjoying aВ delicious pizza, he was glad he was inВ aВ cafe. His daughter sat next toВ him, greedily devouring the treat. The thought flashed through his mind: В«Beautiful picture: father and daughter eating pizza together inВ aВ cafe. With each bite he ate, his hunger began toВ recede, and Robert felt good. He was already able toВ look at the problems from the outside, they would have toВ be solved later. For now, he felt satisfied and peaceful.
The phone buzzed: Damn it, it’s her again. The director’s face blinked on the screen again. «You’ll have to answer it, it can’t help it,» Robert thought, answering the phone. The girl put away her unfinished pizza. She knew that unpromising look on her father’s face during the phone conversation with the boss. Director was calling again, to indicate a problem, to talk about plans, and meanwhile to load her vice-principal with some annoying information that would become irrelevant by the next day. But what was most disturbing was how the principal, finding free ears, shared her impressions after the faculty meeting. «I’m dragging work not only to my house, but also to the café where I’m currently enjoying pizza with my daughter. Why? Why can’t I refuse to talk and, referring to family circumstances, say goodbye to her? Why do I, as a slave, have to listen to her bullshit and waste my private time on it?» – These questions were keeping Robert in suspense.
After 15 minutes, the dialogue stopped, the pizza was already cold. My daughter was indifferently was on the phone and playing. Robert was confused and, looking at Alice and the pizza, gathered his thoughts: «What was that? And most importantly, why?» The already disgusting mood got even worse. Like an arrow, the thought pierced him that they had sat too long. It was getting late, and he had to go home. And there is waiting, apparently, a scandal, and Robert, although he didn’t want such a development, but was mentally prepared for it. He was used to it.
InВ the cafe, as bad luck, there was not aВ single waiter, although it was time toВ get ready and pay for the half-eaten and cold dinner. The bar desk, behind which was looming the head ofВ either aВ barman or aВ waiter, was far away, and there was neither the strength nor the desire toВ shout and call him toВ the table.
– Я сейчас оплачу пиццу, и поедем домой, солнышко, – сказал Андрей, вставая из-за стола
– Hmm, – Alice mumbled and yawned.
He quickly made his way toВ the cash register, where there was aВ woman reading something.
– Can I pay for dinner? We were sitting over there, at the table, where the girl is.
– Okay, one minute, – said the waitress, pushing a button on her tablet. – By card or cash?
– Robert, hey! – A loud and resounding satisfied voice sounded from the back of my head. Robert turned around and saw George. It was a friend, or more exactly, a drinking companion of Robert, who supported him at the most difficult moments of his life. It’s a small world! Robert clearly didn’t expect to see his friend in such a nice place.
– Hello, – Robert smiled, trying to imitate at least a little cheerfulness on his face. But he knew that he could never hide anything from George. – What brings you here?
– Same question, – the guy smiled, as he always did, nervously going through something in his hands. This time it was a small notebook with a matte cover. – I just stopped by to grab some pizza, I’m going to work the night shift, and this is the closest cafe. Mmm… By the way, why are you and your daughter here so late on a weekday? Are you on vacation?
George glimpsed the girl sitting at the table, and looked intently at Robert. He, as always, incredibly quickly put all the facts together and immediately gaveВ out:
– It wiped you out? – George’s eyes light up with pleasure, mixed with barely perceptible bitterness. – What is it this time?
– Yes, as always… At work overload after the fall break, things to do, as usual, the wife with her complaints… Come on, I don’t want to… I don’t want to whine.
– Well… – George missed a strong word, – Come on. I’ve known you for years. You can talk about whatever’s on your mind. Besides, we don’t see each other that often lately. Although I can see… I can’t talk now, Alice is almost asleep there.
Both turned toВ the table. And really, the girl was sitting with her arms around her backpack, smacking her lips, blinking her eyes sleepily.
– Yes, – Robert stretched out, – it’s time, the beginning of ten on the clock.
– Well, good luck to you guys, – said George, but suddenly he stopped himself and took out a blue card. – Here, take it.
– Hmm?
– It’s rare to meet people like that in our town. And I was lucky enough to get a couple of seats for a group session. They’ll be going on until the end of the month, – my friend twinkled and smiled again. Quite encouraging this time.
Robert held up a business card. Hard blue paper, various contacts, and large letters were written: «JESSICA HIGHLANDER – psychotherapist, motivational psychologist».
There was an impatient exclamation:
– Have you ever heard about Jessica Highlander? A fat cat. In our city for only a month. She was born here, studied here, and now, as they say, we were lucky to see her.
George lifted his eyes up dreamily, and then looked intently into Robert’s eyes.
– Well… I don’t think I’m one of those.
– Which one? Don’t make it up, and don’t even dare disagree, – George smiled. – It’s all prejudice. Therapy, and innovative ones at that, are needed not by those who have mental problems, but by those who want to change their lives, to look at problems from a different angle.
– Already you talked as a psychologist, – Robert also smiled, but didn’t return the business card, and clutched it tighter in his hand and together with the credit card and the check slipped it into his wallet. – Well, maybe I’ll have a look at her.
He patted George on the shoulder and got up from his chair.
– Well, good luck on your work shift, and say hello to Sam. I’ll call you later.
– And don’t disappear, because I know you’ll get caught up in all these meetings, gatherings, appointments. It was like a business center, not a school…
Soon Robert and Alice were back inВ the warm interior ofВ the car. Alice was silent and, toВ all appearances, very sleepy. They were driving home. It was fifteen toВ ten on the clock. Robert turned off the engine and stopped the car near the entrance ofВ aВ five-story apartment building. The cozy courtyard, once green, now looked as gray and unsightly as everything else inВ this, though located inВ the resort foothills, but still aВ small and backwater town.
Apsheronsk… He didn’t choose this town by chance immediately after graduating from university in Moscow. Once upon a time long ago, as a schoolboy, he visited this town, rested in a comfortable sanatorium with mineral springs in the summer. The memories have remained very warm. And so, as soon as they began to actively promote programs for the development of education in small settlements, it was Apsheronsk that came to his mind as one of the enthusiasts. Then everything somehow worked out by itself. Looked through the vacancies, they were, of course. I signed all the documents, in spite of my mother’s protests, packed his bags and left to meet his professional dream. Everything started out so well. And he met Mary eight years ago. Now a family, a daughter, a cozy two-room apartment…
But my thoughts were not cheerful, but increasingly sad, and even angry. Because from the work Robert ceased to expect what he once strived for. The bureaucratic machine of education, luring him with the ideal of saving children under the slogan «Who else but me?», in many ways had disappointed him and gradually began to break and change his mindset. Now he didn’t understand as clearly as before why he was here and what he was wasting his precious time for. Eight years had been devoted to education, but it was useless. The annoying thoughts he had had over the years remained thoughts without any action to change his life for the better. Robert, however, still had a path he had once elected, which was no longer a source of enthusiasm. And now the road was leading him to home, to his wife, and to a logical scandal. «I wish my mother-in-law wasn’t here,» – he thought.
More and more clearly the algorithm ofВ excuses formed inВ his mind. First ofВ all, he was late at work, and secondly, he was late picking Alice up from her vocal lesson. However, such excuses would irritate even more, not so much his wife, but her mother, aВ cranky and unfair old woman, who was always looking for an excuse toВ blame Robert. Third, instead ofВ going home, they stopped at aВ cafe and ate pizza when dinner was probably waiting for them at home. Robert was already aware that unpleasant conversations could not be avoided. What else could he expect from his family?
In front of the door, Alice grimaced and wiped her sniffles with her sleeve. It wasn’t winter outside, but it was windy, and they must have been blown out of the car by a draught. «Here we go again, the fourth joint, as long as the girl doesn’t get sick,» Robert thought, catching himself thinking that he was more concerned about how his family would react than about his daughter’s health.
Meanwhile, the door slowly opened. Conversations could be heard in the apartment. The word «came», spoken in a husky voice from the kitchen, let Robert know that another woman traditionally lived in his house – his wife’s mother, the agile and offensive Elizabeth. She often criticizes him, interferes in their family affairs and treats Robert unfairly. And everything is understandable. His mother-in-law is the kind of woman who had tasted all of his economic characteristics and moral values back in the Soviet Union, carefully transferring them into the family life. For example, now Robert was sure that Elizabeth again rubbed her daughter the wrong way, teaching her to save money and cook more homemade food, to feed her husband and child. Alice became the main object of the so-called «pedagogical» disputes between his wife and mother-in-law. This was invariably annoying.
And Elizabeth’s favorite subject was Robert. Conversations in the way like «…what a strange husband you have, my daughter… Where did you even find him?» had become a tradition.
В«No one meets him. AВ bad sign,В» thought Robert, hanging up his coat.
The house slippers, like speedboats, carried him along the standard route – to the kitchen. There were two women sitting around the table. One was a young woman, though she didn’t look too young, but a beautiful and pleasant woman – his wife Mary. And directly opposite her, looking directly at Robert, sat an older woman – her mother, his" beloved» mother-in-law, Elizabeth. The gazes piercing, the displeased faces. In their faces I could read condemnation, rather than the usual indifference. It was clear from their faces that they were both extremely disappointed in the situation.
– Good evening. We are here! – confidently said Robert.
– We can see, – muttered the mother-in-law haughtily. – Why are you so late? It is already dark outside, my granddaughter has to eat, to do homework, and to rest after school. You are a teacher, and you should know that.
His wife was quite, as usual. You could assume that she was afraid ofВ her mother. But having lived with her, Robert could clearly see that she was only using her toВ keep herself from saying what she was thinking. And now they were probably thinking the same thing.
