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Grandfather Miron lit a memorial candle by the photograph of his wife, sat down on a stool, and sighed heavily\u2026 \u00abHere, Tanya, it\u2019s been forty days since you passed. I feel so lost without you,\u00bb he thought with bitterness. \u00abIt\u2019s time for me to follow you\u2026 What am I doing here? The children are grown. They have their own lives. I\u2019m just a burden to them. Nothing holds me here. The farm has only one chicken left, and even that one\u2019s too old, not even good for soup. I\u2019ll give it to the neighbor\u2026 Summer has started, it\u2019s warm. It\u2019ll be easier to bury me\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
His thoughts were interrupted by a phone call. Annoyed, he picked up the receiver. It was his daughter.<\/p>\n
\u00abDad, tomorrow Serhiy will come to visit. He has a school break. He\u2019s a big boy now, fourteen years old. He\u2019ll help with the farm. We\u2019re planning to visit you, so please, make sure to welcome him.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abDaughter,\u00bb the old man faltered in surprise at the news, \u00abI don\u2019t think I can manage. I have other plans\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abDad,\u00bb the daughter insisted firmly, \u00abhe\u2019s already on the train. We\u2019re busy. We really need your help. Watch over him,\u00bb she continued. \u00abNo objections. Make sure to meet him tomorrow. We\u2019re in touch\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Grandfather Miron shook his head, dug into his stash, and went to the store \u2014 he had to feed his grandson!<\/p>\n
On the first day of Serhiy\u2019s visit, he looked around the small, forlorn farm and was surprised.<\/p>\n
\u00abGrandpa, why is the yard so overgrown? It\u2019s all weeds and junk scattered everywhere\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, your grandma was sick for a long time, and then she passed. Now, who cares?\u00bb Grandpa waved his hand dismissively. \u00abI\u2019ll be gone soon. She\u2019s all alone there without me\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abAlright, Grandpa, you can die, but when people come to bury you, the yard will be in such a mess. That would be shameful! We\u2019ll clean up, dig the garden beds, and then you can go in peace.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abWhy dig the garden beds?\u00bb Grandpa asked, surprised.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhy? We\u2019ll plant onions and other things. Don\u2019t you know how expensive everything is in the stores? We\u2019ll bury you, but do we need to pray for you? If we bring everything from the city, it\u2019ll cost too much. So we\u2019ll plant, grow, and then you can go with God!\u00bb<\/p>\n
Grandfather Miron thought for a moment and scratched his head. The grandson was right. He didn\u2019t want to impose unnecessary expenses on the children. There was nothing to be done; they would have to wait a little longer.<\/p>\n
Work began\u2026<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u00abGrandpa, I really want some homemade chicken soup,\u00bb the grandson whispered quietly. \u00abIt gives strength. I\u2019ll eat it and get better.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abI don\u2019t have any chickens. The only one left is an old hen. What kind of soup can I make with that?\u00bb the old man was confused.<\/p>\n
\u00abGo to the neighbor. I made a deal with him,\u00bb Serhiy almost gave himself away. \u00abHe 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\u2019s very healing\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Serhiy recovered quickly \u2014 fresh products helped\u2026<\/p>\n
\u2026A week later, Grandpa became concerned.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhat am I going to do with the animals when I die?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abYou\u2019ll give them to the neighbor, no problem,\u00bb the grandson laughed.<\/p>\n
By evening, Serhiy brought home a small, scruffy puppy.<\/p>\n
\u00abHe\u2019s sickly, all mangy\u2026\u00bb Grandpa Miron said, examining the new addition. \u00abWhat will happen to him when I die?\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u00abDon\u2019t worry, Grandpa,\u00bb Serhiy quickly reassured him. \u00abWe\u2019ll treat him, feed him. Then he can run around the village. Good people won\u2019t leave him hungry.\u00bb<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
At the end of the summer, the daughter arrived. She helped harvest the crops. Everything they grew was processed, stored for later, and preserved.<\/p>\n
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\nNot long before leaving, the daughter brought in a pregnant cat.<\/p>\n
\u00abWhy did you bring her here? She\u2019s about to give birth\u2026 What am I supposed to do with them?\u00bb Grandpa Miron protested.<\/p>\n
\u00abWell, Dad\u2026 we can\u2019t just leave her. Remember how much Mom loved cats? You always had two cats. They caught mice in the barn\u2026\u00bb his daughter argued.<\/p>\n
\u00abSerhiy and I are leaving. He needs to go to school. He\u2019ll visit you during the fall break, just when the kittens grow up. We\u2019ll give them away to the neighbors.\u00bb<\/p>\n
\u2026Summer flew by quickly. Grandpa Miron saw the family off, feeling a little emotional as he said goodbye. He went to his wife\u2019s photograph, lit a memorial candle, and sat on the stool.<\/p>\n
\u00abYou know, Tanya,\u00bb he spoke to his wife, \u00abdon\u2019t be upset, but I can\u2019t 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\u2019re a sight to behold. No one else has eggs like mine\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Grandfather Miron looked out the window. The grown puppy lay near the gate.<\/p>\n
\u00abI got a dog. I treated her, and now she\u2019s grown into a big mare. What should I do with her? I can\u2019t just let her die\u2026 Without me, she\u2019ll be lost\u2026\u00bb he continued. \u00abAnd Serhiy is sick. Goat milk really helps him. I\u2019m thinking of buying a goat from the neighbor. When he arrives, he can get better\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Grandfather Miron listened closely. From the room came the sound of a cat meowing.<\/p>\n
\u00abTanya, it\u2019s starting\u2026 I\u2019ll go check. What if she squashes the kitten? What a disaster! What am I going to do with them?\u00bb The old man shuffled to the room\u2026 \u00abWhat a disaster! Oh, there are already two\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n
Grandfather Miron sat down opposite the cat. He took the kittens in his hands, smiling with joy, and placed them under the mother\u2019s belly.<\/p>\n
\u00abEat, you need to get stronger. When you grow up, you\u2019ll catch mice\u2026\u00bb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Grandfather Miron lit a memorial candle by the photograph of his wife, sat down on a stool, and sighed heavily\u2026 \u00abHere, Tanya, it\u2019s been forty days since… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":25044,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25043","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n