Hey, buddy, good to see you. Our place, as I see it, has not changed, George looked around, and an enthusiastic smile appeared on his big red face. So, tell me what happened. I could smell the negativity coming from you last week. Tell me, Robert. Beer is just the beginning, as I remember.
Yeah, youre right, George. Ive been having a hard time lately, no, its so fucked up that I cant digest it all in peace anymore.
Tell us, buddy,» George said loudly, and then he swallowed his foamy drink and looked directly at Robert, as he always liked to do.
Sometimes its hard for a man to complain about life, and this stereotype does not allow to get rid of problems. On the contrary, pain and aggression only accumulate and lead to despondency. Robert was just in that state, when a black streak in life seemed to threaten to turn into a prolonged depression.
Thats why he told his friend everything. About the disgusting psychological state, which was connected with work, or rather disappointment in it, about the aggression toward the principal and teachers. He told about his daughter and about that girl from the tenth grade. About his wife, whose relationship with her was on the verge of total discord and, possibly, divorce. About the talented daughter who was forced to hear the scandals at home, see the sad father and the angry mother. He told, of course, about his mother-in-law, who he felt was causing a lot of trouble in his family. He would have gladly forbidden her to visit them and, in order to see her less often, was already ready to move to another part of town, closer to his wifes work. Only this would have led to the apparent collapse of the relationship, because his mother-in-law had a very strong influence on his wife and daughter. The planned conversation with his friend turned into a solid monologue, in which Robert poured out and poured out his soul, while George, finishing his third bottle of beer, listened to him attentively with an unflappable expression, which inspired confidence and joy that understanding and male solidarity in everything would be provided for Robert.
Yeah. Thats a dead end, no, Id even say its a trap, and youre in it, my friend. But Ill tell you this: theres a way out of everything. And you can look at all the stories that have happened to you now from two angles. This is a crisis, and there is a way out of it. I was listening to you just now, and I realized one thing: you have to get out of this pit by changing your thinking. Look at me. You remember what I was like before.
And its true that George has changed a lot. Hes become a businessman, he wears a suit. And this is only two years after they stopped communicating for some unknown reason. Now George has an active life position, he is engaged in his favorite occupation, he has a positive attitude and is very friendly with those with whom he didnt communicate for two years. But it could have been different. Robert finally swallowed the already warm beer and looked at his friend. Yes, George, the convinced drunkard and weirdo, had changed noticeably. Now Robert wanted to hear his story.
But George wasnt much of a talker; he got right down to business:
Remember, I told you back at the pizzeria about the psychologist. Well, she helped me a lot, or rather her methods. Training and communication with her changed me. In a short time I pumped up and now with pleasure go to counseling. Maybe you should try it, eh? It cant hurt. Shes a cool chick, believe me.
Robert agreed that it did make sense to go to training sessions, or at least to try. In any case, it would not be worse, and George had shown by his own example that a non-serious drunkard could well turn into a businessman and a positive person. It is definitely necessary to dial the number from the business card and make an appointment. Especially since she will be in town for another month.
They drank another mug of beer and parted ways in the evening. Everyone went about his business. George, apparently, went to visit that interesting lady, with whom, judging by the conversations, he had met quite recently. And Robert went to his wife. He remembered her unhappy face, the dull kitchen with all the things going on that he absolutely didnt want to go back to. «Ill call the psychologists office today and make an appointment,» he decided.
At the same time, everything around him was so in tune with positive thoughts. It was dark outside, but so unusual, as in principle does not happen in the first days of December, without precipitation and clear. Normally disinclined to romance, Robert drove leisurely, and from time to time he looked up at the starry sky. «Yes, placers of stars can only be seen so well in a small town, which you cant see in a stuffy metropolis,» it thought. And he remembered his high school and college days, when Robert walked irrepressibly toward his dream, participated in dozens of projects, tuning in to the frenetic pace of the big city. How active he was then and didnt know what depression was, which could have been about to consume him, and maybe already had.
With these thoughts, with thoughts of a possible visit to his mother in Moscow alone or with his family during the winter vacations, he parked the car, fumbled for the intercom keychain, and headed confidently toward his apartment. Yes, definitely more confident than usual. But confidence was quickly replaced by confusion, as from behind a tightly closed door he heard the commanding sound of his mother-in-laws voice. She was doing what she called «pedagogical work» with her favorite granddaughter:
It isnt good to watch cartoons for a long time! And dont mind!
Alices voice could not be heard, but that was not what angered Robert so much. He was literally dumbfounded by the next words:
She must have learned from Daddy to argue with everyone! He may soon be fired because of his constant arguments! You, too.
When the coat was hung up and the briefcase was put in its usual place, Robert was already boiling with anger and indignation. Of course, he realized that his attacks on his mother-in-law were akin to pinpricks, but still he saw no other way to fix the situation, or simply didnt know about it.
How can you say that! he blurted out as he swiftly entered his daughters room, where the action was unfolding.
And, most surprising of all, Elizabeth was only for a moment embarrassed, realizing that she had been caught unawares.
What? she began, gathering all her confidence and arching her back a little. Your daughter is restless and wants to have fun all the time when her mother isnt home. No, of course, I understand Maryenka, she works hard, and she has a night shift tonight. But the remark I have to make, who else
«A favorite trick,» thought Robert bitterly. His mother-in-law very skillfully avoided answering, moving on to discuss the shortcomings of other people. And, as always, didnt pay attention to his objections.
And so tonight, since Im staying overnight, Ill make sure that the lessons are learned.
Alice looked pleadingly at her father. And he also looked directly into her eyes. Father and daughter knew perfectly well that who but Alice deserved a vacation, especially on a Friday. Maybe the beer, maybe Georges words, maybe the special atmosphere of the evening, maybe the resentment that had been repressed for many months against the malicious interference of Elizabeth in the upbringing of her first-grade daughter made itself felt, and he answered rather rudely: