And so I decided: in one fell swoop I resigned, I registered a loan with a bank and rented a small cozy grocery store in a new area and on the edge of a picturesque pine forest, which pleased me, too. Trifle - but nice.
In work, everything should suit. I felt indescribable happiness: I did not depend on anyone, did not report to anyone and was not obliged to participate in the intrigues of talkative employees. From now on, I belonged only to myself! ... For ever remembered her first visitor: intelligent, kind Anna Anna Nikolaevna - an old woman with magnificent white hair in an old-fashioned crimple dress with an elegant gold brooch in the form of a swallow. She came in the morning with a big shopping bag, from which a bunch of green onions peeped out.
"Hello," she said cheerfully. So usually greet when they come to visit good friends. "It's good that you are open!" There will now be a store in our district. And then I had to walk two blocks later. And now it's very convenient.
My business initially went very well. But the supermarket all these successes brought to nothing. Alas, I was completely defeated.
"Welcome, come to us now more often." We will do everything for the convenience of our customers, "I said about myself in the plural, because I originally planned to host only one here. While the old woman was buying kefir, cottage cheese and a loaf, she had time to tell me her fate: she had worked as an accompanist for a whole life in the conservatory; the husband, the famous violinist, once abandoned her with a small son in his arms; his son was killed in Afghanistan. All her life she lived in a big communal apartment, and then she was resettled, and Anna Nikolaevna was given an apartment here on the settlements, which she was not happy about ...
And stretched my work everyday life . In the beginning, there were few visitors, but it was very helpful for me - during this time I gained experience, which, of course, I did not have. And then the people stretched. I gladly learned to be a model seller - smiling, friendly ... I felt how important it was. I often recalled my childhood: every morning my grandmother and I went to the same dairy store where Aunt Katya was selling delicious cheese curds in chocolate. Grandmother chatted with the saleswoman, and I looked at the display case and ate the cheese. And although there was a lot of other shops around where dairy products were sold, we went only to our aunt Katya. It was a pleasant habit. I wanted my store to become the same soulful place, where it is always pleasant to run and buy all the tastiest and freshest.
And then I already had regulars. A well-known elderly actor with a tragic expression of a face who for some reason called me a princess and always bought the same thing: half a loaf of Borodinsky and a bottle of light beer. Strange couple: he is a thin and tall handsome man, with hair gathered in the tail, she is small and fat, with a heavy jaw and narrow lips. They always held hands and cooed. A local crazy woman who spent the whole year in a fur coat and a fur hat with fields and talked to herself. She bought milk, while she looked very arrogant and even threatening.
- Lyudochka, I will always buy everything from you . It's so cozy here. And you serve perfectly, "Andrei told me, a young, handsome guy who was trying hard to take care of me. But then I liked him only as a buyer.
- And the prices you have are quite acceptable. Cheaper than in the center, - noted many, and pride overwhelmed me. At lunchtime I went to the forest to feed the squirrels. And everything was fine with me! As they say, life was a success! But, alas, nothing lasts forever under the moon. Two years passed. And all my happiness collapsed in one moment. I learned that the construction of a large supermarket is beginning in our microdistrict. This was a big threat to me and my brainchild - the store, with which I already became so attached.
"Ah, Lyudochka, things are bad!" - Andrei was speaking with sincere sympathy. - You will have a powerful competitor. Yes there! He will crush your little shop. I have a suggestion. Throw this job and marry me. I'll feed you somehow.
By that time, we had already started to meet , and we had the warmest relations. Every day he came to me to work, brought flowers and insistently invited me to marry. But before I had a family, I still wanted to get stronger on my feet.
- No matter how it is! And I will not think about it! Wait and see. People quickly get along with this giant and come back to me: I'm more comfortable and more comfortable.
- Your words to God in your ears, - Andrew shook his head sadly.
I had no idea what kind of monster I had to fight with. When the supermarket was opened, my prosperity came to an end. I did not change except Anna Nikolaevna, Andrey and crazy, although what a buyer she is! I had to do something urgently, and I took a desperate step: I took another loan from the bank. Made a new spectacular neon advertisement. Has expanded the range of its goods and even slightly lowered the price. Everything turned out to be in vain: in the damned supermarket everything was still cheaper and the choice varied. There you could buy everything at once: from food to the toothbrush and linen. Naturally, this is very convenient for people. In the meantime, I owed my rent. Accounts came one after another: for water, light, telephone. And then there are loans to pay!
It was a complete catastrophe for me!
- Here you see! What did I tell you? - did not stop Andrew, who really was right.
He had long been watching me die, I did not know how to help, and worried about me.
- It will still be, in my opinion! I stubbornly insisted. One evening, when Andrew saw me home, at my entrance he suddenly hesitated and asked:
"And if I take another loan in my name and help you with business, will you marry me?"
I, frankly, was simply taken aback: did he really mean it? Actually, the assistant in the person of the beloved man would not have prevented me, but ... - What about your work? - I asked in confusion. Andrey worked in a solid firm, enjoyed authority and received a good salary.
- What about the work? He said carelessly. "If we do not get it right, I'll be taken back with my hands and feet." I must help my beloved woman in difficult times! "Yes, not everyone is capable of such sacrifice for the sake of love," I thought. "Maybe I should agree?"
We married, and together we went through the same circles of hell that I once had to overcome. But, alas! Andrew was in the trade man ignorant, and unequal was our fight with this monstrous monster. So, what do we have for today? You can sum up. We, of course, lost the store. Andrei returned to his old job. I am now in the ninth month of pregnancy. We live very amicably and happily. Family purchases do in the notorious supermarket. And after leaving it, we go to the forest to feed protein. I now really need fresh air ...
The store had to close. I was left without work. But in my life there was a loving and beloved husband. And we are happy!