"Thank you," I babbled.
- What's your name?
- Kate.
"Wish me happiness, Katya," the woman asked, looking at me with hope. We, and it was obvious, needed each other. How beautiful she was! I looked fascinated at the thin pale face and was silent.
"Come on, Katyusha," she said gently.
- You will definitely be happy! - and where did the confidence come from in my voice?
- Thanks, Kate. You saved me, "the words sounded sad.
I looked after the retreating silhouette and cried with child's tears of happiness. Here it is, it happened, and I too received a gift - let not Santa Claus, but a good sorceress! Clutching a white box and money, I climbed a gray staircase with stairs that had been knocked out and felt like a princess at a ball. The old smelly entrance did not spoil the impression, I just did not notice its wretchedness, happiness was inside me, and it lit up everything around. When the apartment door opened, and I saw an angry mom who was holding my little sister in her arms, the charm evaporated.
I gave my mother money, and hid it behind my back.
"Fifty dollars!" Where did you get them? Stole it? - Mom asked angrily.
"My aunt gave me," I said quietly.
"My aunt gave it to her!" So I believed you. And what's behind your back?
- Gift. From the sorceress. I will not give it to you, - and where did this boldness come from, always quiet and obedient, even a hammered girl ...
Well, quickly show that you have it?
Mother pulled my hand , the other one held the one-year-old Light, and so I was able to dodge and slip into the room, tightly pressing a white box to me.
I quickly threw the hook, my mother was already knocking on the door, but I had time. I put the shiny box on the table and first admired her, looking at the letters written in black on white "No. 5", and below the Latin letters. Later, I learned that in my hands were one of the most famous spirits - "Chanel No. 5" and forever a mystery to me is the act of a beautiful woman who gave me childish happiness. And then I, having grown numb with delight, tore up the cellophane wrapper, and opened the box. A small bottle of yellow liquid appeared to my gaze. I gently opened the cork and brought it to my face - I smelt of the fresh smell of jasmine and rose, the smell of wealth and success. And then the smell of these spirits always reminded me of a beautiful woman whose meeting changed my life. And already when I myself became an adult and achieved something in my life, I used, and now I use these spirits.
Mom then I did not open the door. I was not afraid of her, although she screamed menacingly, shaking the air with a shout:
"Katya, open it, creature!" What a wicked girl, open up, I say!
The little sister burst into tears and her mother finally left the door, angrily, shouting at last:
"Well, I'll talk to you tomorrow."
I went to bed hungry , I fell asleep happy, holding the box to me. The next morning I hid it, first dropping on my arm and rastreve droplet on my wrist. My mother was always angry, I did not remember her in a different state - always frowning, preoccupied, angry. Probably, life forced her to be like that, and maybe the grandfather's genes of angry passed on. She smiled very seldom, and the smile turned out always ominous. But all the same she took care of me and my sister as best she could. And she could do a little - work and work again to feed us somehow, so that we were very poorly dressed and shod, but clean.
At the age of ten, I became even smarter than Sveta. I picked her up later and out of the kindergarten, fed her. Mom came from work irritated and tired. I did not know my father. However, when I was seventeen years old, I tried to start a conversation about him, but my mother stopped me here:
- There was not and never you daddy. Resign and do not ask more about your father.
On that memorable New Year's morning, I left the room happy, and my mother, sniffing, asked:
"Ah, I was - I was not dusty." You than it razvonjalas?
- Nothing, Mom.
I was already used to not responding to my mother's rudeness, and sometimes silently, suffered insult, sometimes answered neutrally, so that my mother did not get angry.
In the beginning of summer I informed my mother about my decision to enter the university.
"You want to leave us, you've always been selfish, Katya."
- Mom, I ... - Do what you want, but remember - I'll give you a penny, - not wanting to listen to me, my mother cut off.
She left for Kiev and managed to enter a budget place at the Faculty of Economics.
It was very difficult to study and work, especially at first time. But every two weeks, I bought gifts, went home. I was glad to see Svetka. Mom was still unhappy with everything:
"And why do you need this education?" Would help us better.
I graduated from university, I got a job in a foreign firm. Earnings allowed to dress-shoe Svetka, save for an apartment, and I myself got used to a very modest existence.
My personal life did not develop. The first love - Vitya - was able to build castles in the air, while doing nothing to translate their ideas into reality. Then came Cyril, who considered himself the center of the universe, and I was obliged to fulfill the slightest of his desires. I got ready with the spirit and told him everything that I think about him, we parted. And soon the New Year. I'll be alone again, in my rented apartment. On the table there is a bottle of champagne, fruits and sweets. And necessarily - a bottle. The same - Chanel No. 5. I believe - happiness is near.