Well, uh, not really.

“So I say: idiot,” I open the car door and nod my head. - Sit down, worker.

“Edgar, I'm sorry.” He glances at his watch and points his thumb back at the huge glass-fronted office building. - I can't now. I have a meeting.

Let's be brief then. What else did you find out about her?

- In general, her aunt is raising her. Gena said the woman is serious, but greedy, and Taya is still completely dependent on her and lives with her, and obeys, - he rubs his eyebrow again.

“Taya, you say?

- Yes, Taisiya Prokhorova. Twelve years. Studying at the university either in philology, or in philosophy.

And what does your aunt do?

“Here, heh,” he throws up his hands.

Did you get the address?

“Well, okay,” he reaches into his pocket.

“Tell the driver, then I’ll figure it out myself,” I slam the door behind me. - Doer!

That's how it works, so he has no price, as far as the woman is concerned, well, he thinks with the wrong head. “Taya,” I chuckle at the way he said it. As if money fell on his card: Taya! Fuck!

At the specified address, they noticed me immediately.

First, the car squeezed into the narrow space of the yard, blocking the driveway. Secondly, it turned out to be decent to go to the desired entrance, and I walked this distance. And thirdly, from the benches at the entrance I was examined by five pairs of eyes, blinded by old age. The weather is good, the sun is shining, the birds are singing. What else to do in retirement, how not to look at who came to whom?

I checked the paper, confidently dialed the number of the apartment on the combination lock of the entrance.

- Who?

- Hello! I am to Alevtina Vitoldovna.

- Are you talking about a complaint? – voice dissatisfied, unpleasant.

- You can say that.

- Okay, come on.

And I do not have time to enter, as the owner of the apartment, which turned out to be on the first floor, immediately pounces on me from the stairs:

“But I'll tell you this: I'm not chasing him. She dragged him by the ear, the asshole, but the wall that he is from this spray can, - she shows with her hand, as if drawing with paint, - he fucked up, washed it herself. And didn't touch him again. They wrote all sorts of nonsense: bullying a child, psychological trauma. Yes, it is necessary to flog him, the scoundrel, and they drag him to psychiatrists.

- In general, I understand that you do not agree, - I tower over a neat, but simply dressed woman. – Can we talk in the apartment?

“Yes, come in,” she opens the door wide for me, and then leads me into the kitchen. And although the disapproval in her eyes is clear, I'm not going to take off my shoes on the threshold.

“I think this issue will also be resolved, but I came for a different reason,” I sit down on a strong chair offered by the hostess. - At the expense of Taisiya.

- From the university? she throws up her hands. - Have you been kicked out?

It seems that you can’t call her an old woman, but rather a young pensioner, but at the same time her nails are painted, narrow lips with bright lipstick, thin eyebrows are confidently summed up with a black pencil. And the way she bows her head with a short haircut betrays in her a woman who is not alien to the carnal, and she does not deny herself this.

- Is there such a threat? I don't quite get her smile.

- There is a god in the world. He heard my prayers, - she straightens the folds on the dress. - How long can I drag her on my hump? I, because of her, and life, one might say, did not see. Everything stretched, grew. The best pieces are all for her. She never got married because of her. I thought that I would finish school, so at least I could take a breath, go to a technical school, get a decent profession, get a job. No, she applied to this university. He surrendered to her, damned. Well, how! Sirota, budget, daytime education. And that my aunt's entire pension is spent on pills, - she waves at the refrigerator filled with boxes of medicines, - and that I earn barely enough for food at the post office - she did not think. But she still has to get dressed, but these are her mascaras, lipsticks, and where to go with these girlfriends. And that's it: Aunt Alya give me. And Aunt Alya take it out and put it down. So, I got tired. Now there will be no time for fat. I'll kick you out.

“I see that I didn’t come to you in vain, so I came,” I cross my legs and, as if they are bothering me, I take out the banknotes tightly folded into a money clip from my trousers pocket and look indifferently. - The fact is that I made your pupil an offer.

- Which Proposition? the woman swallows nervously, watching my hands.

“But she refuses,” I ignore her question and put the money in the inside pocket of my jacket. - Study, age, girlfriends. Well, everything is as you said. And I already bought the ring. And so I decided to talk to you. Still, there is no one closer to her. Maybe you can influence her in some way. I'm not a poor person. I’ll help you,” I reach into my inner pocket again. I leaf through a couple of bills, and then, waving my hand, I throw everything on the table. - That I have the right word, we are, after all, relatives.

- So you call her to marry, and she balks? She doesn't take her eyes off the papers.

- Something like that. So, can you help? Persuade?

“Why not help,” she throws up her hands. “Yes, I’ll drag this scoundrel by the hair to you.” What did you say your name is?

- Edgar.

- What a foreign name. Resounding, she rushes about: get up and immediately remove the money or wait until I leave.

- You just don’t tell Taya that I gave you money, otherwise it will turn out somehow inconvenient, it seems like I bought it.

“No, no, what are you,” she nevertheless covers the banknotes with her hand. This will remain between us.

“That's great,” I get up and put a business card next to her hand, tightly pressing money to the table. “Call me if there are problems. And if they don't, give us a call. As soon as she agrees, I will come and pick her up.

“Definitely, definitely,” she escorts me outside.

- Alevtina, who was it with you? I hear behind me as I walk back to the car.

“Whoever,” she snorts. - Taikin's fiance. He asked for blessings.