1.

Hope was bitter through - to the very bottom, to the last cell, she was saturated with envy of someone else's happiness. Bluebird luck, it seemed, only it and flew over the side, like a frightened crow. The question is: well, that this feathered still need? All her life she climbs out of her skin to do everything right, and the so-desired female happiness all alone escapes. It seems to be a pleasant face, and the figure was a success, but it is not lucky with the peasants - the first husband was a spineless rag, the second was a lecherous dog. And how many she went through unofficially, trying to catch one single thread in the faceless male flow, and I don’t want to recall. Her ex-husbands have again got families, former classmates have long been taking children to school themselves - she alone will not understand her personal life ...

Take, for example, Tanka: as she was still in school, homely wedges, remained; at the same time she managed to be one of the first to jump out in marriage, to give birth to three children and to live in her own life in hubby's life under the wing. Also, by the way, inconspicuous and weak-sighted like a mole, but the soul is not in it.

And Lizka Kononov? ... Oooh, this in general is the height of injustice! Small, frail, with short and crooked legs - as they say, neither skin nor faces! - that same eternal Lizka daughters, which the whole microdistrict has branded with a slut since the age of fourteen, has officially changed her five husbands, until she finally found her happiness in the face of an exchange analyst who can even make money out of thin air! At last year's alumni meeting, Lizka appeared like an Oscar award - in the hole to her feet, flashing a diamond set. After all, classmates had the honor to contemplate how her husband arrived on a luxury foreign car after her — red and mustache, like a walrus in Disney cartoons ...

And what, in fact, did she achieve - a good girl, a gold medalist, a beautiful diploma? Nothing. Fifteen years have passed since the end of school, and she has two divorces, a chain of unpromising relationships, monotonous work in the production department, and no hints of the appearance of a prince or anything that is on a horse, at least on foot.

A couple of months ago, as usual changing bed linens, Nadezhda suddenly became acutely aware of how her present life resembled a faded, washed-out sheet. As from washing to washing, the once bright pattern on coarse calico was losing paint, so its existence became day-to-day more and more faded, as if men, one after another, passing through her life, took a bit of color with them ... Then it became really scary. With maniacal determination, she threw out old things, made repairs in the apartment, bought bright beautiful linens ... It seemed to let go.

On the occasion of the completion of the repair, her friends presented her a ficus - in a beautiful ceramic tub, healthy, with tremendous green ovals of dense leathery leaves.

- What for?! - only Nadia was able to squeak when Mashkin's husband, puffing like a locomotive, pushed this tree-like fool into her kitchen, solemnly hoisting it on a stool.

- What does "why" mean? - immediately mastered Masha. - You are a fool, Nadya, you don't understand anything at all! The ficus is a family plant, it maintains energy in the house, it creates comfort. Just what you need! ..

“Well, yes,” Nadezhda snapped, “I couldn’t squeeze either with brains or figure of a peasant, now I’ll catch a ficus.”

- Yah you! - Masha was offended by her, and without clinking glasses, she knocked over a pile of brandy.

2.

Probably, with energy in her apartment, it is indeed amiss - never the plants in her house took root. Her first mother-in-law somehow dragged a cactus - the usual one, spherical with tufts of thorns - wanted to protect her beloved son from harmful computer radiation. It would seem that what could happen to him? And he died.

For some reason, the ficus, too, began to wither - not immediately, somehow slowly, imperceptibly, until necrosis appeared on the once glossy leaves. Tired of working problems, she did not immediately notice, and when she saw, for some reason, her heart sank. Hope was used to him, she didn’t want to lose her green pet at all. In an attempt to find an answer, she phoned familiar flower growers, rummaged through a bunch of articles on the Internet, but could not figure out what was wrong. She hoped that a consultant in a flower shop would be able to clarify the issue, but the seller only shrugged her shoulders, they say, there can be many reasons, you cannot tell right away.

As a result, she trudged back home with a package of flower soil and a bottle of complex fertilizer. There was no elevator in her house. At the site, at the mailboxes, she met a neighbor, Zoya Vasilyevna, a vigorous little intelligent old woman, a former teacher of English.

- Nadya! Where are you from with the packages? - instead of greeting she asked. The old woman vigilantly scanned the purchases through the translucent polyethylene and splashed out: - Oh, you decided to dissolve the flowers?

- Yes, not that very, - Nadya smiled. “It’s just that they gave me a ficus, but he suddenly thought up a disease.” I bought it, but I don’t even know if it will help, ”she lifted the bag. “I don’t understand either floriculture or ear, I’ve even lost my cactus ...”

“Naaaadenka,” the neighbor pouted, pitifully, “well, don't be so upset. And let my Acne look! - Zoya Vasilyevna suddenly caught fire. - Exactly! He is our gardener from God, as he comes to my dacha, everything starts to spit up and blossom at once.

“Zoya Vasilievna, somehow uncomfortable,” Nadya became nervous from the old woman's enthusiasm.

- stupidity say! What is uncomfortable? - she threw up her hands retired. - Neighbors are needed to help each other. I'll call him, he'll drop by for you in the evening.

“But ...” Hope tried to protest.

- And do not tell my grandmother - shook a finger neighbor. - I'm older than you, I know better!

3.

At about seven in the evening the doorbell rang. Two short trills, one long. Opening the guest, Hope saw on the threshold of a dark-haired, strong, tanned man a little taller than her. They are determined to be the same age, well, maybe he is older by a couple of years, not more. There was something in him, either from an archeologist, or a scientist naturalist — specifically, Hope could not tell, but for some reason I immediately remembered Indiana Jones and similar Hollywood stories about adventures in the jungle. Classic haircut, well-groomed beard, piercing, searching look cognac-colored eyes, clearly accustomed to squint a little in the bright sun.

- Vitaly, - the guest introduced himself. - Pleased to meet you. Can I come in?

- On ... Nadia, - for some reason she was embarrassed, letting him into the apartment.

Confidently passing into the hallway, Vitaly took off his shoes, hung a light suede jacket on a hanger, and busily turned to her:

- And where is your ficus?

“In the kitchen,” Nadia replied, somehow feeling strangely confused. Vitali came to her as if he were a doctor; offer him slippers tongue not turned.

He carefully examined the plant - assessed the condition of the leaves, checked the soil, rubbed a few lumps of soil between his fingers. Exactly the patient was examined. She was leaning against the doorjamb, clasping herself with one hand on her waist, and holding the other for some reason on her chest, wearing a home blouse, and watching her intently. What beautiful hands he has, after all - aristocraticly chiseled and at the same time strong; beneath the tanned skin, a pattern of veins braided around the elastic muscles stood out in relief.

- Do you have something to lay the floor? - he asked.

- What? - She blinked, suddenly pulled out of the stream of thoughts.

“We need a large oilcloth or newspapers to cover the floor,” Vitaly explained. - I think that your ficus needs to change the ground. You're here until all the excess is removed, and I'll go down to the car, bring the necessary.

“Yes, well,” she nodded, feeling her ears warm. Damn, like a schoolgirl, by golly!

By the time he returned, loaded with packages and inventory, Hope ...