Читать книгу The Secret Life of the Two-Faced Virgin. Part 1 - Группа авторов - Страница 8

Despite all the problems and trials that Natasha faced in her childhood, her favorite day of the year was always New Year’s Eve. This holiday somehow brightened up the gray everyday life. Every year, her father would bring a large Christmas tree, always a real one with the fresh scent of pine, reaching up to the ceiling. Natasha and her sister would decorate it with colorful lights and garlands. A New Year’s celebration without a tree was almost a catastrophe. This holiday felt magical, and Natasha believed in the miracles that could happen on that day.

When Natasha was eleven, for the first time in all those years, her father did not buy a tree. For Natasha and her sister, the holiday was spoiled. Although her father had gone to the market to look for a tree, at that time it was very difficult to buy one. Around 8:00 PM, her mother gave Natasha some money so she and her sister could go to the store to buy sweets and drinks, to somehow lift their spirits. When Natasha and her sister left the building, a huge Christmas tree was standing by the entrance door, its branches blocking the way into the building. Natasha and her sister went to the store, and when they returned, the tree was still there. Natasha thought that someone from the first floor had put the tree outside. Two hours later, at around 10:00 PM, Natasha went down again – the tree was still standing there alone. No one was around. Natasha realized that apparently someone had bought two trees and simply left one outside so it wouldn’t take up space in the apartment. In Soviet times, by 9:00 PM everyone was already sitting at their tables, seeing out the Old New Year, and the streets were empty. Natasha and her sister brought the tree home. It barely fit into the elevator because it was so tall and fluffy. Her parents couldn’t understand where their daughters had gotten a Christmas tree on New Year’s Eve. Natasha explained that the tree had been standing under the entrance for about three hours, and no one had wanted it. That evening, Natasha and her sister quickly decorated the tree, and they celebrated New Year’s as usual. It was the most beautiful tree they had ever had. Natasha hung the purchased candies on the tree and admired the glowing lights with her sister for a long time. That night, Natasha believed that miracles do happen. Many years later, Natasha learned that the prototype of Santa Claus was Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker and realized whom she should thank for that evening of happiness.