Lately, Valentina had been extremely unlucky. Absolutely everything seemed to be against her. Her husband left her for another woman, and she couldn’t recover for a month, never even suspecting that such a thing could happen to her. Eventually, she survived, burying the pain inside herself, having trusted him as she trusted herself.
Just when she started to see the world a bit brighter, her husband reappeared. He claimed that he and his new wife had nowhere to live and that she should give them their joint apartment. Their fourteen-year-old son, Maxim, then said:
“Mom, don’t demean yourself, we’ll rent something, and let him live there if he thinks that’s right.”
Valentina agreed. She simply had no strength to fight. They rented a small apartment on the outskirts, with only one advantage: Maxim could get to school without transfers, and it only took half an hour, so he didn’t get too downhearted and said he could catch some sleep on the way. Then, the last and most severe blow came: their company, where she had worked as an accountant for over ten years, was bought by someone who decided to completely change the staff.
With no new contracts in place yet, they all went out on the street as a united team. Some found jobs, others were still struggling. But while others could afford to be picky, Valentina did not have that luxury. She needed to pay rent, prepare her son for school, and simply live.
For a week, she ran around the city, trying desperately to find a job. Good positions were long and firmly taken, and the bad ones were simply not survivable.
After some thought, Valentina began looking for jobs outside her field. As they say, beggars can’t be choosers, but again, nothing. Only after two weeks, she randomly saw an advertisement.
The manager, or whoever it was at the gas station, looked her over for a long time:
“You probably stole, didn’t you?”
Valentina was flustered:
“Why would you think that?”
“Well, you were fired for something, right?”
“I told you, everyone was let go, a new owner came with his team.”
“And you’re not afraid that I’ll check?”
“No, of course, I can give you the coordinates of my former job.”
“Alright, no need. It’s just unclear why an accountant with such experience is looking to work as a mere gas station attendant?”
“Well, there’s no other work in our town that pays even a little, people hold onto their jobs, and where they don’t pay, what’s the point in working?”
“Well, that’s true, look, if you can’t handle it or mess up, you’re out the door immediately. We have decent salaries, so we’ll quickly find a replacement for you.”
Valentina didn’t say a word against it, nor did she assure this chubby-cheeked turkey that she was not like that, too much honor for that.
Valentina had already worked a whole week and even realized that, thanks to tips, she probably wouldn’t need to borrow money this week. It wasn’t just pleasing; it was very uplifting. Though her son upset her a bit today. Well, it wasn’t his fault.
In the morning, as they were having breakfast, Maxim said:
“Mom, here’s the thing…” He hesitated, and Valentina stopped chewing. “It’s better I show you than try to explain.” He got up from the table and returned with a sneaker in his hands.
It was what Valentina feared most. The things were starting to wear out, the sneaker was not just asking for help, it was screaming. Valentina understood, her son couldn’t go to school in such sneakers. There were other shoes, for dress occasions, in which Maxim went today. But the sneaker issue needed to be resolved as soon as possible. Apparently, they couldn’t avoid debts.
Valentina noticed a car pulling up to the station. She approached and routinely asked:
“What can we fill you up with?”
An old man emerged from an old Zhiguli car:
“Five hundred rubles worth, daughter, I don’t have more on me.”
“Okay, go ahead and pay.” Valya inserted the nozzle into the tank and got lost in thought. If she borrowed a bit more from her neighbor, she could use the money to pay back another neighbor and buy her son shoes. Then, she would owe a lot, but not now, maybe in a couple of weeks. Valya’s mind was calculating ways. But she completely forgot about the car and the old man. She looked at the display and nearly fainted. She had filled up the whole tank.
The old man was already sitting in his car. Valya wanted to explain what happened, but as soon as she filled his tank, he cheerfully waved at her and shouted through the window:
“Thank you, daughter!” and slowly rolled out of the station.
Valya saw that he didn’t even realize his tank was full. Well, what can you expect? His car was almost as old as he was. She watched him drive off, bewildered. And, of course, she understood she had nothing to pay with.
“Kirsanova, come see me.” The voice of the director over the speakers echoed across the station.
Valya clenched her teeth. Well, her more or less normal life had crumbled before it even began. “Sit down and answer me a few questions right away.— Is that old man some relative of yours?”
“No, what are you, I’ve seen him for the first time in my life.”
“Then why did you fill his tank with much more than he paid for?”
Valya wiped away a traitorous tear, looked at her boss.
“It was an accident, I was lost in thought.”
“Lost in thought? While working with flammable materials? Well, now I suggest you think about how you will compensate for the damage. You have until tomorrow. And if the damage is not compensated, then think about where you will be looking for your next job. And remember to mention when you apply that you are inattentive and irresponsible.”
“I am responsible, it just happened accidentally, honestly.”
“Yeah, right, in front of me, like a child. I didn’t want to, it itself… Go on, I’m waiting for you tomorrow with the money. But you’ll finish today’s shift.”
Valya went out, leaned against the wall. “Lord, why such a punishment? Why is everything like this?” All shift long she thought about what to do. Now it turned out that the sneakers were a bust, and she needed to borrow money to pay here.
But Maxim really had nothing to wear. Borrowing enough for the sneakers and the debt here was unrealistic. First, the amount was decent, and secondly, how would she even repay it? She didn’t even know exactly how much she would get. What if there were some fines here?
She saw the rest of the staff laughing at her, especially the other gas station attendant. As she passed by, she even threw out, as if casually:
“Well, accountant, got a shortage? Not a very good accountant, apparently. Now I see why they kicked you out.”
Valentina turned away. She didn’t respond. In the evening, Maxim looked at her attentively.
“Mom, did something happen? You seem sad.”
Valya sighed:
“What’s there to be happy about, son? Well, about everything, the sun, the wind.”
Maxim smiled, and Valya wanted to cry. No, she couldn’t upset her son, she had to come up with something.
“Alright, I’ll go ask the neighbor to lend some money.”
“Mom, if it’s about the sneakers, I can walk in boots for a week. Really, I have physical education tomorrow, but I’ll say I forgot.”
Valya got up and went to the neighbor’s. Nina Grigoryevna was a strict woman and initially looked at Valya with some suspicion, even condemnation. But then, after they had a calm conversation, everything was fine. Valya had borrowed money from her several times, and Nina Grigoryevna would say:
“Come by, if there’s money, I’ll give it.”
Valya knocked, the neighbor opened the door, stood in the doorway:
“Hello, what do you need, quickly, my kids are here on vacation.”
Valya was flustered, she wasn’t ready for such an abrupt request, it felt awkward, but there was nothing to be done:
“Nina Grigoryevna, I came to ask for a loan, I’ll pay it all back from my salary. Sneakers.” The neighbor didn’t let her finish.
“Val, what are you talking about, what debt? You understand, my son and daughter-in-law are here, there will be a lot of expenses, delicacies, gifts. Sorry, but this time I can’t lend anything.”
Valya stepped back. Her head was pounding, and the neighbor said. “You know, Val, you’re kind of wrong, you’re over forty, but you have nothing, no money, no decent clothes, no home, no husband. Think about it, maybe you’re doing something wrong?” Valya raised her tear-filled eyes to the neighbor, but she didn’t wait for an answer, just closed the door.
Valya, heart aching, knocked on two more doors of neighbors she was somewhat acquainted with, but as expected, no one gave her money. Valya came home, sat down on a chair, and burst into tears.
Maxim looked at her, frightened:
“Mom, what?”
“I don’t know what to do, son. Nina Grigoryevna didn’t give me money, she has guests, and no one else did.”
“Well, mom, I’ll walk in boots for a while, why are you so upset?”
“Oh, son, it’s not just about the sneakers.” And Valya finally unburdened her soul, telling her son what happened. Max sat silently, then looked up at her:
“Mom, what are we going to do?”
Valya wanted, as usual, to say that everything would be alright, and suddenly realized she couldn’t say that because she no longer believed it herself.
The next morning Valentina went to work, knowing she would be fired. Fired, and the money would be deducted to pay off the debt. And she couldn’t do anything about it. After all, what could be done if she was at fault?
Everyone was already there, as if waiting for her. Valya entered, greeted, stood. The boss, smiling, asked:
“Well, did you bring the money?” Valya understood how much pleasure everyone now felt from watching her lynching.
“No, I don’t have the money right now.”
“Well, I understand, not now, never, right?”
Valya was silent. A faint hope that she wouldn’t be fired still warmed her somewhere deep down.
The boss took a deep breath, apparently for a long speech, but fell silent. He looked out the window, then said:
“Let’s finish later, look at the client we have. Everyone back to your places.”
A fancy car pulled up to the station. A man got out, looked around, and headed to the building: “Hello, can you tell me who was working at the pumps yesterday?”
Everyone exchanged glances. The man continued. “My grandfather stopped by, in a very noticeable car called ‘Zhiguli’. He’s a bit hard of hearing and apparently misunderstood something. He wanted to fill up for five hundred, but you filled it up completely.”
The boss stepped forward:
“Valentina filled his tank.”
“Well, don’t worry, I’ve already fired her.”
The man raised his eyebrows:
“Meaning you fired her?”
“Well, she committed embezzlement, and she has no money to compensate.”
“What strict rules you have.” The man took out his wallet, threw a few bills on the counter:
“I didn’t come to make claims, I came to pay. My granddad is quite the character, he won’t take money from me at all. He says he’s earned everything he needs in his life. — Sorry about that.” He turned to Valya.
“And you forgive us,” said Valya.
“Wait, didn’t you work as an accountant at Ptaha firm?”
“Yes, I worked there until recently. Someone bought us out and fired everyone. — Are you Valentina Kirsanova?”
“Yes.” Valya looked at him, bewildered.
“Well, what a meeting. And I’ve been looking for you. — Me? Why?”
“You see, there was some misunderstanding. My assistant, my words that the firm needed to work in a new way, took them literally. And decided that the entire staff needed to be changed too. Some people, of course, needed to be changed, but… I spoke with the previous owner, and he gave a character reference for everyone. He spoke very highly of you. And I would like you to come back to the company. Not as an accountant, but as the chief accountant. Something tells me you’re not here because you like the smell of gasoline.”
Valya was flustered. She saw the displeased eyes of the boss, the suddenly sour face of the other gas station attendant.
“I… I… Of course, I agree.” The man smiled.
“Excellent. Since you’re already fired, we can go. We’ll stop by the office to get everything set up. You’ll get a sign-on bonus, everyone gets one. Then a couple of days off and we start.”
“Of course. I just need to grab my things.” Valya rushed to the break room. Her clothes, which she worked in, a mug, a spoon, nothing more. She was even afraid to think about what was happening in her life now.
Sitting in the expensive car, she couldn’t help but smile all thirty-two teeth at her former boss. On the way, they talked. After hearing her tale of misfortune, the new boss exclaimed:
“You’re an accountant. Everything should be proper and legal with you. Why did you give your husband the apartment? Why didn’t you demand alimony? Well, no matter. Once we arrive, we have our own lawyer, he’ll take care of your case.”
Valya turned to him, looking at him as if he were an alien:
“Thank you so much. You can’t even imagine what you’ve done for me now. You’ve just opened a door to a new life. I promise, I won’t let you down.”