Эйваз Махмуд Зейналов – A car-planter (страница 5)

Asgar thought that he was going to astonish his grandfather.

– It is tilting to the outside.

This time Asger asked as his teacher:

– Can you explain the reason, granddad?

– I can, my sonny, I can, – Grandfather stroked his mustache with his hand and smiled cunningly. – İt was all the matter of the air. The stream of the cold air from outside is heavy and it enters the room from below. That’s why it tilts the flame when the candle is on the floor. But the hot air inside the room is light and that’s why it goes out from above. When you rise the candle, the hot air tilts its flame to the outside. Am I right, my son?..

– Wow! Yes, you are! – Asgar was surprised. – Granddad, but you said that you did not go to school!..

– Of course, I never went to school!..

– But how do you know all about it?

– I have learnt all these things from life. The life itself is a school for people – for those who give much attention to it.

TWO SOCKS

Every day when I came home from work, I lied down on the sofa and called my little daughter to me.

– Where are you, my girl?

– I am coming, daddy. – She immediately ran to me wherever she was.

I stretched my legs and she took off my socks with great effort in order to let my feet have a rest. Then she asked me:

– Well, daddy, can your feet breath well now?

– Yes, my dear, thank you very much! May your hands be healthy!

– May your feet be healthy,too!

My daughter finished her work, but did not go away. I knew what she wanted , but İ asked her just to make sure:

– What are you waiting for, dear?

– Don’t you give me my one manat, daddy? – She asked.

– Your manat? – I asked as if İ did not understand her question.

– I am waiting for that what you have to give me. Do you think I take off your socks free of charge?

I jokingly agreed with her from the very beginning. She had to take off my socks every day after work and I had to give her one manat for it. She was going to buy a notebook for her with collected money.

One day I gave my daughter money but she did not go away.

– What are you waiting for now, my dear? – I asked her.

– Daddy, don’t your feet feel cold with a pair of socks? It is very cold in winter.

I thought how this little girl took care of me. I was touched with her words.

– Sometimes they feel cold, my clever daughter.– I said and embraced her.

– Daddy, why don’t you put on two socks together?

– Do you think it will be better for my feet?

– Of course, daddy. Your feet will not feel cold then. – My daughter was happy that I believed her words.

I sleeked down her hair and said:

– Then I will put on two socks tomorrow, my dear.

– All right, daddy, you will. – She smiled cunningly. And don’t forget my two manats.

– Two manats? Why? – I was surprised.

– Since tomorrow I will take off two pair of your socks, daddy. That’s why you will have to give me two manats instead of one.

I DO NOT WANT YOU TO GET OLD

Mother came from market. She took the old mincing machine and put it on the kitchen table in order to mince the meat. Tural and Aytan who were playing long ago in the room came to the kitchen. Mother asked:

– What is the matter? Why do you come to the kitchen?

– We are looking at you, – Tural said.

– We are looking at you, – Aytan repeated her brother’s words as a parrot.

Tural was older than Aytan. He was five years old. Ay-tan was three.

– It will be good if you go and play with your toys. You have nothing to do here.

The children stepped aside, but did not leave the kitchen. The mincing machine was wrong. Mother often opened and cleaned it, controlling the mincing meat. Sometimes she made effort and stopped for a while as the blade of the mincing machine was wrong. The next time when mother stopped, Tural said kindly:

– Mom, let me help you.

– Mom, let me help you. – Aytan again repeated her brother’s words.

– How do you want to help me? – Mother said. – It will be good if you don’t go round me.

The children were offended.

– Mom, we are not going round you.

– Don’t you see I am busy with this machine?!

– Tell dad to buy a new mincing machine for you. The electric one. Tural said.

– As my aunt’s electric machine!.. – Aytan added.

– I have said. But your dad says that he has no money.

– Mom, I will grow very soon and buy it for you. – Tural said with the manner of a young man.

Mother smiled.

– Oh, my son, I will be very old when you grow up.

– As my granny?.. – Aytan asked.

– Yes, as your granny!

Aytan did not know what to say. So, she turned to her brother in order to learn his opinion.

Tural was embarrassed. He was thinking something. Suddenly he rose his head and said:

– Then I don’t want to grow up very soon, mom!

– Why, my son?

– I don’t want you to get old. – He said it so seriously as if he was going to cry.

– I will be old granny, my son! What ‘s wrong with that?..

– We have already had granny, mom. – Aytan said outpacing her brother this time.