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Page 26 — “Such a Story”

“I’m afraid our family curse will come true sooner than expected…”

Parental curse is the scariest thing. They say that children’s descendants pay for it all the way to the seventh generation.

> My mother loved my grandfather Grigory. He was her third husband—and my father. They weren’t rich, but they lived comfortably. My older brothers got married early, but none of their children turned out well. One son drowned, although he was a good swimmer.

Soon after the funeral, another series of strange events began. One day, my mother said she had dreamed that someone had come to her and told her the cause of our family’s misfortune. She couldn’t determine what had caused the death.

Two years later, at the age of 42, my father died. When I turned 20, my older brother died as well. “My mother only has one daughter left,” I was told. “She’s asking you and your mother to tell her what happened.”

One day, she finally told me the secret that had been weighing on her for years. She had heard from my father that he had been having an affair with a woman.

She said that this woman had become pregnant. My father promised to marry her, but then he changed his mind and abandoned her.

The woman died after giving birth, and the baby was left without a mother.

My father apparently never told anyone about it. Years later, he became seriously ill and died. The reason, according to the family, was connected with what he had done.

Now my own daughter has been born, and I’m afraid the family curse will continue.

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Page 38 — “They Consider Aunt Masha a Wonder — and for Good Reason…”

Aunt Masha feeds stray cats. For the second year in a row.

A City Full of Cats

Every morning, when people leave for work, Aunt Masha is already outside feeding the cats. She knows almost every stray cat in the neighborhood and has even given many of them names.

She says that when she first began feeding them, there were only a few. Gradually, more and more cats appeared. Some were abandoned by their owners, while others had been born on the streets.

Aunt Masha cannot imagine simply ignoring them. She believes that every living creature deserves food and care.

Hungry Guests

Every day at exactly twelve o’clock, the cats begin gathering near Aunt Masha’s house. Some arrive from neighboring courtyards. Others seem to know precisely when she will bring food.

At first, Aunt Masha bought ordinary cat food. But eventually she realized that she needed much more. Now she buys food in bulk and prepares it especially for the cats.

Neighbors say that she spends a considerable part of her pension on them.

She knows every cat personally and has names for many of them. There are Vasya, Murka, and several others. When one of the cats is sick, Aunt Masha tries to find a veterinarian and pays for the treatment.

Her Kindness Doesn’t Go Unnoticed

Some neighbors help her by bringing food or donating money. Others simply watch the cats gathering around her every day.

Aunt Masha says she doesn’t consider herself a hero. She just feels sorry for animals that have nobody else to care for them.

One neighbor says:

> “Compassion for animals is connected with kindness. A person who cannot be cruel to animals cannot be a bad person.”

Aunt Masha herself says:

> “If you can help someone, help. You’ll feel better afterward.”

She continues feeding the cats every day, regardless of the weather.

“Aunt Masha is considered a wonder — and rightly so…”