An elderly woman came to the market every day and just looked at the vegetables and fruits without buying anything: one day I decided to find out the reason for such strange behavior 😱😱
I have been working at the market for over five years. My counter with vegetables and fruits stands in the same place, people know me, say hello. The work is not easy, but honest. Over the years, I have seen a lot – people in a hurry, irritated, happy, poor and wealthy. But one day, among all this fuss, I began to notice one woman.
She was about 70, maybe more. She almost came every day, always neatly dressed, with a handbag. She stood nearby, as if choosing – but she did not take anything. At first I thought she was stealing. It happens, especially when a person is in need. But I watched her – no, nothing like that. She just looked. At apples, tomatoes, cherries, peaches. And each time she left empty-handed.
One day I couldn’t stand it and decided to ask the strange granny why she does this😱 Her answer shocked me 😲
– Grandma, you’ve been walking around here for a week now, choosing, but you haven’t bought anything. Maybe I can help you with something?
She looked at me, her eyes like a warm lake, with deep sadness.
– Grandson, I don’t buy anything, grandson… I’m just pleasing the eye. My pension is small, but I enjoy being here. The fruits are beautiful, bright. Like in my youth in the south. My husband used to bring watermelons back then – I always helped him. And now I’m alone. I’m just curious.
My heart sank. I realized that she wasn’t just standing at the counter. She was remembering, living through these colors, through these smells. And I couldn’t stand it anymore.
The next day I handed her the apron.
– Will you help me a little? Hand me bags, tidy up the counter. And for that, a basket of fruit to take home.
She became embarrassed, her eyes sparkled.
– I’m old, grandson…
“And I’m patient,” I smiled.
So the grandmother stayed. Her name was Taisiya Ivanovna. Every day she came early, wiped the apples until they shone, and put away the peaches.
The customers loved her. Some brought candy, some just said “thank you.” She blossomed. She started laughing.
Six months later she was gone. My neighbors told me it was her heart. But before that, she asked a woman to give me a letter. Inside was a short note:
“Thank you for making me feel needed again. It was my little happiness. Forgive me if I came into your life unnoticed and left suddenly. But you became the grandson I never had.”
Now, every time I lay out apples, I remember her. And I leave one beautiful one – for Taisiya Ivanovna.
