Sunlit oak tree

Cigarette smoke rose in a thin stream. Anna, who had been sitting in the kitchen all night, was now looking at the dawn, wondering what to do now with what happened last night. She and Wilhelm took turns rocking Yuna, Yuma was calmed by Augustine, but something had to be done. Tonight showed that both of them were not suitable to be parents — maybe it was good that they never decided to have their own children. Anna quickly fell asleep from exhaustion right on the stool. She was not distracted even by her husband, who entered the kitchen and quietly closed the doors. Only when Wilhelm started shaking her shoulders did she wake up. “Sorry,” Anna said guiltily. “I just didn’t sleep all night.” I couldn’t sleep because of my thoughts. “Yes, I know,” Wilhelm said gloomily, with his head down. — Anna, forgive me, I should have consulted with you somehow before… “No, you did everything right,” Anna stopped him. “They had nowhere to go anyway, and besides, they didn’t trust anyone else but us.” — She got up to make coffee. “Wilhelm, tell me…” she turned to her husband, putting the kettle on the stove. — Do they have any other relatives? Wilhelm shrugged. — Don’t know. In my opinion, someone was from Yulona’s side, but I don’t think they live closer to us. It is unlikely that Yulona would have arrived yesterday. — Wilhelm came out of the kitchen and looked into the living room: the children were sleeping on the sofa — in the morning they all fell asleep. Augustine clutched the blanket in his hand, Agnes pressed against the back. Yum and Yunna were lying on a chair. Wilhelm’s heart sank. The children were clearly shocked by today’s events. “The coffee is ready,” Anna whispered. She poured the drink and sat with her husband in silence. The city was still sleeping, so in these dawn hours one could enjoy the peace. — Wilhelm, how much do you think it will cost us to live if we move to a rented apartment on the third floor? “I don’t know,” he answered thoughtfully. Wilhelm didn’t even want to think about the apartment, he had to. “It’s probably not expensive, although, knowing Maria, she might raise the price.” But I like that you think about it even after a sleepless night. Anna smiled. — We need to try… it won’t do. “Anna pointed to the cracked ceiling, to the tap that was held in place only with the help of higher powers, and to the window from which the wind was constantly blowing. — It’s true about what you said yesterday — we need to think about something about the living space. In addition, it is still unknown what Yulona herself will do when she is released. — At this time, the door to the kitchen opened slightly, and the conversations stopped. Augustine looked out from behind the door; with his tousled hair he looked like a hedgehog. — Hello… Can I have some water? — he said in a whisper. Anna immediately stood up and poured a glass of water for the child, and Wilhelm placed a stool so that he could sit down. Augustine drank water and was about to go, but Anna called out to him. The boy turned, looking at her haplessly with his blue eyes. — Augustine, tell me… Your mother didn’t say anything about other relatives? Augustine thought about it. — No, she didn’t say anything. When we drove here, she only talked about you. — Or maybe you have other relatives in Germany? — Wilhelm rudely intervened in the conversation. “In Germany, no,” Augustine answered clearly. — My mother’s sister lives in Austria — I think her name is Freundlich, but I don’t know anyone else. Anna let the child go back to sleep. Augustine left, closing the door behind him, and crawled back under the blanket on the sofa. He felt sad and melancholy in these poor walls of the old house. “Augustine,” the sister said quietly. — What do you want? — Augustine looked at her sleepy face. “Do you think they’ll take us away from here soon?” Augustine shook his head. — I heard that my parents will not arrive soon. For the near future, our home is here. — Agnes closed her eyes, she was about to cry, but Augustine took his watch from the bedside table and began to shine it in her eyes. — Hey, what are you doing?! — Augustine tried to make his sister laugh, but so as not to wake up the younger ones. “Agnessa,” he sat down next to her, “do you miss home and your dolls?” — Of course, I miss you. And you don’t seem to miss your railroad and the fact that you had your own room. “I think that someday we will be able to return there,” Agnes snorted. — “Someday” is an elastic concept. You sound like a father who, when asked “when will I grow up?” Everyone answered “someday.” Augustine stuck his tongue out at her; the sister did not remain in debt and also began to tease. At this time, Anna and Wilhelm entered, sitting down opposite the two. Augustine and his sister quickly calmed down. “Augustine and Agnes,” Wilhelm began to say; everything had to be explained to the children correctly. “I think from this day on we are your official guardians, because your mother left you here for a long time.” — On “someday”? — Agnes intervened. Wilhelm looked at her with confusion. — Well, you could say that. Therefore, I think that in the near future you will be placed in school, and we will think about moving to another apartment. Stay at home today while Anna and I work. — Augustine and Agnes silently agreed. By this time, the younger ones had woken up, whimpering, and Anna stood at the stove to prepare breakfast. *** Anna was in a hurry, as was Wilhelm — today he was going to get a promotion out of his boss, and Anna also wanted to think about something with work. Augustine and Agnes ate well, although at first they turned up their noses at the porridge. There was no milk in the house for Yum and Yunna, so they had to ask the neighbors. All this time, Augustine watched as the two adults rushed around the house, trying to get ready without being late, and cursing at each other. They were completely different from their parents, who were never in a hurry and did everything imposingly; even if they were late for something, they always pretended that they were very busy people and did not care at all about the time of others. Such a contrast stirred up some inappropriate picture in the boy’s thoughts. Augustine now learned everything by comparison, and this comparison was bitter. Anna left food for lunch in the refrigerator, and she and her husband went out, hurrying to avoid the morning rush. Making his way along the railroad tracks, Wilhelm jumped on the train and rode to the center, where, after getting off, he had to drive two blocks and reach an inconspicuous street, in the depths of which there was a modest workshop. Anna, on the contrary, walked to a small school located in the vicinity of the center. She taught mainly there, but sometimes gave private lessons. Anna, walking through the classrooms of the school, where there was noise and commotion, very fortunately saw the director from afar. “Mr. Jarre,” she turned to a short man with a dull expression on his face. — What did you want? “He looked nervously at his watch. — As I understand, you have a lesson now, mademoiselle. Anna sighed. Even when he arrived in Germany twenty years ago, he never unlearned his French habits. — I wanted to ask you for a promotion due to family circumstances. The man waved him off. “I don’t want to hear anything, you already get a little more from us than others.” Even if someone dies, you have no money. Farewell. Zharre hurried down the stairs, and Anna, still standing in bewilderment with a heavy heart, trudged into the office to teach a lesson. Anna knew that now not only they had no money, but everywhere else — prices were rising, they needed to think about something. Anna caught her eye on a sign: a personal French teacher was needed for a good sum. Such advertisements were not uncommon — due to catastrophic inflation, they were posted anywhere. Anna quickly took out a notepad and wrote down the number. This was one of the few chances provided by fate. During his lunch break, Wilhelm lit a cigarette, looking at the gray summer sky. His workmate, Ernest, sat down next to him. — Wilhelm, have you heard that we have new management? Wilhelm shook his head. — So, have we already been sold? — Albert, who sat third, confirmed Ernest’s words. Rumors about a change in staff had been circulating for a long time, and they were warned that everyone would be fired, but Wilhelm could not even imagine that this would hit him at such a serious moment. Wilhelm ran his oily hands through his hair. — Damn, what a bad time. — He threw away the cigarette. — And what happened? Do you need money? — Ernest gave him a friendly look, Wilhelm waved him off. It was necessary to think of something, not today or tomorrow he would be kicked out of work, and he would have to come up with something else. *** Anna came to the address — an area of ​​prestigious middle-class houses. Walking past the houses, she looked at their numbers: ninth, tenth, eleventh… There he was. Anna came up and pressed the bell, then again, but no one answered. The woman checked the address again, she came correctly. The door was opened after the eighth ring by a man of about thirty with slight wrinkles and uneven teeth. He looked neat, wore a white ironed shirt and pants. “Hello,” Anna greeted. — I found your advertisement at school. Do you need a French teacher? The man was embarrassed; wrinkles immediately gathered on his forehead and around his eyes. “Yes, I left an ad,” he said slowly, remembering. — True, I have already found myself a teacher, but I think you could be useful to me. You need a job, right? Anna tensed. — Come on in. “The man kindly let her into the house.” The house was large and bright, there was a lack of furniture in some places, but everything was much more expensive than it seemed at first glance. “I need a job, but I won’t agree to sex for money,” Anna said. The man turned to her and began to protest: — No, no, I wasn’t going to offer you this. You see, I’m an artist, and I need a model. For a decent price,” he added. She raised an eyebrow — Where does an artist get decent money in our country? — Anna began to back away towards the exit. — Wait. First of all, I didn’t introduce myself, sorry. My name is Francois. Secondly, I mainly exhibit in Paris, but now I live here temporarily. Thirdly, I noticed your ring, so I’m unlikely to offer you anything indecent. I don’t prefer women. — Anna exhaled — at least she won’t have to worry about her honor. — And how much are you willing to pay? — Francois went to the desk, pulled it out and handed Anna a thick envelope. Anna took it, and just one glance was enough to understand that there was a lot of money and it would be enough. — Should I just pose? — After these words, Francois sat down on the sofa and pulled the easel next to him, checking Anna with her new role. — Yes, just pose naked. — Anna pursed her lips. For him it was just work, for her it was a memory of her youth, when she, as a fourteen-year-old girl, posed in front of the same sitter, trying to earn money. “You can go into the next room, undress, while I open the curtains for daylight.” — How often will I have to come here? “I think twice a week will be enough until I finish the picture,” Francois sighed. Anna was surprised at this man. She kept twirling the ring on her finger and thinking about Wilhelm: whether she was doing the right thing, whether she was doing the right thing, and whether she needed to tell him about it. In the end, morality and conscience receded when Anna realized that they needed money most now. She remembered Armen, Yulona and their children and realized that she had no choice, besides, if she refused now, what would she have left? Already undressed, she entered the room. Everything was already ready for her: a chair, a podium and daylight, which contrasted so much with the dark wallpaper in the room. Francois was already sitting in his place with a brush in his hands. His eyes seemed stupid to Anna, but he was completely calm, he had no intentions and nothing behind his soul. He wanted to draw, and she wanted money.