Sunlit oak tree

Several days had passed since that evening, and Augustine was very glad that he had been removed from his post. No, of course, he was still getting used to the days where there was not such a strict schedule. Driving with Irene to one event or another, Augustine was glad that he became a driver. No, this simple and boring work at first glance had its advantages. Augustine was able to rest more often, and he had a lot of time to read. The man didn’t have so much time when he worked as a boss — but now he had the opportunity to read those books that he had long stored somewhere aside. Augustine sat in his apartment completely alone; he was reading an exciting novel that absorbed all his attention. He had a small but quite decent library, which he personally collected, because he had no education other than school, and in this way he tried to replenish his knowledge. It was late evening, and the clock notifying him of the beginning of the tenth hour forced him to go to bed, but the doorbell interrupted his plans. Augustine was not expecting anyone and was about to ignore them, but his inner instinct ordered him to do the opposite. He opened the door — there was no end to his surprise. Yum stood on the threshold — all disheveled and with a torn knee — and Yunna, standing with two backpacks on her back. Augustine at first couldn’t believe his eyes that he saw them at such a late hour, but then he said quietly and confusedly: — Good night. What are you doing here? The younger ones looked at him with bitterness and resentment. They drove through almost the entire city to come to him. And Augustine, the scoundrel, greets them with such an unfriendly question. Something clearly happened, something that forced them to come to their brother. They shifted from foot to foot. — We came because we missed you. “Yunna looked with her clear eyes and lied, and Augustine immediately understood this from Yuma’s appearance. “Yes, that’s what I thought — at ten in the evening, with skinned knees and two backpacks,” Augustine said sarcastically. “And we won’t live with Agnes anymore.” — Augustine, dumbfounded by this message, let the younger ones into the apartment and closed the door. Sleep will have to be postponed indefinitely. The conversation will be long. — Why? Hume walked into the kitchen and sat down on a chair; Augustine’s question remained unanswered. — Because she got us! — Yunna took off her backpacks. Augustine rubbed his eyes: the old song begins again. How long has it been going on? Four months, maybe five? — Okay, now we’ll find out everything. Yum, please go and clean yourself up and wash yourself, and I will treat your wound. Yuna, go to the kitchen. By the way, where did your wound come from, Yum? — Augustine shouted across the apartment. — I got into a fight. — Yum went into the bathroom and turned on the water tap. Augustine, meanwhile, took the phone and dialed Agnes’s number. The sister, most likely, does not find a place for herself with these hooligans. This is understandable — they were uncontrollable. — Hello? “The other end quickly picked up the phone, which means that the sister was waiting for someone to call her and, most likely, she was waiting for a call from the police, and not from her brother. — Agnes, Yum and Yunna came to me, don’t worry. — How long have you had them? — The voice was excited. — They just arrived. What’s happened? Agnes sighed long into the phone. “We quarreled again, they got angry, apparently they were planning to leave earlier, because as soon as Yum ran out of the apartment, my sister picked up two backpacks and rushed after him. I didn’t have time to ask them where they were going. It was two hours ago, I didn’t think they would come to you. I think they were wandering around the city all this time, then they realized that they had nowhere to go, and they came to you. I don’t even know what to do with them. Maybe they can stay with you for now? — Agnes slowed down the tempo of her voice. “I don’t know how good of an idea this is, but maybe I’ll try to persuade them to at least stop considering you evil.” — Yes, try it. Maybe call Alex? “He’s late today,” the sister said in confusion. — Do not worry everything will be fine. Today they will definitely stay with me, sleep well. — I’ll expect to hear from you tomorrow. — OK. good night. I’ll go, otherwise they’ll destroy my kitchen, that’s how they are. Say hi to Alex for me. — Augustine sat down on the sofa. Yum had already left the bath — the sound of the water had died down. — Tell me, did Yuma have any abrasions? — No, they weren’t, so what? Did he come to you with bruises? Yum and Yunna looked at their brother from behind the door; Augustine was annoyed by this — he couldn’t stand it when someone stood and looked at him. — Yes. Okay, I’ll find out everything. Thank you. Augustine hung up. Meanwhile, Yum and Yunna quickly ran to the kitchen. Augustine entered with heavy steps. — So, gang, tell me why you ran away from your sister and why you, Yum, got into a fight. — Augustine was putting the kettle on the stove. Hume was silent — he was confused. He apparently thought that his brother would not ask him questions, but this is how it happened. “We left Agnes because she is completely against everything,” Hume stammered; he instantly turned from a teenager into a little boy who had forgotten his words. — Or more precisely? — Augustine asked for an explanation. He still remembered how to ask people for answers to questions. — Or rather, she is against me staying out late. “Yunna looked at her older brother with arrogance. — Yuna, I’m not asking you. — He besieged his sister. — But thank you for telling me. — What difference does it make who answers? Augustine cooled his sister’s ardor instantly. — Well, what about you? — he turned to Hume. “I got into a fight with a classmate, and left Agnes because I won’t study at this stupid school.” — Augustine stood with his elbows on the tabletop, waiting for more detailed explanations. “I got into a fight with a classmate because he’s a bully,” Yum finished his story. Augustine sighed — yes, the situation was very bad. Augustine reflected, trying to remember himself at fourteen. No, he wasn’t like that, and neither was Agnes. And it is not clear why everything turned upside down. Although… maybe he is looking at this from a different perspective on life, and this is the norm. — Yunna, I fully support Agnes and share her opinion that it is dangerous to walk on the street now, especially in the evening. No, I’m not a beast, but why do you just need this? Or has the night become your best friend? Since when? I remember a month ago it was only ten o’clock, and you were already in bed. “Yunna became quiet, which means Augustine went in the right direction.” “Something always happens here — if not rallies, then marches, if not marches, then something else.” You need to sleep at night. If something happens to you at night, neither I nor Agnes will be able to help. And I immediately have one more question: who do you go out with? One is unlikely. Besides, if I remember correctly, it seems like your friends aren’t particularly bold enough to go against the rules either. “Yunna was embarrassed, and it was clear how she was coming up with a false answer in her head that would suit her brother. — Yuna, you don’t need to lie to me. I am your brother and, believe me, I have seen you since birth and I know what you are like. “With a boy,” Yunna said. Augustine thought so. Yunna would not have risked going with her friend — no matter how militant she was. — But he is very handsome, and I want to please him. — Looking at Yunna, Augustine firmly believed that this was so. — Yunna, I have no doubt about your tastes, about your love and that you want to be with him. “Then why are you against me going for a walk at night?” “Junna,” Augustine began, “I cannot allow you to be harmed.” I’m guessing he’s from GJ, judging by the way you want to go there. Right? — Yes, and he is very cool. Both strong and tall…” Yunna began to list his qualities. The tea that Augustine had poured earlier began to cool, and he understood perfectly well that Yunna would stand for him with everything she had — that’s just the way she is. — Okay, I understand you. But this does not mean that I allowed you to go for walks at night. By the way, why only at night? — Because he is only released at night, and we go to bars with him. “Yunna showed off in front of her brother as best she could. — What’s his name? — Yuna was embarrassed. “I’ll repeat the question: what’s his name?” “Ernest,” she answered. Augustine figured — most likely, he is three years older than her, and clearly looks something like Alex — he was the same out-of-touch ringleader in his youth. — Okay, let’s finish the conversation here. — Augustine switched to Hume, — why don’t you want to go to school, Hume? — Its boring there. — That’s all? This is not an answer. — The kettle, having been put back on, began to boil, and Augustine slowly exhaled: yes, he was hardly prepared for this. After putting down the cookies and mugs, he sat down opposite his brother. — Yum, understand, school is not supposed to be fun. You say you don’t want to study, right? “The brother nodded and took the mug. — But you learned to read and write there? — Yum nodded. — So, the school is not completely stupid, as you say. Yunna also became quiet: at first she tried to say something, but then, when she ran out of arguments, she fell silent. “I don’t want to learn Latin, French and mathematics,” Hume flared up. — Mathematics is needed — this is the first thing. It is needed to be able to navigate the world; how will you live in a society without knowledge? — They will teach me everything at the State University. Augustine supported his hand with his head. — Do you think they take just anyone there? — Augustine realized that he needed to tell his brother the whole truth. — Do you think they take poor students and mediocrities there? In some ways, you’re right, but people like that don’t stay there for long. Yunna, I would have listened too, instead of trying to sneak away from the table. — Augustine stopped his sister at the first attempt to leave. “As I remember, you are also eager to go there.” — But you managed without education? — Hume flared up. “You didn’t go to college or anywhere, and now everything is fine with you.” “Besides, you didn’t really go to school.” — Yunna agreed with Yuma. — I graduated from school and received a matriculation certificate. Yunna, you were small at that moment, practically a baby, this is firstly, and secondly, I am still working on my education, and I did not go to college because I did not have time, and not because I did not want. Don’t confuse these things. Thirdly, you were too small to understand much of our life. If you, Yum, and you, Yunna, want to go there so badly, please, I’ll take you to the State University tomorrow, but keep in mind: if I receive even one written complaint, blame yourself. You’ll go to school and sit there like little girls, and then to college. “Hum and Yunna became quiet and nodded their heads in agreement, and Augustine, like an older brother, sat with a menacing look. Of course, today’s conversation meant little, especially if they accepted the mandatory participation in the GJ, which no one could refuse, but Augustine wanted to at least try to simply reason with them, to show that not every picture looks true. The next morning they drove home and took their things — the younger ones, almost jumping for joy, ran to the car while Augustine outlined the picture to his sister; she, of course, was not happy. She wanted a completely different upbringing for the youngest, but it was difficult to convince both of them. On the way, Agnes’s words constantly revolved in his head — about the fact that you can’t just follow their lead, and he should have been a little different. Easier said than done. It was impossible to drive further than the school gates — here Augustine stopped, turning off the ignition keys and looking at his brother and sister. He wished them luck. — Yes, and please write to your sister more often and don’t forget about me. — Don’t worry, brother, we will emerge as better graduates. You will be proud of us! — Yum hugged his brother and, jumping out of the car, went to the guard. Yunna also said goodbye. For some reason, Augustine felt pain… He didn’t think that he would have to let his brother and sister go so soon, but maybe it was for the best.