Her heart froze. She quickly sat down on the bed and looked around. Gray smoke was already breaking through the door, and it became stuffy in the room.
— Oh my God, a fire! — Marfa Ivanovna exclaimed, jumping on her feet. Masya ran around the room, as if pointing to the owner. — What should I do? — Marfa Ivanovna grabbed a handkerchief, covered her face with it and rushed to the door.
By the stove, where the coal was still melting, the rug was already burning. And the flame was already threatening to throw itself on the curtain. — Lord, save and have mercy! — the old woman whispered, rushing to the bucket of water.
Breathing heavily, she rolled the fire with water several times, coughed from the burning smoke, but did not stop. Her hands were trembling, but fortunately she managed to put out the fire before it engulfed the whole house. When it was all over, Marfa Ivanovna fell on the stool, all exhausted, and pressing her life jacket to her chest.
— Masya, you saved me! — she whispered, stroking the striped wool. — If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have a house anymore, and neither would I. Since that day, Masya has become more than just a cat to her. She was her guardian angel, who gave her a second life.
The phone rang in Vera’s pocket, and she smiled and handed over the phone to her mother. — Grandma, hello! — This is me, Larisa! — the cheerful voice of the granddaughter was heard. Marfa Ivanovna barely picked up the phone to her ear.
— Larisa, granddaughter, how are you? How is your studies? — Everything is fine, grandma. You know, I have prepared a surprise for you. I cleaned the room for you with my own hands.
There is still such a big and bright window, and the bed is soft. I checked everything myself. — Larisa! — she said quietly.
— Thank you, granddaughter. But I’m thinking, how is it there, in the city? — You will be fine with us, Larisa said confidently. I also told my grandmother-neighbor that you would come soon.
She gave you her jam. Marfa Ivanovna smiled. — Jam is good! But suddenly she realized that none of them could replace the view from her window, the smell of apple trees, and the old rug on which Masya sleeps.
— You are so good to me, Larisa! — The old bus stopped hard at the station. Vera helped her mother get out, not letting the bags out of her hands. Marfa Ivanovna held the carrier with the cat tightly, as if it was the only thing that kept her from tears.
— Mom, be careful, the steps are steep here! — said Vera, holding her under her elbow. — I see, I see! — Marfa Ivanovna muttered, trying to hide the tremor in her voice. It was noisy at the station.
Someone was arguing with the cashier. Children were wearing hot pies in their hands. Passengers with luggage were in a hurry.
In this fuss, Marfa Ivanovna felt small and completely alien. — We are on our way to the fourth one! — said Vera, looking at the board. — The train will be in ten minutes.
They headed for the platform. The carrier in the hands of Marfa Ivanovna was shaking, and Masya made a lamentable sound. — Be patient, my dear, we are almost there! — whispered the woman, correcting the latch on the door.
And then something irreparable happened. Someone with a loud cry passed by, roughly pushing Marfa Ivanovna. The carrier fell out of her hands, the door opened, and Masya jumped out.
— Masya! — shouted Marfa Ivanovna, throwing herself behind the window. But she, frightened by the noise and the crowd, the lightning flashed between the feet of the passengers, disappearing behind the corner of the building. — Mom, wait! I’ll find her myself! — shouted Vera, leaving her bags and rushing after her.
Marfa Ivanovna was stunned, looking at the deserted place where her beloved cat had just been. — How can this be? How can I live without her? — she whispered, feeling how the world around her was simply collapsing. At that moment, even the train, slowly approaching the platform, remained unnoticed.
All that mattered now was to bring the cat back. Marfa Ivanovna could not move from her seat. Her hands were trembling, and her gaze wandered along the platform, trying to find at least a trace of the cat.
Vera returned in a couple of minutes, breathing heavily. — I didn’t find her! — she said, desperately looking around. — Mom, you stay here, and I’ll go on looking.
— No! — said Marfa Ivanovna, firmly leaning on the stick. — We won’t leave her! They moved along the station, peering under the benches, into the dark corners and between the luggage of the passengers. Vera began to ask the passers-by, — Have you seen a striped cat by any chance? She had just run away.
People were shaking their shoulders indifferently, someone was turning away, and someone offered to try to look behind the building. Marfa Ivanovna, gathering all her strength, headed to the very corners where the frightened cat could hide. — Masya! Masenka! Come to me! — she called, feeling despair rolling over her every step.
— Mom, don’t worry, we’ll find her for sure! Vera tried to calm her down, but her voice sounded confused. Marfa Ivanovna stopped at an abandoned kiosk and suddenly felt tears rolling down her eyes. — Everything’s gone! — she whispered, barely breathing.
— I can’t live without her! Vera hugged her behind her back. — We won’t leave until we find her, I promise! — You don’t understand! — Marfa Ivanovna exclaimed. — Masya, it’s not just a cat, it’s all that’s left of my life! Words sounded deaf, but with such pain that Vera couldn’t hold back her tears.
And suddenly, somewhere in the distance, a barely audible meow was heard. — Mom, did you hear that? — Vera asked excitedly. — Quietly! — Marfa Ivanovna whispered, listening attentively.
And suddenly, again, that very short, mournful sound. Hope flared up with new strength. — That’s where she is! — Vera shouted, pointing to the corner of the old shed not far from the platform.
Marfa Ivanovna, having forgotten about her stick, rushed forward, barely bumping into the threshold. And there, far into the corner, was Masya, squeezed to the ground and wide-opened her eyes in fear. — You’re my good girl! — she whispered, carefully approaching closer, as if afraid of scaring.
The cat moved a little, but didn’t move from its place. Vera stretched out her hand. She was frightened.
— But it’s all right! We just need to carefully get her out of there! — No, give it to me! — Marfa Ivanovna interrupted her. She knelt down on her knees, right on the cold ground. — Masenka, what are you doing there? You know that I can’t do without you! — she said, gently stretching out her hand.
The cat froze at first, but then, hearing a familiar voice, she slowly got up and approached closer. Marfa Ivanovna carefully took her in her arms. The cat, trustingly, clung to her chest, gently purring.
Tears of relief flowed from the old woman’s eyes. — Well, that’s it! Now everything will be fine! — she whispered, as if convincing not only the cat, but also herself. Vera stood next to her, watching this moment.