– I am so sorry! I was all in my world!
– No, it is me who needs to apologize! – Svetlana was surprised.
He picked up the products which he dropped, and then dropped them one more time.
– It is so uncomfortable… I would have helped you, but I am not supposed to bend.
– What happened? Unless it is a secret, of course.
– It’s one month since I had a surgery.
– Oh, I suppose you should not be lifting anything heavy. I assume to come to the store to get food?
– Yes, you are correct.
– Since we have met, let me help you to bring them home. Do me a favor and let me give you assistance.
Svetlana said herself again: “Don’t be surprised!” She did not know why she answered:
I would be delighted to accept your offer, but you have enough things to carry yourself. Plus, I am sure you are being waited for at home.
The man started to think, and she noticed that when he suggested help he did not even ask her name.
I got an idea! You can wait for me for about ten minutes, I will bring the groceries home. Then we can shop for what you need and I’ll help you to bring your bags home, ok?
Listening to him, Svetlana did not even know what do say. She became confused, astonished by such attention and care from the stranger. Svetlana made a conclusion, that he is a regular person, just like everyone else; she just never noticed anything before. “May be all people are attentive and caring? Or may be some of them? – Svetlana thought. – All these years I did not see the care. I am not used to such treatment. And now it happened to me".
– Ok, I’ go. Please wait for me, ok?
He walked away fast, and Svetlana thought, looking at him “What if he does not come back?!”. Then the stranger turned around the corner, everything inside went down. She could not understand what was wrong with her again. She was worried, as if she had lost something very precious. To stop anxiety, which overwhelmed her so suddenly, Svetlana caught breath, stood still for some time and entered the store. She looked at the shelves with devastation and was making purchases. She realized that she got two bags of groceries. How is she going to bring them home if she does not get help? Fifteen minutes had passed, but the man was absent. Svetlana left the store and was walking slowly and carefully towards her house. She felt someone touching her elbow and she stopped.
– I got here, and you are leaving.
– Oh, I thought that you changed your mind about coming to help.
– No, no! How could I promise something to such a woman and then not keep a promise?! It is not what a real man would do!
The expression “real man” was frustrating to Svetlana. It seemed that men say it to women to show that women are incapable of doing things; that men can do everything, and women – nothing. She decided that if the person was underestimated he would have a lot of achievements in life. This is where the strength is! If the person disappoints oneself and other people it is something very bad, even dumb to do to yourself.
– What do you mean by a “real man?” – she still asked.
– If you promised something, keep your word; if you can’t make it, don’t give promises. This expression is applicable to women too, but traditionally it goes with the word “man”. The question who is the man and who is the woman comes up automatically, as well as what is the difference between these words. The answer is not complicated here either.
