Once upon a time there lived a man and a woman. They were both so lazy... They strive to push things onto other people’s shoulders, just not to do it themselves... And they never put the door to the hut on a hook: get up in the morning and stretch out your hands, and then throw off the hook again... And we’ll live like that.
Now, grandma, cook some porridge. And the porridge is already cooked! The blush is crumbly, grains fall off from grains. The woman took the porridge out of the oven, put it on the table, and flavored it with butter. They ate the porridge and licked the spoons... Lo and behold, there was porridge boiled on the side and bottom of the pot, the pot needed to be washed. So the woman says:
-? Well, man, I did my job - I cooked the porridge and washed the pot for you! -? That's enough for you! Is it a man's job to wash pots? And you’ll wash it yourself.—?But I won’t even think about it!—?And I won’t.—?But if you don’t, let it stand that way
The woman said, putting the pot on the pole, and herself on the bench.
The pot stands unwashed.
-?Baba, oh woman! The pot needs to be washed!—?It’s said—your business, you and mine!—?Well, that’s it, woman! An agreement is worth more than money: whoever gets up first tomorrow and says the first word gets to wash the pot. -? Okay, climb on the stove, we’ll see.
They settled down. A man is on the stove, a woman is on a bench. The dark night came, then the morning came. In the morning no one gets up. Neither one nor the other moves - they don’t want to wash the pot. The woman needs to water the cow, milk it, and herd it to the herd, but she doesn’t get up from the bench. The neighbors have already driven the cows away.
—? Why is Malanya not in sight? Will I be all right?—?Yes, sometimes I’m late. Let's go back - won't we meet... And they go back - no Malanya. -? No, really! Apparently what happened!
Neighbor and pop into the hut. Grab! - and the door is not blocked. Something's wrong. She came in and looked around. “Malanya, mother!” And the woman was lying on the bench, looking wide-eyed, and she didn’t move. “Why didn’t you chase the cow away?” Are you feeling unwell?
The woman is silent. “What happened to you?” Why are you silent?
The woman is silent, doesn’t say a word. “Lord have mercy!” Where is your man?.. Vasily, and Vasily!
I looked at the stove, and Vasily was lying there, his eyes were open, and he wouldn’t stir. “What’s going on with your wife?” Oh, it's just a joke?
The man is silent as he took some water into his mouth. The neighbor was alarmed: “Go tell the women!”
She ran through the village: —? Oh, ladies! Something is wrong with Malanya and Vasily: they are lying side by side, one on the bench, the other on the stove. They look at the lawns, but don’t say a word. Isn't there some damage done?
Women came running, wailing around them: “Mothers!” What happened to you?.. Little one! Vasilyushka! Why are you silent?
Both are silent, as if they were killed. -? Yes, run, women, after the priest! Things are going very wrong.
They ran away. The priest came. -? Here, father, they are both lying there - not moving; Little eyes are open, but they don’t say a word. Are they really damaged?
The priest straightened his beard - and went to the stove: -? Vasily, servant of God! What happened?
The man is silent. Pop - to the bench: -? Servant of God! What's wrong with the husband? The woman is silent.
The neighbors talked, talked, and left the hut. It’s not worth the trouble: who will light the stove, who will feed the kids, who will have chickens, who will have piglets.
The priest says: “Well, Orthodox, it’s too scary to leave them, someone sit down. One has no time, the other has no time.” “Well,” he says, “let grandma Stepanida sit, it’s not her kids who are crying - she lives alone.”
And Grandma Stepanida bowed and said: “No, father, no one will work for nothing!” But if you put in a salary, I’ll just sit there. —? But what kind of salary should I give you? - asks the priest and looked around the hut. And by the door there’s Malanya’s torn katsaveyka hanging on the wall, the cotton wool dangling in clumps. “Well,” says the priest, “take a katsaveyka.” It’s bad, it’s bad, but it’s all good enough to even cover your legs.
As soon as he said this, the woman, as if scalded, jumped from the bench, stood in the middle of the hut, hands on her hips. “What is this?” - speaks. - Should I give away my property? I’ll wear it myself and I’ll give it to whoever I want from my little hands!
Everyone was stunned. And the man quietly lowered his feet from the stove, bowed down and said: “Well, woman, you said the first word - you should wash the pot.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru