Shastun

"Arseny, don't yell. There's a little kitten out there, all alone. Can we take him in for now?" was the message that began Popov's workday. While he was at work from early morning until late evening, Anton, judging by everything, was skipping school again.

"— Anton," Arseniy exhaled, starting to type his reply, practically crushing the screen with the rage he was holding back. "You understand they need a lot of attention, patience, energy, and nerves. No, you can't. That was the last time we discussed it. "

There was no response from Shastun. And Arseny knew he was crying. The younger brother had always loved and pitied every animal, no matter who they were, and dreamed of having his own pet. Every time he saw a puppy or kitten, he tearfully begged the man to take it, but the answer was always the same: no. Always and for everyone, be it a dirty, flea-ridden dog or a previously well-groomed, graceful cat that somehow ended up in the trash.

Popov, constantly busy as the director of his own company, simply couldn't stand animals. They ran around the house, ruined the furniture, left fur everywhere, screamed and made noise at night—something he would never put up with. He didn't need it. Despite his lover's wishes, his decision was unquestionable.

Anton couldn't take it anymore. He was stuck at home, Arseniy forbidding him to go to work, saying he had the money, so why bother? They rarely went for walks, and he was lonely. The empty walls weighed on his mind and strained his eyes, making it seem like he was slowly losing his mind. He wasn't going to endure it any longer, and today he didn't waste any time. He took the little one home, bathed him and washed himself, applied flea repellent, brushed him, and fed him. Now the kitten was a real miracle: little gray, with a white belly and paws, very skinny, and most importantly, with a special feature: one eye was green, the other blue. The knowledge that when Arseniy returned, he would definitely scold, get angry, and clearly demand the cat back made him sick. Tears welled up in his eyes.