Early Spring
Alyonka and the Man with the Cane
Four-year-old Alyonka watched the new man in their courtyard with great curiosity — a silver-haired pensioner sitting quietly with a cane in his hand.
“Grandpa, are you a wizard?” she asked seriously. “No, my dear,” he smiled, “it’s just my leg that hurts.”
From that day on, the little girl often visited him. She would tell him the latest courtyard news — what her grandmother cooked, who caught a cold — and he would always offer her a piece of candy.
Alyonka would unwrap it carefully, eat half, and save the rest for her grandmother. “Why not finish it?” he asked in surprise.
“I have to share with Grandma,” she replied matter-of-factly. Touched by her kindness, Yegor Ivanovich brought two candies the next day.
But Alyonka again ate just a half — now saving the rest for her mom and dad. Her grandmother, Vera Sergeyevna, thanked the neighbor politely but asked him not to give sweets.
“They’re not so good for her teeth,” she smiled. So Yegor switched to nuts — “for health,” he said.
Alyonka tucked them into her pockets, and Grandma would laugh: “My little squirrel, always storing her treasures!” Soon, Yegor Ivanovich began walking without his cane.
Alyonka marched beside him, calling out like a tiny drill sergeant: “One-two, three-four! Keep your back straight!”
The three of them — the girl, her grandmother, and their kind neighbor — often strolled through the park together, their quiet companionship warming the early spring days.
“You’re spoiling her,” Vera would say shyly. “Sweets should be only for special occasions.” One afternoon, over tea, Yegor shared that he had been a widower for five years.
He’d recently exchanged his apartment — a small one for himself, a larger one for his son’s family. A few days later, Vera and Alyonka visited him with homemade pies.
The little girl explored the shelves of books and paintings, while her grandmother smiled, noticing how much livelier Yegor seemed in their company.
That was how their friendship began. In summer, they walked together; in winter, they skied in the nearby park. Yegor helped with repairs and groceries, and Alyonka called him Grandpa.
Vera often caught herself waiting for the days he’d stop by. When Yegor went away to visit relatives, the courtyard suddenly felt empty. A week later, he returned earlier than expected.
“I missed you,” he said simply. “This is home.” Alyonka hugged him tightly, and Vera invited him in for pancakes.
After dinner, Yegor gave the girl a painted matryoshka doll and handed Vera a small silver brooch. Outside, the spring rain began to fall softly, melting the last patches of snow.
The three of them walked together along the familiar path. “One-two, three-four!” Alyonka commanded cheerfully. “Step strong — eyes ahead!”
