you Igor Zorin by any chance?
– Yes. And how do you know?
The man took out a paper handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the drops of sweat that appeared on his forehead.
– Uncle! Are you ill?
– No, Igor.
– So what kind of village is this? What is it called?
– Igor. Listen to me, don’t be scared.
Igor was already scared. He didn’t understand what this man wanted from him. He only asked where he was.
«How does this man know my name?» He was wary.
– I’m going home! – Igor blurted out, and rushed back to the forest.
His mother had always taught him not to talk to strangers.
– Igor! Wait! Don’t be afraid of me! This village is Zaustino, and Dimka is your friend, only already an adult! I’m Dima Ivanov! Honestly!
Igor was completely scared, and ran even faster, but he was very tired, so he could not run far.
The uncle grabbed him and hugged him, hugging him like a native.
– Don’t be afraid, baby! Better tell me where you’ve been.
Uncle Dema’s voice was soothing, and his grip was not very strong.
– Uncle! Let me go home. My mom is waiting for me. I promised to be back before dark.
– Igor! Don’t be afraid of me. Let’s go. I’ll take you to your father. Just don’t be scared. I got overexcited myself.
The student decided not to resist, but to call for help if they meet someone on the way.
The road ran along a street that seemed very familiar, but looked different.
There were low fences around the houses, which only fenced off the territory of the land plot, and did not hide the entire yard.
There were no vegetable gardens in the courtyards, but only lawns, paths and flower beds. There was not a single gray slate roof on the houses.
They were made of flexible multi-colored tiles, which pleased the eye.
As luck would have it, there was not a single passerby on the street. Everyone was sitting at home, from the windows of which electric light was already pouring.
The boy and the stranger accompanying him approached the house, which really resembled the one in which Igor lived with his parents. Suddenly the front door opened and an elderly man appeared on the threshold.
He didn’t notice the guests right away, just picked up a package on the terrace, and was about to go back in, but Uncle Dima called out to him.
– Mikhail Ivanovich! Wait a minute.
– Who’s there? Dimka! Come on in! And who is this boy with you?
It was hard to see at dusk, and the electric lighting of the street had not yet been turned on.
– Mikhail Ivanovich! Your Igor is back! See. He’s alive and unharmed!
Grandfather was stunned by such a statement, but when his weak eyesight saw his son, who had disappeared twenty years ago, in an unfamiliar boy, he almost lost his strength and did not fall. Dmitry managed to catch him.
– Dad! Dad! What’s wrong with you? What happened? Why? Igor shouted, and felt that he was falling and losing consciousness.
An unknown elderly woman jumped out of the house.
– Call an ambulance! Igor is back!
When Igor opened his eyes, he was again seized with anxiety.
– Are you awake? the voice asked.
The boy looked around. Apparently, he was in a hospital room. There was a nurse on duty nearby and another unknown elderly woman.
– Mom! Where are my mom and dad? Why am I in the hospital? I don’t have any pain,» Igor suddenly burst into tears.
– So! You stay with him, and I’ll get the doctor! – The nurse said, and left.
– Where’s my mom? Where’s my dad? Call them,» the worried boy continued to cry.
A doctor appeared in the room.
– Well, what are you, what are you? Now the nurse will give you a little injection, and you will calm down.
– No! What for? Call my mother! You are welcome.
The doctor looked inquiringly in the direction of the elderly stranger.
– What are we going to do? Maybe you can tell him? We won’t be far away.
The woman nodded, and the medical staff retreated into the corridor.
– Igor! Dear! Your dad is in the same hospital, but he’s fine. Just nerves played out, and the pressure jumped. He’s coming to see you soon.
– And Mom?
– Baby! It just so happened that you got lost. This happened twenty years ago.
– I wasn’t lost! I went for mushrooms!
– The inexplicable has happened! When you didn’t come back, they were looking for you for a long time, all over the country! And yesterday you suddenly came out of the forest yourself, the way you were twenty years ago. The same age, the same clothes, shoes, everything, as in the police reports of that time. Look. The woman handed Igor an old yellowed page.
– Dad still has a printed sheet with a wanted notice and your photo! My name is Galina Petrovna, I now live with your father. I’ve been his wife for twelve years.
«Where’s my mom?»
«Unfortunately, she didn’t wait for your return,» Galina Petrovna said carefully.
– Why?
– When it was the anniversary after you disappeared, she had a stroke and died in intensive care.
Igor had not yet had time to realize everything that was happening, when his father appeared in the doorway. He has aged a lot.
The hair on his head became less frequent, and was completely white, and deep wrinkles lay on his face, but it was definitely his dad.
– Son! My dear! How glad I am! – he showered his son with kisses, and tears of joy rolled from his eyes in streams.
– What a pity that your mother doesn’t see you!
Igor burst into tears again. It was a great shock for his child’s psyche. A doctor and a nurse appeared in the ward.
«How
