Store of unused gifts – MK

“Dumping, not antique prices, they don’t bite,” a strange salesman jokingly praised the goods: in a tousled red wig and a checkered cap, as if he had jumped into the store from a circus arena.

I liked the figurine of the plaster ballerina. Put it on the shelf at home and forgot. That is, I didn’t quite forget – the dancer attracted attention, it seemed, bowing slightly, rising on pointe shoes.

Unexpectedly, he was invited to an audience by the governor. Never received such a high honor before. Going to the high-ranking bonze, he absently glanced at the plaster trinket. The ballerina (dreamed of excitement?) took a step forward, as if crying out: take it with you. On an unaccountable impulse, he put the figurine in his pocket.

The meeting with the official went well. On the way back I felt a stir in my pocket. He lowered his fingers into the opening and pulled back, frightened, but he realized who was rustling. Take out the ballerina. She spoke:

– Any thing dreams of finding a home and an owner. I’m tired of being bored in the dust. You chose me, gave me happiness. I want to thank.

The voice was pleasant, sonorous, friendly.

“Not at all,” he muttered, embarrassed.

She continued:

– To be needed, to find a place for yourself – luck. Things, like people, seek recognition. They long to be involved in the boiling of life. You have visited an unusual estate. Shop for unwanted gifts. Rejected, but secretly related amazing exhibits gathered there. We have established an order of mutual support…

“Impossible,” he understood where the interlocutor was driving. – Limited in funds, and in domestic space.

– You are included in the circle of the elite, do not worry about anything. The price list of the souvenir brotherhood includes many treasures, including the royal palace! the plaster fairy exclaimed. – It was presented to the chosen one as a pre-wedding gift by a rich man in love with her. The mansions did not seduce the girl. The museum castle is now yours, for this I organized a meeting with a powerful man. Your undertakings will come true, your influence will be strengthened and expanded, your undertakings will go smoothly, you will become useful to my friends who have remained in rejection.

For mere pennies, he got luxurious apartments, where there was more than enough space for illiquid assets stagnant in the window and utility rooms. As a sign of gratitude, he acquired one useless thing after another. He did not humiliate the suffering poor fellows by secondment to the closet or exile to the pantry. He performed the duty of solidarity, demonstrated loyalty, seated noble visitors, who favored him with a visit, not only on elaborate malachite benches with oak flooring, but also on creaking stools, rickety chairs, regaled from unpresentable plates, put on unfashionable jackets. He was known as an eccentric eccentric. And successes followed on the rise. At auctions, he took possession of rare paintings by Flemish masters, and became the most prominent collector of antique sculpture.

Of course, it was embarrassing that unsystematized, junky, shamefully lurid worthlessness clung to the unique pearls of art (and frankly dissonant with them). The floors were full of frank rubbish. “Is it possible that the representatives of the disabled army warmed by me really contribute to prosperity? he doubted. “I will never get rid of the landfill!”

It became more and more difficult to be and feel the same as before – not self-confident, not impudent; metamorphosis, he realized, is fatal: failures make one stubbornly grit one’s teeth and continue the struggle for the sake of asserting one’s innocence, a leapfrog of victories relaxes, intoxicates the incense of illusory achievements, spiritual harmony disappears, harmony of thought is twisted. A hesitant loser – such as himself in the recent past – was closer and more understandable to him. He had become accustomed in previous years to the silence of loneliness, he was weary of festivities.

He was surprised at the habit that took away power – not to concede, to capture, to achieve superiority, the actions were performed as if not by him, but by someone instead of him. The triumph took care of itself. The first step is difficult, and having made a claim, you no longer apply maximum efforts, it is enough forbidden to desire more and more.

Once I visited the heavyweight weightlifting competition. Three strong men were arguing for the first step of the podium. Huge clumps of muscle were thrown into the contest. The two panted heavily. There was a look of hopelessness on their faces (perhaps only he was allowed to read this), and a vigorous sweat of fatigue wafted from them. And from the one who became the champion came the dizzying aroma of indisputability, dictating not to notice anyone, but only to be blissfully aware of oneself as a happy toy in the hands of Fate, a toy that Providence likes. As long as you like it, everything is allowed.

Those around him tacitly agreed: in any situation and in any case, he was entitled to the lion’s tidbit. My heart sank at the conjecture: what will be the retribution – for everything and always it is appointed to pay. But it was not proper to slow down at a crazy speed – did not resist, did not resist the inertia of sliding from whim to whim. And again she took horror: a powerful wave carried her out of the calm backwater to the mercy of storms – he did not belong to himself.

Occasionally, at the insistence of the ballerina, he visited the reserved store. The seller looked mockingly, did not impose slow-moving ballast, entertained with entertaining stories – either his own or a fictional biography.

– He established a hospital for those who have unjustly become a burden, wearing out his father’s suit after his early death. The episode with stagnant shoes bought by a caring mother for a beggar boy influenced. Those boots vegetated for a long time in the warehouse back room, desperate to break free. And here they are at a discount. Bliss has begun. The boots were taken care of, cleaned with a special brush, flavored with wax…

In the cell and the bins of the junk dealer, an incalculable abundance of all kinds of junk has accumulated. Having lost hope of becoming in demand, the outcasts no longer perceived the infrequent guest as a savior and savior, and yet shyly lassoed a potential benefactor. Curtains advertised their excellence:

– We are from Prague, we planned to be presented at a housewarming party, it did not take place – our owner became seriously ill. She and her husband were not up to the curtains. We were lying around, wrapped in gift paper – how can I put it more figuratively? – cut off a slice … Understood: we will not be useful. But we are with a fringe! We were shaken off, not examined and not smoothed …

“At first I came to the court,” the Dinner Set entered into the conversation. Because it was worth it. Clay, rough porcelain. But due to clumsiness, they fused me.

Ballerina Korila:

“The rank of unusable does not mean damnation. They are waiting. Do not betray assistants if they do not correspond to your status. Every gesture you make is a chance for them. And if it does not end with a triumph, it causes injury… After all, the hope for a change of fate does not fade away… Help me out! Rejected are touchy. And vengeful.

But absurd for the palace halls are coarse synthetic curtains and clay bowls! He remained silent. He limited himself to choosing a tiny brooch, a microscopic pin. He laughed it off with the promise of an impending financial intervention and an impressive investment, arranging a lottery for the sharp-witted rags:

– I’ll add what they are now filling up with …

Wealthy friends overcame him with offerings: Persian carpets, bear and tiger skins, gilded thrones, crowns inlaid with diamonds, exquisite furniture sets. The fairy ceased to be an indispensable companion at dinner parties, auctions and long journeys – he left the ballerina in inhospitable halls. If she called out to him, he justified himself:

– Touchingly worries about the accumulation of mustiness. But why were your protégés rejected, why are they in the outskirts… in a junkyard… on the sidelines? Why didn’t even the palace come in handy? And the girl to whom he was presented, I suppose, ran away from the losers who demanded shelter?

“Bad luck, mismatch of tastes, thoughtlessness,” explained the graceful sorceress with a chiseled figure. – Everyone can find himself in oblivion and exile. They give, as a rule, formally, the first thing that comes across, unnecessary, just to fulfill the obligation, get rid of what is not useful and will not be needed – seized by chance or, conversely, specially designed to impress with high cost …

He waved, did not listen.

Was on an extended voyage when lightning from a thundercloud struck the pompous retreat. Carpets were charred to the ground, paintings burned down, ancient sculptures crumbled to dust.

Aimlessly in despair wandered from the ashes, not knowing where. I didn’t have the courage to accept. He remembered the cozy company of creaky, unstuck armchairs, dull candelabra, lovely floor lamps, worn rugs. But the most piercing, bitterest loss was the loss of a fairy. There was remorse.

An exclamation brought out of the stupor:

– Inventory anywhere! Treasures: rot, decay, mold!

He stared at the orange wig and recognized the barker dressed as a clown: striped trousers, straw strands from under a checkered white and black chess cap, a cherry ball on an elastic band flattened to his nose. He froze, not daring to cross the threshold of the open door.

The jester, screwing up his mysteriously flickering eyes, instead of an ingratiating inviting gesture, shook his frizzy head.

– You won’t find it. She ran to a beggar circus performer. And once she fled from the palace from a rich man who was not dear to her. You are useless too.