Orthodox Parables and Stories: The Newspaper Seller

“Caution, the doors are closing, the next station is Pushkinskaya,” the voice in the speaker fell silent, and the train, instantly gaining speed, ducked into a dark tunnel. A guy with a heavy pile of newspapers in his hands jumped into the car at the last moment.
He caught his breath and went along the car, monotonously repeating "newspapers, buy newspapers, city news."
Mishka often met this guy on his subway line.
Mishka could not stand the subway.
He would have preferred to go to school with a driver in his father's Mercedes, but his father considered it pampering. So he had to drag from one end of the city to the other in a stuffy subway.
Mishka could still put up with stuffiness, but merchants drove him crazy with all sorts of rubbish. He could not stand them, considered them losers and parasites.
Beggars were especially annoying to him.
Mishka never gave alms to anyone: neither the old woman, nor the mother with the baby attached to her, nor the disabled, who quickly jumped on crutches from wagon to wagon.
When Mishka was about five years old, on the street he saw a homeless old man sitting right on the pavement with a cap near empty pants.
Bearing pity for him, Mishka almost cried and immediately poured all his coins into the cap. At home, the father who saw this scene explained that the beggars are people working for the mafia. Mishka learned a lesson.
“This seller of newspapers is an absolute loser,” Mishka thought, without hesitation examining the boy.
“He looks like thirteen, like me. We are even somewhat alike - growth, hair color. Only his hairstyle sucks! If he combed it, washed, changed clothes he would become a normal kid. "
While Mishka was thinking, the boy reached him.
“Buy a newspaper, city news,” he said, looking down at the floor.
" Boy, why are you selling newspapers? Go, study, because you will remain ignoramus," Mishka said unexpectedly.
“I need to feed my family,” the boy calmly answered and went on.
All day Mishka was angry with himself.
“And why did I ask him a stupid question? I knew that he was lying! The main thing is how calm he’s lying! Surely rehearsed in front of a mirror. I know what kind of family he feeds, he collects for dad's bottle! ”
By evening, he calmed down, but firmly decided that at the next meeting he would explain to this loser childishly that lying was not good.
Time passed, but Mishka never met the newspaper seller anymore.
“Probably switched to another branch,” Mishka decided, and safely forgot about him.

The city decorated for the New Year and Christmas ...
Streets were glowing with multi-colored bulbs. Snow maidens and Santas touted at the shops of the townspeople.
There was only one day left until the New Year, and Mishka finally set off for gifts. Having recounted his savings, he decided that he would spend ten percent of them on his parents, and the rest on his beloved.
Examining the colorful shop windows, he took his time walking along Pestel Street towards Kay, wondering which laptop to buy.
He was distracted from pleasant thoughts by the sonorous, slightly burry childish voice:
"Lesha, look what a beautiful bunny! I wish I had one!" A girl of about five, wrapped like an old woman in a large gray shawl, walked up to the window display with a boy who was not dressed according to the weather. An older girl held on to her other hand.
“I have seen this kid somewhere. But where? ”Mishka tried to remember, watching them.
"My dear, now we can’t buy a hare. Mom needs medicine, they are very expensive."
The little girl's face immediately became serious. The brother and sisters went towards the Transfiguration Cathedral.
Bear walked behind them, listening to their conversation.
" I light a  candle to St.  Nikolai so that he helps mom recover. He always helps me, ”said the youngest girl.
- And I will light my candle to the Most Holy Theotokos. She will heal mommy, and then you can learn further, and stop selling these nasty newspapers” the older sister said.
“So this guy is the same seller of newspapers from the subway!” Mishka instantly realized. “So he was telling the truth!” He didn’t lie! But me! What did I do. I considered him a loser, and he has a sick mother and two little sisters !! ”A wave of shame swept Mishka. He froze in the middle of the street, trying to figure out what to do.

Meanwhile, the trio entered the cathedral. Mishka rushed after them.
He quickly walked around the temple, ignoring the icons. Finally, in the right aisle, Mishka saw Alexei with his sisters. They stood in front of the steps leading to a small icon.
Mishka stood behind them.
Lisa, standing on tiptoe, put a thin candle in front of the icon and said:
"Saint Uncle Nikolai, help our mom get better!"
The children crossed themselves and bowed low.
"Hey kid!" Mishka stepped forward and stood next to them. The girls looked at him in surprise, but Lesha was calm.
"Do you recognize me?" Mishka wheezed with excitement.
Alex smiled:
"No, I don't. Who are you?"
"It does not matter. Hold on! Then Mishka put all the gift money into Alexei’s hand, turned around sharply, and with a quick step went to the exit."
“God save you!”  Alexei shouted after him.
Moving away from the icon, he counted the money.
"Glory to you, Lord!"  he exclaimed, bowed to the ground and wiped his tears from his eyes. He never held so much money in his hands.
"Glory to you, Lord!" the girls bowed after him.
" And how much money is there?" asked Lesha in a whisper.

"Enough for mom's treatment, for you a bunny, for Dasha a winter coat, and there will still be enough left.

As Mishka came out of the temple. He was all filled with some unearthly joy. Suddenly the snow fell, snow-white cover wrapping the city for Christmas.

“It turns out happiness is to help other people.
And why didn’t I understand this before? ..
Now I know which way I should go!” Mishka thought and went towards the metro, catching snowflakes on the go.

translated by Orthodox Parables and Stories