Rebecca was no more than six when they moved into new housing in the mid-seventies. After a small dormitory room in a new five-story building, it seemed like a palace! The apartment still smelled of paint and sparkled with cleanliness, and the children from the neighboring old Khrushchev houses used to come to their entrance for a tour.
Each entryway then had a person in charge of order, they called him “the eldest.” The oldest person in our entryway was Inna, whom everybody, young and old, was afraid of like fire. The lady did not work, so she always knew everything about every dweller of the house. When Inna came out of her apartment everyone greeted her respectfully. From everyone she demanded a detailed report: where he was going, why he was alone and where his parents were. Rebecca was always very shy, and for her interrogations of this lady were akin to torture.
Next door Rebecca had friends who were more perky and often mischievous. Each time, after their shenanigans Inna arranged Rebecca interrogation. The girl stood still and listened to her sermons.
Of course, it wasn’t only Rebecca who got in trouble from Inna; she could put anyone in their place who had been drinking, playing music loudly, or even just making noise. Her grumbling was endless and her nagging was endless!
One day Inna went to visit a friend. Rebecca and her friends started chalking the walls of the entryway. Something came over the shy Rebecca, and she wrote on the door of the housekeeper: “Inna.
The girl waited with bated breath for her parents from work in the evening. She did not know how to lie. Her father always told her that everything was written on her face, so that evening he looked at his daughter and asked:
– Is there something you want to tell me?
– No,” answered Rebecca, without raising her eyes to her father.
– We met Inna and she complained that someone had painted all over her door with crayons. Maybe it was you?
The father sat down beside his daughter:
– Why don’t you look me in the eye?
Rebecca cried, and Daddy hugged her tightly.
– Honey, you have to understand that what you did wasn’t really that bad. Everyone makes mistakes. But it’s important that you realize that and try to make it right. Are you ready to make up for what you did?
– Yes, I’ll come down and wipe it up so Inna doesn’t find out.
– You will have to apologize to her,” said her father.
With a surge of fear, Rebecca even stopped crying. Why was she being punished so harshly for one word?
– It does not matter how many words you wrote, the main thing is that you realize you were wrong, – said her father sternly.
Dad led his daughter to the door and pushed her toward the exit. Rebecca walked slowly toward Inna, tears rolling down her cheeks in a hail. Her father stood at the door and watched her. The way back was closed. The girl burned with shame. When she reached the door of the housekeeper she pressed the bell button, but no one opened the door for her. Just as Rebecca rejoiced, the door swung open. The girl squeezed her eyes shut and muttered softly:
– Inna, please forgive me, I did it.
The neighbor was confused, as the last thing she expected to see was Rebecca with such a confession. She invited the girl into the apartment and treated her with candy, and then said:
– Rebecca, you are so good and so brave!
Rebecca did not expect to hear such words, and from surprise the tears instantly dried on her cheeks.
– Darling, come and visit me more often!
When Rebecca returned home, she felt very at ease. That day she realized that Inna was actually very kind and not at all scary. Rebecca would not tell her parents how the meeting had gone. When the girl went to bed her father came up to her and said:
– Do you feel better now?
– Yes,” her daughter answered, barely audibly.
– You should remember this lesson for all your life. If you are guilty of something to someone, you must have the courage to speak first. The sooner you do that, the sooner you will feel better. You don’t have to carry a grudge.
After these words, Daddy kissed his daughter and left the room. Rebecca lay down and thought about her father’s words. Of course, she did not understand everything yet and finally, all the wisdom of her father’s words came to her only when she grew up.
– Daddy, I’m so grateful for that lesson!
