It was an ordinary, dreary day.

 

It seemed like nothing. A seemingly ordinary day, just like any other. Every inch mine. Filled to the brim with matters, tasks, and obligations. In fact, most of the day consists of obligations. My obligations. Other people's obligations. Obligations imposed on me. But I never complained. I did everything, fulfilled it all with a smile, because those were my duties. Until today. I didn't realize the day could be even gloomier than usual. But let's start from the beginning.

I woke up like every day, waking up at seven-fifteen. The usual morning routine. Or so it was supposed to be. It started with me entering the bathroom. I closed the door behind me, leaving the doorknob in my hand. In short, I slammed it shut. But that's okay, I thought to myself, nothing happened; I know what to do in situations like this. I won't scream at the top of my lungs just because I'm locked in the bathroom. I'll just take a calm shower, brush my teeth, and then figure something out. I still have plenty of time to get everything done. And just as I thought, I did. But when I finally got around to brushing my teeth, it turned out that the toothpaste I use, the one I like most in the world, the one I can sign my name in the Complaints Book for not being available at my local store, it betrayed me today! Had it dried up or something? It wouldn't budge, not a single ounce. Not a whiff, not a whiff. Nothing. Zero. Null. There's no spare in the wall cabinet?! I thought, oh well, I'll come back in the afternoon, buy a new one, and in the meantime, I'll just brush my teeth with a toothbrush soaked in water. So I did. Luckily, I managed to get out of the bathroom. It took me a little longer than I expected, but what's a brain for, after all, and, of course, good hands? Breakfast was actually quite peaceful, without any major excitement or excitement. Yellow cheese, whole-wheat bread, a soft-boiled egg, and some ketchup on top. Tea, black tea, of course. Fruit teas are fine. It's enough that I eat at least a kilogram of fruit every day. A full complement of vitamin supplements. Healthy. Just like all the modern guides to proper nutrition teach. And when I finally managed to get through breakfast, put on the clothes I'd carefully prepared the night before, I left the house. Or at least that's what I intended to do. Leave and not look back until the afternoon. With no time to wait for the elevator, which was descending at a snail's pace from the tenth floor to my own, I decided to take the stairs. I'd calculated once that I only had forty-eight steps to climb. What a time for a fit man like me! It was only about half a minute of fast running. But before I could gain any momentum, I slipped on the fifteenth step and landed with a loud thud halfway down the stairs. It wasn't that I was fat, plump, or, well, slightly paunchy, to fall so quickly, but it wasn't quiet, or maybe it was more my screaming than the weight of my falling body. The point was, I was starting to get fed up with today, a day that had barely begun. Started so miserably, I might add. And when I finally managed to pull myself together, gather everything I'd thrown around during the flight, tidy up the clothes I'd pulled out of my pants, shake off the dust that had accumulated over weeks of no cleaning, adjust my glasses on my nose, which, for some reason, had twisted into a smile, I finally stepped outside. Surprisingly,Never before had I forgotten to look out the window, checking the weather outside. Instead of the beautiful, yellow, pleasantly shining sun that had been forecast yesterday, it was raining. Raining? That's probably not an entirely unrelated word. It was pouring, splashing, lashing, and whatever else you could call what was happening outside. Of course, did I own an umbrella? I don't care about such things, especially since I've never needed one for my happiness. This time, I overestimated my confidence. After standing there for about ten minutes, pondering what I should do, I realized that this time, I wouldn't be able to do without an umbrella. But where in my house could such a thing be? I had no idea. However, I knew I definitely had to go back. This time, having learned from experience, I waited patiently for the elevator. I went back inside and began searching for the thing I so desperately needed at that moment. I searched the wardrobe, cabinets, chests of drawers, overhead shelves, drawers, and nothing. Absolutely nothing. And time was slipping away. With growing impatience, feeling the breath of the fleeting, fruitless minutes on my skin, I searched everywhere. I searched every corner of the house. And nothing. Surely there must be something like an umbrella somewhere!? Finally, furious, I decided that a little rain never hurt anyone, and what if I got wet? It didn't matter, I wasn't made of sugar. I wouldn't melt. I was about to leave when a strange, long, black object caught my eye. There it was! An umbrella was hanging peacefully in the most visible place. I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe I'd still make it in time for the bus, which was leaving in a few minutes. I wanted to open the door. Out of habit, I turned the key in the door. I turned it the wrong way, and to my horror, it broke. The key broke!!! I held it in my hand for a moment, surprised, and then terrified. Because now, I had to call a locksmith. Zero chance of leaving the house normally. I already knew I wouldn't make it anywhere, that today was a waste of time. And it was supposed to be an ordinary day. Just like any other. Maybe gloomy because it was raining, but mine. Resigned, I sat on a stool by the phone and dialed the specialist's number. Let him come and fix it. Maybe he could fix the lock and salvage the rest of this dreary day.What should I do? This time, I couldn't do without an umbrella. But where in my house could I find something like that? I had no idea. However, I knew I definitely had to go back. This time, having learned from experience, I waited patiently for the elevator. I went back into the house and began searching for the thing I so desperately needed. I searched the wardrobe, cabinets, chests of drawers, closets, drawers, and nothing. Absolutely nothing. And time was running out. With growing impatience, feeling the breath of the passing, fruitless minutes on me, I searched everywhere. I searched every nook and cranny of the house. And nothing. Surely there must be something like an umbrella somewhere!? Finally, furious, I decided that a little rain never hurt anyone, but getting wet? It didn't matter, I'm not made of sugar. I won't melt. I was about to leave when a strange, long, black object caught my eye. There it was! An umbrella was hanging quietly in the most visible place. I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe I'd still make it to the bus, which was leaving in a few minutes. I wanted to open the door. Out of habit, I turned the key in the door. I turned it the wrong way, and to my horror, it broke. The key broke!!! For a moment, I held it in my hand, surprised, and then terrified. Because now, I had to call a locksmith. Zero chance of leaving the house normally. I already knew I wouldn't make it anywhere, that today was a waste of time. And it was supposed to be an ordinary day. Just like any other. Maybe gloomy because it was raining, but it was mine. Resigned, I sat on a stool by the phone and dialed the specialist's number. Let him come and fix it. Maybe he could fix the lock and salvage the rest of this dreary day.What should I do? This time, I couldn't do without an umbrella. But where in my house could I find something like that? I had no idea. However, I knew I definitely had to go back. This time, having learned from experience, I waited patiently for the elevator. I went back into the house and began searching for the thing I so desperately needed. I searched the wardrobe, cabinets, chests of drawers, closets, drawers, and nothing. Absolutely nothing. And time was running out. With growing impatience, feeling the breath of the passing, fruitless minutes on me, I searched everywhere. I searched every nook and cranny of the house. And nothing. Surely there must be something like an umbrella somewhere!? Finally, furious, I decided that a little rain never hurt anyone, but getting wet? It didn't matter, I'm not made of sugar. I won't melt. I was about to leave when a strange, long, black object caught my eye. There it was! An umbrella was hanging quietly in the most visible place. I breathed a sigh of relief. Maybe I'd still make it to the bus, which was leaving in a few minutes. I wanted to open the door. Out of habit, I turned the key in the door. I turned it the wrong way, and to my horror, it broke. The key broke!!! For a moment, I held it in my hand, surprised, and then terrified. Because now, I had to call a locksmith. Zero chance of leaving the house normally. I already knew I wouldn't make it anywhere, that today was a waste of time. And it was supposed to be an ordinary day. Just like any other. Maybe gloomy because it was raining, but it was mine. Resigned, I sat on a stool by the phone and dialed the specialist's number. Let him come and fix it. Maybe he could fix the lock and salvage the rest of this dreary day.And then, terror. Because now, I had to call a locksmith. Zero chance of leaving the house normally. I already knew I wouldn't make it anywhere, that today was a waste. And it was supposed to be an ordinary day. Just like any other. Maybe gloomy, because it was raining, but mine. Resigned, I sat on a stool by the phone and dialed the specialist's number. Let him come and fix it. Maybe he could fix the lock and salvage the rest of this dreary day.And then, terror. Because now, I had to call a locksmith. Zero chance of leaving the house normally. I already knew I wouldn't make it anywhere, that today was a waste. And it was supposed to be an ordinary day. Just like any other. Maybe gloomy, because it was raining, but mine. Resigned, I sat on a stool by the phone and dialed the specialist's number. Let him come and fix it. Maybe he could fix the lock and salvage the rest of this dreary day.