“Let’s go pamper you, darling. You are a woman!” A story that touches you to the core

Five years ago, I worked in a business class salon, where it was beautiful and expensive. A classic uncoated manicure cost a lot of money, the atmosphere was imbued with the aromas of niche perfume from clients and excellent coffee prepared by the salon’s personal barista for the “dear” guests of the establishment.

And one day an elderly couple came to the salon. The grandmother flirtatiously held onto her grandfather’s elbow, and the grandfather, gallantly keeping his back straight, gently stroked the grandmother’s palm on his elbow.

– “Good afternoon, I’d like to get my nails done right now,” the elderly woman chirped.

The couple was dressed quite modestly, and while I was announcing the price, my heart was racing.

– “Thank you, it’s fine for us,” the elderly man replied and carefully began to help his companion take off her outerwear.

– “Welcome to the office, please have a seat. My name is Yanina.

– My name is Zinaida, and my husband is Anatoliy.

Anatolii is at the reception desk.

– You must have an event?

– No, of course not, we go out together every month to make me look beautiful. My Anatoly insists on this in every way and always tells me: “Come, my dear, let’s pamper you. You are a woman!”. And so it has been for 50 years. I am 71 years old now.

I remember when we met, he looked at my leaky shoes and came to the next date with a new pair. I even burst into tears. I said to him, “Why did you spend so much money, Anatolii, and didn’t even leave money for cigarettes?” and he said to me: “Zina, what cigarettes, when my future wife has no shoes?!” And so he wooed me. He hasn’t smoked for 50 years.

As I saw Zinaida and Anatolii off, I watched in awe as he straightened her shoe laces, as he sincerely admired her beautiful hands with fresh manicure, as he touchingly wrapped her in a scarf. She was not sick, not weak, she was his woman. A mother and grandmother of his sons and grandchildren, but first and foremost, a Woman.

– “This is for you, and thank you again,” Anatolii handed me a tip with dignity.

“I have been keeping this banknote for 5 years as a memory of real people and real relationships.

– My boyfriend used to say to me: “Why do you go to get your nails done, do it yourself. You’ll save a lot of money, and in a year we’ll save up for car covers.” And I answered him: “You don’t care about my nails, you drink more on Saturdays!” another client shouts at me.

And I listen and think: “Not Zinaida, not Anatoly.”