Which phrase is grammatically correct: “how was yours” or “how was your”. When should you use each expression in conversation. How do these phrases differ in meaning and context.
The Difference Between “How Was Yours” and “How Was Your”
In everyday conversations, we often encounter phrases like “How was yours?” and “How was your…?” While they may seem similar, these expressions serve different grammatical functions and are used in distinct contexts. Understanding the proper usage of each can enhance your communication skills and help you avoid common linguistic pitfalls.
Breaking Down “How Was Yours”
“How was yours” is a complete phrase typically used as a follow-up question in conversations. The word “yours” functions as a possessive pronoun, replacing a previously mentioned noun. For instance:
- Person A: “I had a great vacation!”
- Person B: “That’s wonderful. How was yours?”
In this exchange, “yours” refers to Person B’s vacation, eliminating the need to repeat the word.
Understanding “How Was Your”
“How was your” is an incomplete phrase that requires a noun to follow it. The word “your” serves as a possessive adjective, modifying the subsequent noun. For example:
- “How was your day?”
- “How was your presentation?”
- “How was your trip to Paris?”
In each of these cases, “your” is followed by a specific noun, completing the question.
Common Usage Scenarios for “How Was Yours”
The phrase “How was yours” is versatile and can be applied in various situations. Here are some common scenarios where this expression is appropriate:
- Comparing experiences: When discussing similar events or items
- Avoiding repetition: To prevent redundancy in conversations
- Showing interest: Demonstrating engagement in the other person’s experience
- Reciprocating questions: Naturally continuing a conversation
For instance, if someone asks, “How was your weekend?” and you respond, you might then ask, “How was yours?” This creates a balanced exchange and shows mutual interest.
Exploring the Versatility of “How Was Your”
“How was your” is an incredibly flexible phrase that can be used to inquire about a wide range of subjects. Its versatility lies in the ability to add different nouns, allowing for specific and targeted questions. Consider these examples:
- “How was your meeting with the new client?”
- “How was your first day at the new job?”
- “How was your experience at the music festival?”
By tailoring the noun that follows “How was your,” you can express interest in particular aspects of someone’s life or experiences, fostering more engaging and meaningful conversations.
Grammar Rules Governing “How Was Yours” and “How Was Your”
Understanding the grammatical structures behind these phrases can help ensure their correct usage. Let’s delve into the rules that govern each expression:
Grammar of “How Was Yours”
“How was yours” follows this structure:
- “How” (interrogative adverb)
- “Was” (past tense of “to be”)
- “Yours” (possessive pronoun)
The possessive pronoun “yours” replaces a noun that has been previously mentioned or is understood from context.
Grammar of “How Was Your”
“How was your” follows this structure:
- “How” (interrogative adverb)
- “Was” (past tense of “to be”)
- “Your” (possessive adjective)
- [Noun] (required to complete the phrase)
The possessive adjective “your” must be followed by a noun to form a complete question.
Contextual Nuances: When to Choose “Yours” over “Your”
Selecting between “yours” and “your” often depends on the context of the conversation. Here are some guidelines to help you make the right choice:
Use “Yours” When:
- Referring to something already mentioned
- Avoiding repetition of a noun
- Making comparisons between similar items or experiences
Use “Your” When:
- Asking about a specific aspect of someone’s life or experience
- Introducing a new topic in the conversation
- Seeking information about something not previously mentioned
By considering these factors, you can choose the most appropriate phrase for your intended meaning and maintain smooth, natural-sounding dialogue.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Even native English speakers sometimes struggle with the correct usage of “yours” and “your.” Here are some common mistakes and tips to avoid them:
Mistake 1: Incomplete Questions
Incorrect: “How was your?”
Correct: “How was yours?” or “How was your day?”
Mistake 2: Redundancy
Incorrect: “How was your vacation? How was your vacation too?”
Correct: “How was your vacation? How was yours?”
Mistake 3: Mixing Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives
Incorrect: “How was yours day?”
Correct: “How was your day?”
To avoid these errors, always ensure that “your” is followed by a noun and that “yours” stands alone as a pronoun. Practice using these phrases in context to develop a natural feel for their correct usage.
Enhancing Conversations with “How Was Yours” and “How Was Your”
Mastering the use of “How was yours” and “How was your” can significantly improve your conversational skills. These phrases serve as excellent tools for:
- Showing empathy and interest in others’ experiences
- Maintaining a balanced dialogue
- Encouraging others to share more about their lives
- Demonstrating active listening skills
By using these expressions appropriately, you can create more engaging and meaningful interactions, whether in personal or professional settings.
Cultural Considerations in Using “How Was Yours” and “How Was Your”
While these phrases are commonly used in English-speaking countries, it’s important to consider cultural differences when using them in international contexts. In some cultures, direct questions about personal experiences may be considered too forward or intrusive. Consider these points:
- In more reserved cultures, it might be appropriate to use less direct language or wait for the other person to volunteer information.
- In business settings, focusing on work-related topics might be more suitable than personal inquiries.
- Be mindful of the relationship and context when deciding how personal to make your questions.
Adapting your language use to cultural norms can help you navigate diverse social situations more effectively.
Alternative Phrases and Variations
While “How was yours” and “How was your” are common and useful phrases, there are many alternative expressions that can add variety to your conversations. Consider these options:
Alternatives to “How Was Yours”
- “And you?”
- “What about you?”
- “How did yours go?”
- “How did you find it?”
Alternatives to “How Was Your”
- “How did your [noun] go?”
- “How did you find your [noun]?”
- “Tell me about your [noun].”
- “I’d love to hear about your [noun].”
Using a variety of phrases can make your conversations more dynamic and engaging, while still conveying the same level of interest in the other person’s experiences.
Understanding the nuances between “How was yours” and “How was your” is crucial for effective communication in English. By mastering these phrases and their appropriate contexts, you can enhance your conversational skills, avoid common grammatical errors, and engage more meaningfully with others. Remember to consider cultural factors and explore alternative expressions to add depth and variety to your interactions. With practice, you’ll find yourself navigating these linguistic subtleties with ease, contributing to more fluid and natural conversations in both personal and professional settings.
how was your or how was yours?
how was your or how was yours?Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy Generator
In order to post your question we need your email to notify you when the response will be available.
Sign up with Facebook Sign up with Google
or Register with email
Email address (required)
Password (required)
Already have an account? Login
Register to get your text revised right away for FREE ⚡
Register with Google Register with Email
Today more than 1001 people got their English checked.
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Terms of Service.
Login with Facebook Login with Google
or Login with email
Forgot password?
By continuing to use this website, you agree to our Terms of Service.
Your text is being reviewed by one of our Experts.
We will notify you when your revision is ready.
Or wait in this page
Leave this page open, and your corrected text will appear as soon as it’s ready!
You need to add a payment method to get our special promo ⚡
Enter your email below to get instant access to the first Chapter of our Ebook
Downloaded more than 1320 times today.
Summary
Email for receipt (required):
How would you like to pay?
Enter Coupon Code
We’re so happy that you liked your revision!
Your feedback helps us improve our service.
Want more FREE revisions? 🎁
Click here to GET FREE credits!
Like us on Facebook by clicking the like button below:
Share TextRanch on Facebook by clicking on the button below.
Share on Facebook
Congrats! You’ve just earned 3 credits!
Ok
Closing your account will prevent you from accessing your past revisions, and you will no longer be eligible for a FREE daily revision.
There is no cost to keep your TextRanch account, and we store all of your past revisions in a secure and private manner.
If we didn’t meet your expectations, we’d really like to know more. Please tell us why you are closing your account:
I don’t understand how it worksI don’t need it anymoreIt is too expensiveI am worried about privacyOther
Please tell us why you want to close your account:
1.
Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!
One of our experts will correct your English.
1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!
One of our experts will correct your English.
A complete search of the internet has found these results:
how was your is the most popular phrase on the web.
More popular!
how was your
53,200,000 results on the web
Some examples from the web:
- Anna-Kat, how was your day?
- Anyway, how was your day?
- So, how was your workout?
- So how was your lunch with Tim?
- So, how was your morning?
- So, how was your day, Junior?
- Mae, how was your presentation at Columbia?
- So how was your vital assignment?
- So, how was your family emergency?
- So.
.. how was your summer, Dexter? - Baby, how was your day?
- So Ashley, how was your day?
- So, Peter, how was your day?
- Lisa, how was your day?
- Fine thanks, how was your day?
- Debbie, how was your party?
- Good, how was your break?
- So Rallo, how was your day?
- Elin, how was your day?
- Troy, how was your evening?
.. how was your summer, Dexter?how was yours
491,000 results on the web
Some examples from the web:
- But more importantly, how was yours?
- I’d be like, “Good, honey, how was yours?”
- How was yours? – l haven’t decided yet.
- Speaking of dates, how was yours?
- How was yours, Veronica?
- Speaking of dates, how was yours with Liam?
- How was your visit with your…
- So, how was your morning?
- Exactly how was your husband injured?
- How was your meeting with the emperor?
- So how was your second date with Wesley?
- How was your stay in Italy?
- How was your flight? Smooth.
- How was your lunch with the boys?
- How was your South African soccer player? Fictional.
- How was your mother’s funeral?
- Nicola! – How was your massage?
- How was your Husband’s smell?
- How was your evening with Patrice?
- Anyway, how was your weekend?
Thanks to TextRanch, I was able to score above 950 on TOEIC, and I got a good grade on ACTFL OPIC as well.
+ Read the full interview
— Alan, Student
I love TextRanch because of the reliable feedback. The editors’ comments are helpful and the customer service is amazing.
+ Read the full interview
— Zubair Alam Chowdhury, Technical Support Specialist
TextRanch has helped me to improve my written skills as well as to communicate more naturally, like a local English speaker.
+ Read the full interview
— Michel Vivas, Senior Technology Officer
TextRanch is amazingly responsive and really cares about the client.
It’s the best online service that I have ever used!
+ Read the full interview
— Reza Bahrami, Photographer/Filmmaker
I started to use TextRanch when I began to learn English. It has been an awesome way to improve my English skills.
+ Read the full interview
— Chiara Baesso, Copywriter
I love that TextRanch editors are real people who revise the text and provide feedback – it makes it so personal.
+ Read the full interview
— Marelise, Social Media Manager
I sometimes wonder if my English expressions make sense clearly and TextRanch helps me a lot in such cases.
+ Read the full interview
— Snappy, Translator
TextRanch has been really helpful in improving the flow and repairing the structure of my sentences.
+ Read the full interview
— Rin, Translator
2,100+ Trustpilot Reviews
Excellent 4.
8
TextRanch, LLC.
“OMG! This is really good than any other text correction tools I’ve used so far. Highly recommend this.”
– VehanJuly 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Very fast and accurate. thank you.”
– mojtabaJuly 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“I love this app because it’s help to writing skills all of students ♥️”
– TarisiniJuly 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“This was exactly the mistake I was looking for, the wording dind´t sound right at first. Better than grammarly!”
– EnteJuly 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“The immediate help that I received was reassuring and very satisfactory.
Thanks.”– priiiyanshuuJuly 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“this helps A LOT for my studies.”
– kathnunez02June 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Woow!! I would never have expected such precision! Thank you soooo much!!”
– BertaJune 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Real Time Editor and not AI. Many Thanks.”
– PriyaJune 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“The very first thing excites me about Textranch is how much your editors care.”
– sepideh– Featured comment.
TextRanch, LLC.
“The fact that texts are checked by human editors rather than by AI, etc.
I appreciate this!”– Анна– Featured comment.
TextRanch, LLC.
“Feel welcome, immediate response, high quality feedback”
– martin.royJune 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“This is the best app that I have ever seen”
– BurulaiMay 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Quick response and got what I intend to say. Grammar correction is excellent because the meaning is retained.”
– LilybethApril 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Excellent, I truly loved this textRanch for quick revision. This textRanch for quick revision is a 10/10 for me.”
– elenitaApril 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“It helps a lot when doing school work better than grammerly”
– TristanApril 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“I don’t know, how did I live without TextRanch editors’ amazing help!”
– ZoyaApril 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Thank you TextRanch. It feels good to get a review from a direct human not AI generator.”
– I– Featured comment.
TextRanch, LLC.
“This app is even better than grammarly!”
– Christhian– Featured comment.
TextRanch, LLC.
“Thank you so much. I like most the human factor.”
– staniotov2496– Featured comment.
TextRanch, LLC.
“I believe its going to smooth business communications”
– KayFebruary 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“I am really satisfied with the answer and turnaround time. As a non-native speaker, I always have second thoughts about my expressions. Editors on TextRanch are super helpful!”
– MarijaFebruary 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“Human who is reviewing my question not automated machine.”
– MohammadJanuary 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“I love being able to see the tracking of the changes! and the comments from the editors”
– LydiaJanuary 2023
TextRanch, LLC.
“My editor understood my intention and gave me a good advice !! Thank you !!”
– mia0906January 2023
Thanks.”
I appreciate this!”
Give me more example about:Your email:
estimated time: 30 minutes,
directly in your inbox
Want to improve your English business writing?
More than 150,000 people like you receive our weekly newsletter to master their English skills!
Why choose TextRanch?
Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.
Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.
Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.
Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Yours vs. Your’s: What’s the Difference?
How do you form the second person possessive? For instance, if someone drops a belonging in a crowded area, you might pick it up and ask him or her,
- Is this yours?
- Is this your’s?
Now, you need to ask yourself, which of the above spellings is correct, yours or your’s? This isn’t much of an issue in speech because both would sound the same when spoken, but one spelling is correct and one is definitely wrong.
What is the Difference Between Yours and Your’s?
If you don’t know which of these spellings is correct, don’t worry. I’ll cover everything you need to know about yours vs. your’s in this post.
The short answer is that yours is always and unequivocally the correct choice.
You should never use your’s in your sentences.
I’ll explain in more detail below.
When to Use Yours
What does yours mean? Yours is a second person possessive pronoun and is used to refer to a thing or things belonging to or associated with the person or people that the speaker is addressing.
- You can stay here or come with us; the choice is yours.
- The future of television (according to Apple) can be yours starting Friday when a revamped Apple TV begins hitting stores. –USA Today
- Assuming that yours is a family where facts matter, The Fix is on the case. We checked in with three political historians to see what brainy insights they could share. –The Washington Post
When you are indicating possession, yours is the correct choice—not your’s. You do not need an apostrophe to indicate possession because yours itself is a possessive pronoun.
In this sense, yours is similar to other possessive pronouns like its, whose, and ours.
None of these words requires an apostrophe since they are already possessive.
When to Use Your’s
Your’s is an incorrect formation of the second person possessive pronoun. There is no reason to use it in your sentences.
Why is There Confusion: Yours vs. Your’s?
As I have mentioned in other posts, the concept of a possessive pronoun can be confusing for an English learner.
To make most words possessive in English, you add an apostrophe.
- The boy’s pencil.
- The girl’s dress.
Wouldn’t it, therefore, make sense to add an ‘s to your to make is possessive? Not exactly.
Pronouns have their own possessive forms, as I mentioned above: its, ours, whose, etc. These help the reader understand you more clearly because if you added an ‘s to its, it is not clear whether you mean its as a possessive or it’s as a contraction.
The separate forms solve this problem.
Trick to Remember the Difference
Here’s an easy trick to remember your’s vs.
yours.
The first and easiest trick to keep track of these words is to completely eliminate your’s from your vocabulary. There is no use for this spelling, and it serves no purpose—other than to confuse people.
If, for whatever reason, you do find yourself torn between your’s and yours, just spell out your’s as if it were a contraction.
- Is this suitcase yours?
- Is this suitcase your’s?
- Is this suitcase your is?
As you can clearly see, your’s makes no sense in this sentence. Yours is the correct choice and is always the correct choice.
Summary
Is it your’s or yours? The answer to this question is black and white.
Yours is correct.
Your’s is an incorrect formation and, therefore, can be eliminated from your vocabulary.
Contents
How was it for you? on Apple Podcasts
26 episodes
“How were you?” is a relationship podcast where people from different walks of life talk about their experiences in certain situations.
Each of us has cases in which we do not know how to behave and how all this can turn out. In this podcast, we discuss, laugh at our mistakes, and most importantly, share our experience!
Issue Bonus #14
Issue bonus #14
You can ask a question, suggest a topic, tell your story in a condemned social network or in telegram @lsn.2me
Subscribe!
V K: https://vk.com/public209758856
Oleg: https://instagram.com/abramov__oleg
https://vk.com/oleg__abramovSing-Read Studio!
https://vk.com/studia1320
#14 How to live if you are HIV+? How was Oleg
#14 How to live if you are HIV+? As it was with Oleg
You can ask a question, suggest a topic, tell your story in a condemned social network or in telegram @lsn2me
Subscribe!
VK: https://vk.
com/public209758856Oleg: https://instagram.com/abramov__oleg
https://vk.com/oleg__abramov
Sing-Read Studio!
https://vk.com/studia1320
Issue Bonus #13
Bonus for issue #13
You can ask a question, suggest a topic, tell your story in a condemned social network or in telegram @lsn.2me
Episodes are released every 20th of the month, as well as bonuses for them every day 5 Subscribe!VK: https://vk.com/public209758856
Richard:
https://instagram.com/lars_russell
Studio Sing-Read!
https://vk.com/studia1320
#13 Mastery of a fire show or how to build a career as an actor. How did Richard
#13 Mastery of a fire show or how to build a career as an actor.
As it was with RichardYou can ask a question, suggest a topic, tell your story in a condemned social network or in telegram @lsn.2me
Episodes are released every 20th of the month, as well as bonuses to them every number 5 😉
Subscribe!VK: https://vk.com/public209758856
Richard:
https://instagram.com/lars_russellSing-Read Studio!
https://vk.com/studia1320
Issue Bonus #12
Bonus for issue #12
You can ask a question, suggest a topic, tell your story in a condemned social network or in telegram @lsn.2me
Episodes are released every 20th of the month, as well as bonuses to them every number 5 😉Subscribe!
VK: https://vk.com/public209758856
Alexander Gofman
Telegram: https://t.me/Archives_Gofman
VK: https://vk.
com/gofman_pubYouTube: https:/ /www.youtube.com/c/%D0%90%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD
YandexZen: https://zen.yandex.ru /id/62410c4932e7b82e6e284463
Sing-Read Studio!
https://vk.com/studia1320
#12 Scary stories or how to make your voice recognizable? How did Alexander
#12 Scary stories or how to make your voice recognizable? As it was with Alexander
You can ask a question, suggest a topic, tell your story in a condemned social network or in a telegram @lsn.2me Episodes are released every 20th of the month, as well as bonuses to them every number 5 😉
Finally, we overcame everything adversity and returned straight to your wonderful ears with new stories 🙂
Subscribe!VK: https://vk.com/public209758856
Alexander Gofman
Telegram: https://t.me/Archives_Gofman
VK: https://vk. com/gofman_pub
YouTube: https://www.youtube .com/c/%D0%90%D0%93%D0%BE%D1%84%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD
YandexZen: https://zen.yandex.ru/id/62410c4932e7b82e6e284463Studio Sing-Read!
https://vk.com/studia1320
com/public209758856
As it was with Richard
com/gofman_pub
com/gofman_pub Top Podcasts In Education
Read online “If it weren’t for you”, Diana Mashkova – Litres
© Mashkova D., 2021
© Design. LLC Eksmo Publishing House, 2021
* * *
Author’s preface
Eight years ago, Denis and I graduated from foster parents’ school and adopted little Dasha. My daughter was only one and a half months old. Meeting her changed everything in our lives. It was as if she opened a curtain on reality – in those areas, the existence of which we could only guess before. Thanks to Dasha, my husband and I got to know the world as it is, started helping children, leaving work in large companies, and finally became happy and conscious parents.
I am often asked – are the events in the book real? Yes. But not all of them happened to us: many gathered like a puzzle from the stories and experiences of other people with whom fate brought us together; from personal meetings, interviews, procedures, collected papers, completed forms, court hearings. But feelings, experiences, thoughts are all ours. It was we who doubted our parental strengths. We were afraid to adopt. We did not know the answers to many questions.
Who is this book about? About children without parents and adults who want to help them. Fortunately, there are a lot of such people – I was finally convinced of this by immersing myself in charity. This idea is also close to me: if a person has managed to cope with his own life, achieve well-being, the most correct thing is to start helping others. Of course, in reality one has to agree not only with oneself, but also with the outside world, in which there are many stereotypes. “Are you out of your mind?! – my husband and I heard from the closest people when we first shared our plans to adopt a child.
– You already have a daughter. Give birth again.” Attempts to explain that our desire to help a child is not connected with the need to produce a new person (of course, one does not exclude the other) did not lead to a result. And this is a clear illustration of an erroneous belief that is deeply rooted in our society: if a couple is not childless, there is no reason for them to adopt. A lot has changed in people’s minds in recent years. Books and films have appeared that explain that an orphanage is not a suitable place for the harmonious development of children. Every kid and even a teenager needs a family. But it is still quite difficult for people to accept the idea that adoption is a way to help a child first of all. And not to ourselves.
Although one, surprisingly, does not exclude the other! We did not expect any reward, we were preparing for many difficulties, but together with little Dasha, incredible love and great happiness came into our lives. Our daughter is the same Person who led us to charity by the hand and continues to inspire us in everything to this day.
Now we know for sure: the birth and adoption of a child are two equal ways to replenish the family. True, very often adoption is hindered by another common prejudice: “I will not love someone else.” To be honest, it made us pretty nervous, even scared. So far, in practice, another stereotype has not turned into an empty phrase: the baby with whom you spend days and nights very quickly becomes familiar.
A child without parents is always a disaster. And not only for a single little person, but for society as a whole. Behind every such fate is a tragedy: the loss of loved ones, the breakup of a family, extreme poverty, a serious illness, addiction. That in our many-sided and changeable world can happen to everyone. If there is no person who can support and save, the result will always be the same: loneliness and uselessness. We have become accustomed to the formula “it is impossible to help everyone”. Yes, it is – as long as it is about the efforts of one person. But if every adult who has ever thought about children without parents has the thought “I will help at least one” in their head, many problems can be successfully solved.
I hope that the reader will find some of the answers to the questions that inevitably arise in the minds of people who are not indifferent to the fate of orphans in this book.
Over the years of work in the field of supporting the family placement of orphans, we were the first to broadcast the importance of the family for adolescents, created a specialized school for adoptive parents, the Foster Families Club, published the books “Alien children”, “My name is Gosha”, “I am Saniya ”, “Our Children” – in practice we were convinced that it is necessary to help not only children who have already ended up in orphanages. The most needed help is support for families with children and early prevention of trouble. If young mothers and fathers receive society’s acceptance, not condemnation, knowledge, not reproaches, help, not punishment, they have more chances to cope with even the most difficult life situations.
Today, my husband and I, as founders of the non-profit organization Azbuka Family (www.
azbukasemi.ru), see our contribution in sharing knowledge with young parents. Help them come to awareness. And convey key meanings to society. Harmonious and caring relationships within the family are the key to a happy future in our world.
Acknowledgments
Sincere thanks to all those involved in the creation of this book. Many thanks to the foster parents for the experience that I used along with my own. Special thanks to the school of foster parents where we studied, its teachers Venera and Irina, as well as our many new friends who appeared thanks to a common goal. A special deep bow to Sergey and Svetlana, wonderful people close to us, who also met and adopted their baby eight years ago. Deep gratitude to the wise person, great professional Olga Aminova, founder and director of the literary agency and school “Floberium”, for many years of joy from working together, for sincerity, understanding, great work and inexhaustible faith in the best.
Thanks to everyone who helps parents – adopted and the most ordinary – on their difficult path, does not remain indifferent and tries to support.
Many thanks to my family, especially my mom and dad, for their love and acceptance. And the deepest gratitude goes to my husband Denis. Very soon our marriage will be 25 years old. There have been many things over the years: I would say, several lifetimes have passed. Fortunately, we have learned to support and understand each other, managed to go hand in hand towards common goals. This book is dedicated to the beloved man, faithful friend, reliable defender and first reader.
Who will make a mistake, who will guess,
Different happiness falls to us,
Often the simple seems absurd,
Black is white, white is black.Mikhail Tanich
Part 1
Chapter 1
She squealed, tearing her hair out in rage. Through the sobs broke hopelessly: “Lord!” – a drunken cry of despair, from which the blood ran cold in the veins. The scream was mixed with a thin childish cry and the rumble of a train – the train rushed past a roadside shack, from which it shook as if in convulsions.
The frantic woman, waving her arms, knocked over a full pan from the table, and the garbage slurry, with pieces and clots, poured onto the floor. A tiny translucent face suddenly emerged from the fetid mess. The hysterical woman pulled the girl out from under the table and placed it in front of her.
The child screamed in terror. The mother held her daughter tightly by the scruff of the neck and slapped her cheeks with hatred. Blood appeared on the bursting lip of the girl, scarlet abrasions appeared on her forehead. With an inhuman effort, the baby broke free and ran … “Lord, why did I give birth to you ?! – the words, blocking the roar of the composition, fell on the child like an avalanche. “You’d be better off dead.”
Lyuba stopped dead in her tracks and closed her eyes, trembling all over…
The titles melted away, the screen went blank. The ominous silence in the audience was broken only by the cheerful chirping of a sparrow, which was celebrating spring behind the wide open window.
The ashamed adults sat motionless.
– What can you say about the child? How will you behave if such a girl comes to your family?
The teacher asked a question. The disciples were silent: whatever you say, everything will sound false.
Masha shuddered when she noticed that her husband raised his hand. Her hand twitched involuntarily, but stayed where it was. She had no right to stop him, they are both adults.
Oleg’s strict military voice filled the audience.
– The girl is mentally ill, – the captain reported the situation, – she has abnormal games. Perverted. It’s a pity, of course, for the child, but only …
He piled diagnoses one on top of the other. The wife’s cheeks turned crimson, her lips trembled, but the speaker did not notice this. He enthusiastically continued the monologue.
Closing her eyes, Masha waited for her husband to guess to say the main thing: it was not Lyuba’s fault that she did not know another life. What should she play, if not in beatings mixed with painful bouts of tenderness, and not in violence, which is passed off as motherly love? This girl is smarter and more capable than many others, brought up in warmth and care.
Masha saw with her own eyes how diligently she swept the floor in her imaginary house, how she busily taught the doll according to a fictitious alphabet, carefully washed a dress that had become wet in a downpour in the river. She is a healthy smart baby! More sensible than many, to whom the closest adults, those who are obliged to protect and love, did not inflict mental and physical wounds. But she is different – born in a parallel world. Ordinary men and women are unable to change this twisted reality, nor to accept it.
The Inquisitor has pronounced his judgment. Now Masha no longer doubted that the fiery speech was intended for her. Oleg did everything to make her change her mind. Like any normal man, he defended his personal space, of which his wife was a part, from someone else’s misfortune. She and so much fell to their lot.
“The child is sick,” the captain summed up, “only doctors can help him.
The emboldened voices rustled, rustled. Oleg set the tone, and people picked him up.
Masha turned off her hearing – she learned to do this a long time ago thanks to her profession, and, out of a journalistic habit, she began to look for a movie on her phone. Rolan Bykov “I will never come back here”, 1990 year. The painting is over twenty years old. She made a lot of noise abroad, won dozens of festival awards, but she went unnoticed in her native country. Even Masha, who many years ago arrogantly decided to become a foster mother, did not hear anything about her.
Almost a quarter of a century has passed since the filming, and the situation with children has only gotten worse. Masha knew the statistics: over the past year, 118,000 children have been added to orphanages, and more than 800,000 orphans have been taken care of by the state. After the war, at 1945, this figure was much less. But there are still millions of homeless children who run away from dysfunctional families so as not to die at the hands of a drunkard – father or mother. No one is keeping score.
In Bykov’s film, six-year-old Nina Goncharova played herself. Not a shred of acting, just the truth. Masha felt dizzy … She read about Nina, and in her ears childish babble sounded like a tocsin, in which monstrous words slipped through. Their joyful xylophone ringing hurt my eardrums.
To drown out the unbearable voice inside, Masha allowed the external sounds to return. The speakers had already reached Lyuba’s mother: she “should have thought”, “she was obliged to take care.” Future adoptive parents imperceptibly forgot the uncomfortable question of what to do when such a girl Lyuba comes to their family. Found refuge in the favorite Russian question “who is to blame?”. But is a mother who is half dead herself able to keep a child alive? Isn’t there an immediate answer to the cry of female despair: “give birth – educate”? It is generally accepted that every woman is obliged to cope with the offspring herself. But many, penniless, who have lost hope, are not able to raise children alone – they have neither physical nor mental strength for this.
Unbidden thoughts made Masha shudder. She suddenly thought of her own, deeply hidden, resemblance to Luba’s screen mother. It does not matter that she experienced her period of despair many years ago: such destructive feelings have no statute of limitations. Unlike those who had never been crucified on a delivery table in their lives, she knew perfectly well that any woman has a chance to slide to the very bottom while her children are too small to survive on their own. It is no coincidence that nature is arranged in such a way that two are needed for the appearance of a new person. It makes no sense to deny male and female roles – procreation requires both sexes. This means that the problem of orphanhood is rooted much deeper than the irresponsibility of drinking and sick mothers, obvious to officials. The more the notorious institution of the family is shaken, the more often our children – every year there are more and more of them – remain orphans with living parents.
The auditorium is empty.
Oleg was the first to go out into the fresh air. Birds were chirping all around, the scents of newly born leaves mingled with the smells of the city: exhaust fumes, human sweat, and hot bread. Oleg took a deep breath, raising his face to the sky.
– Good!
– There is not enough air …
– Marus, don’t be capricious. He put his arm around his wife’s shoulders. We’ll be home in half an hour. Do you want us to pick up some meat, cook a barbecue?
Masha wriggled out of his embrace.
– Why did you say that the girl should be given up as a bad job?
– Women’s alcoholism is not treated. He wrinkled his brow, not wanting to go back to the hated audience. – And, as you know, an apple comes from an apple tree …
– Don’t be a hypocrite! I explained to you a million times: it is treated like any other. Provided that someone will support and love. And it is not inherited!
– Not convinced.
– Then what are we doing here?
– The question is not for me.
– But we decided everything a long time ago. Once you start, you can’t back down. Children shouldn’t…
– It started spinning. Oleg rolled his eyes in annoyance so that only whites sparkled eerily under the eyelids, and turned away.
– No, you listen! It’s not the child’s fault that his mother failed. He needs help, not a stigma.
– Who are you trying to convince now? he interrupted her impatiently.
– You.
– Yes? And I think myself.
Masha didn’t answer right away, for a few seconds of silence her fuse disappeared.
“I am also a living person,” she whispered, “and I have my doubts.
– So, first of all, deal with them. And then bring in the rest. The second month I spend on these crazy activities every day of my day. I’m tired. I want to forget everything.
Oleg took off and, having jumped into the car, sharply turned the ignition key. Masha barely had time to climb into the salon after him. The car growled like an angry beast and flew out onto the road, almost colliding with the frightenedly slowed down Zhiguli.
Husband and wife drove in silence. Oleg steered with concentration and pressed the pedals. Masha, turning away from him, looked out the window at Moscow immersed in the first greenery. Luba’s face was still in front of her eyes. Rolan Bykov decided that the girl would go to heaven – children cannot live like that. But Nina herself did not disappear anywhere. Having buried, one by one, her sister (her mother blamed her for this, the first death), her brother and mother, she ended up in an orphanage, where she grew up. How could. Not at all in order to become a happy person …
It was as if Masha could still see Luba’s translucent wrinkled forehead and her slanting eyes on the screen, while restaurant signs floated past the car window. Near each, cars with shiny sides froze in anticipation. The owners of Lexus, Mercedes and BMW filled the Saturday halls with cheerful hubbub and cigarette smoke. Successful people rested from great works. Masha envied their well-deserved idleness: unlike herself, these well-dressed men and women did not imagine every second that somewhere nearby, invisible and inaudible in the bustle of the city, little Lyuba was crying from parental beatings.
Hundreds of thousands of Love
Masha closed her eyes – children’s faces showed too clearly through the windshield. She could not calm her vile imagination: in every gloomy face she met the serious infantile look of her own daughter. Anyone could condemn bad mothers, everyone had the right to do so. But not her. She knew only too well how difficult it was to cope with life…
Months of schooling for foster parents were drawing to a close. Endless thoughts about adoption made it difficult to sleep at night, but Masha still hasn’t made a decision – she’s only convinced of her own cowardice. She will not cope with an adopted child in the same way that she failed to become a worthy mother to her daughter. The baby will change her life again. Put everything upside down, as Dasha did. In addition, another child, who did not come from her womb and not from the seed of her husband, may turn out to be a person with a character that neither she nor Oleg will be able to accept. And nothing can be done about it.
Temperament is not determined by upbringing, only by genes. And what if, besides, he hates new parents? If he begins to test their strength, provoking scandals and even beatings? Masha knew that all abused children do this. How long can she and Oleg endure this? Even their Dasha, a child who knew neither life in an orphanage nor beatings, sometimes gives out numbers that not many parents can stand. And he and Oleg sometimes break into a shameful cry. But what if in the place of the provocateur there is another person who is not related to them by blood?
Taking a baby from an orphanage and then, exhausted, returning it is much worse than not getting involved in this matter at all. No one will die if he and Oleg, like most normal people, stop letting thoughts about other people’s children come to them. There is, after all, the responsibility of the state. There are taxes that they pay regularly. With this money, they must support the orphans.
“He’ll die,” a painful thought flashed through his head, “however he’ll die.
”
Damn books! It was necessary to read less about the fact that most babies abandoned by their mothers quietly fade away before reaching the age of six months. Food, warmth and care in abundance have nothing to do with it – babies cannot cope with loneliness. The child makes a choice laid down by nature: if you cannot get the attention of an adult who will help you grow up, give up life, die. And he dies of longing – in the hospital, in the hospital, in the orphanage. No one remembers how many of them are gone.
To survive, the baby needs its own person. The one who comes to cry will take it in his arms, look into his eyes. Children’s home workers know that it is worth meeting the baby’s gaze, and he begins to hope. Wait. But nannies and nurses have their own children, they cannot take home even these strangers. That is why they try not to look at those who keep coming and coming – in an unceasing stream. The outcasts have two paths. The first is to lie like a log and look pointlessly at the ceiling.
Stop eating over time, refuse to sleep, become weak and do not resist infections. Even the most banal runny nose leads little suicide bombers to get rid of uselessness, cold and longing. Such children do not cry, they understand: no one will come to them.
Another road awaits one who was born with a great will to live. He fights with all his might. It does not give in to loneliness, tight swaddling, the meaningless flow of time. He lags behind his “home” peers in everything – he was never allowed to move, did not talk to him, did not give caresses. These fighters for life do not know how to walk by the age of two, by the age of five they still do not say how they earn terrifying diagnoses one after another. They resist death and soothe themselves in their beds, swaying from side to side like crazy little ones. But they believe. In life and in the person who will someday come to take them HOME.
– We have arrived. Are you going out?
Masha shuddered in surprise.
“Sorry,” Oleg put his hot hand on his wife’s sharp knee, “I didn’t mean to scare you.
