Dovbaivka was afraid of three things.
tax office
Unexpected relatives.
And the Great King Takeaway.
***
No one knew for sure who he was.
But everyone knew that sooner or later he comes to everyone.
To someone for money.
To someone in time.
To someone for nerves.
And to some - immediately after everything.
***
- Does it exist? - asked the young dumbass.
- Depends on how old you are, - answered Count Deberts.
- And if seriously?
- Seriously, it already exists.
***
The old shepherds said that once upon a time, the Great King Takeaway was an ordinary man.
One day he wanted to take some more for himself.
Then some more.
Then more.
And he got so engrossed in the process that he forgot why he started.
Since then, he only does what he takes.
***
He had his servants.
They were called very simply:
"Urgently".
"Then".
"We'll still have time."
"For a moment."
And the most terrible -
"Come on after the weekend."
***
It was because of them that people lost years of life.
***
One night Great King Takeaway came to Dovbaivka.
Quietly.
Without protection.
Without a tuple.
No TV.
He just sat down on a bench near the shop.
And began to wait.
***
Cleanup Day was the first to see it.
- Who are you?
- I came to pick it up.
- What to take?
- We'll see.
***
Then came the Minister of Finance.
- Are you after money?
- No.
- Then why?
- We'll see.
***
Then came Count Deberts.
He looked at the stranger.
And immediately understood everything.
***
- Is it him?
- He.
- Exactly?
- counterintelligence confirmed.
***
In the morning, the whole village stood on the square.
And everyone thought about their own.
Someone was afraid of losing money.
Someone's reputation.
Someone's wife.
Someone is on the phone.
Someone password from mail.
***
And only old Shepherd laughed.
***
- Are you not afraid?
- No.
- Why?
- Because he doesn't take it away.
- How is it?
- He only shows what you lost a long time ago.
***
The square became quiet.
It was so quiet that you could hear a new silly regulation being born in the district administration.
***
The Great King Takeaway stood up.
He looked at the people.
He smiled.
And went away.
Without taking anything.
***
That day, the residents of Dovbaivka realized a terrible thing.
The biggest losses don't always happen when something is taken from you.
And then, when you yourself give it piece by piece.
Under the pretext:
"Tomorrow."
"Once."
"Then."
"There is still time."
***
In the evening, Count Deberts wrote in his notebook:
The most dangerous dumbass -
the one who thinks he has an infinite number of Mondays ahead of him.
And for the first time in many years, no one argued with him.