А.П. Чехов-Подаро(че)к

A gift
by A.P. Chekhov

(Unpublished story allegedly by A.P. Chekhov)

Read by Jakhangir Abdullaev

A young man, a groom, really wanted to make gift for his bride and, after some thought, decided to buy a pair of chevrette gloves.

He and his sister went to a supply store for ladies. There he bought a pair of chevrette gloves. And at the same time his sister bought ladies’ pantaloons for herself. However, an occasion came out. And it was in the fact that by delivering purchases to the addresses, the packages were mixed up: a package with pantaloons, and not with the gloves, was delivered to the young man’s bride, accompanied by a letter:

«My sweetheart! – the young man wrote – I am sending you my little gift – so to speak, a present – so that you may know: I do not forget your birthday. It was them that I was choosing, believing that you especially need them!

The saleswoman from whom I’d bought them showed the same ones that she herself has already been wearing for three weeks – and they didn’t even get dirty!
I wish I could put them on you personally! Of course, many people will be touching them before I see them on you. And so I asked the saleswoman to try them on herself — they looked elegant on her.. even gorgeous!

I don’t know your size, but over time I will be able to judge it better than anyone else. Once you carry them around, they will be easier to take off. However, when you take them off, do not forget to blow them out, as they may be damp from wearing. Wash them more often without taking them off, otherwise they may shrink.

I hope you will accept the gift with the same feeling with which I give it to you, my dear.
I beg you, no, I insist, my dear, to put them on on Friday to the dance. How much I long to see them on you!

The number of kisses that I have imprinted on them from the back is innumerable!
Oh, yes, I almost forgot: the saleswoman reminded me that the latest fashion is to wear them without buttoning, half-open, so that they dangle a little.

I kiss firmly what is in them.»