“A man suddenly noticed that the more lucky he was in life, the less lucky some other person was,” he remarked by chance and even unexpectedly. The man did not like it. But it turned out just like that or almost like that ... "
An ordinary researcher Klyucharyov once finds a wallet in the snow on his way home from work. The next day, the head of the department, an obvious ill-wisher, suggests Klyucharyov put the article in a major scientific journal. After these events, Klyucharyov tells his wife: "I started a streak of luck." The wife is shy and even scared of luck. In the evening, she tells Klyucharyov about her friend’s call: it turns out that the brilliant and witty Alimushkin, whom Klyucharyov hardly remembers, has trouble at work, and in general he dies ... The wife asks Klyucharyov to visit Alimushkin. Not understanding why he should visit a stranger, Klyucharyov refuses. He goes before bedtime for a walk, recalls his luck, looks at the stars and thinks that they, the stars, do not give a damn. They will not intervene and send someone good luck, but someone fail.
The next day, Klyucharyov goes to visit Kola Krymov. Guests await the arrival of a beautiful woman whom everyone calls the “new love of Kolya Krymov.” Her surname is Alimushkina. Klyucharyov talks to her about her husband. Alimushkina says that the husband repeats the same thing - I perish, perish. She stopped loving him and lives with her friend. “Or maybe at first you began to live with a friend and have fun, and only then did he begin to die?” - asks Klyucharyov. “Just the opposite,” the woman replies. And it is clear that she is telling the truth. From the party, Klyucharyov goes to Alimushkin. The conversation does not work. Klyucharyov leaves and tells his wife at home that he was with Alimushkin — “the little one was alive and well. A half-face blush. And sleeps like a groundhog. "
Klyucharyov finds out at work that his article in the journal has been accepted. The authorities invite him to head the department. Klyucharyov so far refuses. It is as if trying his fortune for strength. The news comes over the phone: Alimushkina left her wife, they exchanged an apartment. In addition, he was kicked out of work. The wife asks Klyucharyov to go to Alimushkin again.
Klyucharyov comes to a new address to Alimushkin and is amazed at his poor appearance and creepy little room. Alimushkin does not go anywhere, eats up the last money. It is evident that he is unwell. They play chess. Klyucharyov’s mood is lousy. It would be easier for him if Alimushkin played at least medium.
At work, Klyucharyov increase their salary. Alimushkina calls him and invites him to his cozy apartment. Klyucharyov arrives, but Alimushkina reprimands that both Kolya Krymov and the abandoned husband are not worthless people at all, and advises her not to fool around.
Klyucharyov finds Alimushkina during a stroke. A doctor is standing by the bed, asking to call his mother to the patient with a telegram. Alimushkin’s speech is taken away, he’s almost motionless. After leaving the doctor, he still wants to play chess. Klyucharyov moves the figures and looks at the floor, where cockroaches run.
Klyucharyov comes to his wife’s friend and orders her not to call or annoy her wife again. But invites her to call for the last time and say that Alimushkin is doing well and he is leaving, for example, to Madagascar, on a long business trip.
The next time Klyucharyov comes to Alimushkin, when he is already lying in bed after another strong blow. Next to her mother is a quiet old woman who does not understand how her son, strong and cheerful, lies and cannot say a word.
At home, the wife, after calling her friend, happily informs Klyucharyov that Alimushkin’s everything is in order and he is preparing for a business trip.
At work, Klyucharyov agrees to become the head of the department. Houses are preparing to celebrate this event. The wife and the mother-in-law who arrived arrived scurry around in the kitchen. Alimushkina calls, thanks Klyucharyov for advice and asks to be her friend, whom you can at least call. “Call,” Klyucharyov answers. Guests are coming together. Klyucharyov offers a toast: “For everyone to have good luck!”
At night, lying in bed, Klyucharyov tells his wife that tomorrow he will drop by Alimushkin. The wife replies that there is no need to go, the friend called and said that Alimushkin had flown to Madagascar. At ten in the morning. And his mother escorted him.
“Klyucharyov was silent. Then he suddenly wanted to smoke and went into the kitchen, and his wife was already asleep. "
