Grandfather Petko and Grandmother Pena

Once upon a time, in a village, there lived an old man and an old woman—Grandpa Petko and Grandma Pena. They loved to eat well, sleep warmly in winter, and nap in the cool shade during summer. There was only one thing they didn’t like—working.

"Work is not for me," Grandpa Petko used to say.

One day, Grandma Pena cooked a pot of bean soup. The old couple sat down at the table, ate the entire pot, and were fully satisfied.

Then Grandma Pena said:

"I cooked the soup, so now you roll up your sleeves and wash the pot. I’ll need it in the morning—I have to milk the cow."

"I won’t do it," replied Grandpa Petko. "That’s women’s work. You wash it yourself!"

"I won’t wash it!"

"Well, let it stay dirty then."

Night fell. The old couple went to bed, and the pot remained unwashed.

"Listen," Grandpa Petko said to his wife, "get up early tomorrow and boil some milk for me. I’ll have some milk soup and then go to the field."

"And what am I supposed to milk the cow into? The pot’s still dirty. If you wash it, I’ll milk the cow."

"I won’t wash it," Grandpa Petko insisted. "Let’s make a bet instead. Whoever loses will wash the pot."

"Fine," said Grandma Pena. "How?"

"We’ll both stay silent. Whoever can’t hold back and speaks first will have to wash the pot."

The old couple fell silent and soon fell asleep. The night passed, and the sun rose. The villagers went to work. The shepherd gathered the herd and drove it to the pasture. Outside the old couple’s house, the cow was mooing—there was no one to milk her or take her to the pasture.

But the old couple just sat there, silent. Soon the neighbors grew concerned and started peeking over the fence. They couldn’t figure out what had happened at Grandpa Petko’s place—the cow was tied up, mooing, and no one was around.

The neighbors entered the house and asked:

"What’s going on, Grandma Pena? Why aren’t you milking the cow?"

Grandma Pena stayed silent.

"Grandpa Petko, say something! Why is Grandma Pena silent?"

But Grandpa Petko didn’t say a word either. He just shook his head like a horse.

"Well, this is something!" said one neighbor. "Looks like the old folks have gone mute. Someone run for the doctor, quick! Ignatka, son, go fetch the doctor."

Ignatka ran to get the doctor, who lived at the far end of the village. While the boy was gone, the neighbors started to scatter: one hurried to the field, another to the market, and a third had work waiting at home. Only two stayed with the "mute" old couple—an old woman and the priest.

The priest was also about to leave and said to the old woman:

"You, God’s servant, stay here until the doctor arrives. Keep an eye on the old folks. Who knows what might happen to them."

"I can’t, Father."

"Why not?"

"These days, no one works for free. Pay me, and I’ll stay."

"What? You think I should pay you? Me? Since when do priests pay money?"

The priest looked around—a torn coat hung on the wall. He went to take it, but Grandma Pena suddenly shrieked:

"What are you doing? You want to give my coat to this lazy woman? What will I wear then?"

Hearing his wife’s outburst, Grandpa Petko stood up and said:

"Well, Grandma, you spoke first—you lost the bet. Now go wash the pot."

Then the priest and the old woman realized why Grandpa Petko and Grandma Pena had gone silent. They shook their heads and went on their way.

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Grandfather Petko and Grandmother Pena

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