The Holy Lie by Alexandr Kuprin. Short summary

5 seconds

Semenyuta is falsely accused of theft and fired. He lies to his mother, telling her that everything is fine. A miracle happens, the hero’s life gets better.

1 minute

Ivan Ivanovich Semenyuta is a shy and unlucky man. While he was in school, he was insulted by his classmates and undeservedly punished by his teachers. Semeniuta received his diploma only thanks to his mother’s tears.

After leaving school, he could not find a job for a long time. Finally he got a job as a scribe and worked hard. Semenyuta was hired, but was fired, unjustly accused of theft.

He lost his job and began living in a basement with the same poor people. Four times a year he tidies himself up to visit his elderly mother. Ivan Ivanovich does not want to grieve the old woman and lies about his successes. He promises to rent an apartment and take his mother back soon.

A miracle happens — the guilty thief confesses, Semenyuta returns to work. He lives happily with his mother. She never admits that she suspected him of lying. Ivan Ivanovich also never admits that he knew about her conjectures.