From the author: About why self-realization is so important for a woman and how to meet forty. About three girlfriends who once lost and then found themselves again. About how important it is to “indulge your desires.” There were three of them. Not so slender, but quite lively friends, quite graceful. The friendship began from their student days. The acquaintance was a little strange. One threw a tantrum because of the “four” rating. At that time, there was no way she could have gotten less than a “5”! Another modest, bespectacled, quiet woman with oriental roots joined later. The third, a little impudent and loud laugher, always surprised those around her and was not always a plus. The first, invariably red-haired, an ambitious excellent student , who did not enter medical school. The second is a modest oriental beauty who suddenly blossomed in the third year, who went “where everyone else is.” The third is a bright “fool” who writes poetry between the lines of lectures. They became real friends much later. They met less and less often , but they called each other periodically. Life has been scattered. And now the two have families and children, and the fool is still studying and looking for something. Or someone... In general, they are such fools either because they know exactly who they need, and getting into this is definitely not so easy, or because they are simply fools! And fools also know how to take risks... Although, fools it is very difficult for others to understand. All the “three graces”, such a set a la the Viagra group, came to where everyone once comes - both men and women. They came to the line about which in the old Soviet film the main character said “In forty years, life is just beginning!” Being at the line, it’s hard to believe it, and, even more so, if you haven’t made any attempts to change something. Both the “fool” and the “redhead” tried to make it on time, however, each in their own way. First, the “fool” went to study, then the “redhead”. Having reached the cherished point, they suddenly remembered their real desires and somewhat reduced their ambitions. “Redhead” dreamed of becoming a student of the best med. University, raised children, and when the eldest went to school, she finally went into medicine, or rather nursing. She loved it as a child. The oriental beauty became a bright, interesting woman and devoted herself to her husband and son, but, alas, she forgot about her hobbies. Once upon a time, she incomparably transferred drawings from reproductions of great artists onto paper, making them much brighter and more colorful than the original! But, the latter, more and more often called her friends with the intention of “going out into the world.” Apparently she stayed too long... They all grew up in an environment where the female share is life, children, pots. The “fool” resisted in her youth and, it seems, finally took her own path. The “redhead” always had the habit of sticking to her line, quietly from others. And the “oriental beauty” somehow got lost, devoting herself to the child. Each was looking for herself in her own way. They came from different families, raised by different fathers and mothers, and of course, bore the “costs” of parental relationships and education, but not one of them could give up on themselves. Already more aware of life, they went to where they had missed something important 10-15 years ago. They returned with themselves - those they lost along the way, those whom they knew, but forgot, those whom someone offended, and someone underestimated. Every day, approaching the cherished point from which life begins, they gained the best parts of themselves, returning unfulfilled desires to themselves. The fool again became a “fool” and now I had no doubt that not only fools, but also fools were lucky. She was absolutely sure that now no one would turn her down, because she had already succeeded in something! The “redhead” was no longer so red, but she persistently dyed her hair in the color given to her by nature and, as before, she ruled, now even husband and sons, and of course where she needed to go. And the “oriental beauty” was bored and invited her girlfriends “to the theaters,” apparently anticipating her return with appearances “in society.” Life caught up with them in their prime, so that they would remember who they are. They – those who they wanted to be! PS Those are long gone