– Svetochka, my mother called. – Svetlana’s husband, Zakhar, paused. – She’s coming to dinner. With her granddaughter. Tomorrow.
– Yes? Well, okay. Why couldn’t they wait until the weekend? Tomorrow is Thursday, two more days and then Saturday, – Sveta was surprised.
– I don’t know, there’s probably some urgent matter.
– Okay, I can’t refuse. Let them come.
The woman spent the entire evening looking at new recipes to surprise her mother-in-law with something. The relationship between them was smooth, but sometimes Vasilisa Vladimirovna’s logic and actions outraged Svetlana to the depths of her soul.
The next day, Svetlana left work early and began preparing culinary masterpieces.
– Are we having a big feast? What’s the occasion? – Svetlana and Zakhar’s daughter, Nastya, sniffed, inhaling the smell of mushroom sauce boiling on the stove.
– Grandma will come.
– For what?
“To visit you, she missed you!” Svetlana embellished a little.
Nastya hardly communicated with Vasilisa Vladimirovna. They somehow did not become related. The mother-in-law preferred to spend time with her youngest granddaughter, Irochka.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna justified this behavior by the fact that when Nastya was little, the woman could not yet fully devote herself to her eldest granddaughter, and therefore did not devote time to her. Irochka was born at a “convenient” moment: when Vasilisa Vladimirovna transferred to a new job with a more flexible schedule. Therefore, the mother-in-law was always and everywhere with Ira: and she, like a little tail, dragged around her grandmother everywhere.
The situation was complicated by the fact that Vasilisa Vladimirovna’s son-in-law had died several years earlier, and her daughter had to work to support Ira. Grandmother understood this and was willing to help, and sometimes forced other family members to provide all possible assistance to the widow and daughter who had lost their breadwinner. Vasilisa Vladimirovna also insisted that Zakhar help his sister as much as possible, often reminding him of his duty to the family.
Svetlana did not object. She herself gave her husband’s niece some candy, gave Nastya’s things that could fit Irochka for growth. But unfortunately, more and more often the help was perceived not as a benefit, but as an obligation. Even Nastya could understand this, although her life experience was limited by her young age.
– Mom, aren’t you cooking spaghetti for the table? Don’t pull the wool over my eyes! Grandma never comes just like that. She’ll probably show up again to beg for something for Irochka. I won’t give up my phone. Don’t even ask. I’ll save up a little more, work part-time during the holidays, and by autumn I’ll sell it to buy myself a new model, – Nastya warned.
– That’s clear, daughter. No one will take your things.
– Well, if that’s the case, then fine. Let them come to dinner, – the daughter “took pity”.
– Do you allow me? Then put on your apron and help me set the table, – said Svetlana.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna and Irochka arrived exactly at seven. The mother-in-law was not short of punctuality. She brought to the table a jar of jam that she had canned a year ago. She put the dusty jar in the center of the table and handed the package to her daughter-in-law.
– Here, put the things you prepared for Ira in it.
“What things?” Sveta didn’t understand.
– What do you mean, what kind? I told Zakhar everything. We need shoes. New, unworn. Irishka’s foot has grown, it’s the same size as Nastya’s foot. Anastasia, come here! – Grandma called.
– For what?
– Give me your leg. We’ll measure it.
Nastya grimaced. She had no reason to please her grandmother. So she simply turned around and walked out of the kitchen.
– You’re a bad mother, Svetlana! You didn’t teach Nastya to be responsive. What’s the point of measuring her foot? Two seconds. Okay, her slippers are over there, we’ll check them now. Irisha, come on, try them on.
The woman forced her granddaughter to try on Nastya’s slippers. No matter how hard Svetlana tried to convince her that wearing and trying on someone else’s shoes was unhygienic, Vasilisa Vladimirovna seemed not to hear reasonable arguments. She had a fixed idea in her head: to get Irishka ready for the trip that she and her daughter had planned in advance.
“I don’t know why you think I’m a bad mother, but I try,” Svetlana was offended, but she moved the plate of spaghetti and sauce closer to the guests. Irishka was gobbling up the pasta so much that her ears were ringing.
– In that case, pick out a few sets of clothes and shoes for your niece, – the mother-in-law gave the order. – Zakhar said that you and your daughter went shopping recently…
Irina, meanwhile, finished her spaghetti and went to inspect the cupboards herself. The girl was not very well-mannered, one might even say spoiled.
– Babe, look at these! The girl pulled out Nastya’s new sandals with a small heel from the box.
– Well, yeah, they’re not bad. Try them on!
Svetlana even froze from such impudence.
– And I found a handbag to go with them! – the niece’s eyes sparkled. – My mom would never buy me things like that, she says it’s too early for me to wear heels. – eleven-year-old Irishka admitted.
She opened Nastya’s purse and reached inside.
– So, I don’t get it! What the hell is going on?! – Nastya ran out of her room and abruptly snatched her new handbag from her cousin’s hands.
– What’s wrong, Nastya? – Irina made a displeased face. – Mom and Dad will buy you at least ten more of these! But there’s no one to buy for me! I’m an orphan.
– An orphan is someone who lives in an orphanage, who has neither parents nor grandparents! And you are just an impudent brat! – Nastya looked angrily at Ira, and then turned her gaze to her mother. – After these “scaly” shoes, I will not wear them! Her nails are dirty, and her feet smell a mile away!
– Nastya… – Svetlana, although she was not on the side of the impudent relatives, did not teach her daughter to be insolent.
– You’ve gone completely wild, girl! No tact or manners! – the mother-in-law intervened in the argument.
– You know, granny, don’t lecture me. Take your favorite granddaughter and go to the store, buy some handbags there! By the way, this is my portion of spaghetti. – Nastya took the plate from under the guest’s nose, took her handbag and went into her room, slamming the door.
Svetlana didn’t even know what to say. The family’s behavior surprised her, to put it mildly.
– And you still ask why I don’t take her with me anywhere. That’s why I don’t take her: she’s grown up boorish. The girl will soon be getting married, and she’s stinted on such nonsense for the child! Anyway, to prevent this from happening again, I’ll tell Zakhar to transfer the money to his niece. We need to get her ready for fifth grade, she needs school things.
– Vasilisa Vladimirovna, I have a friend who recently told me that she is giving away things. Her daughter grew up over the summer, and what they bought last year was not enough for her…
– Do you want our Irochka to be laughed at in class? Called a fatherless woman?! – Vasilisa Vladimirovna grimaced. – Why would she need old stuff, especially from someone else’s child. Maybe she’s, as your Nastya said, “mangy”?
– The girl is healthy. The clothes are in excellent condition. Besides, you can wash and iron everything before trying them on.
– Well, I don’t know.
— Babe! I don’t want to wear someone else’s panties! I want everything new! I’ve already thrown blouses and skirts into the basket on the marketplace. I just need to pay, — Irina admitted with a businesslike air.
– Yes? Can I take a look? What kind of blouses and skirts are there?
– Well, yes. Here, – the girl held out her smartphone, and Svetlana gasped.
– A hundred thousand worth of clothes! But I earn less!
– Well, you don’t have to buy all of it. You can buy some of it…
– And the clothes, in my opinion, are not age-appropriate. Why do you need such a short skirt? They won’t let you into school in it!
– Oh, come on, why are you acting like your mom? I know better what I need.
– Yes? Then go and earn money, since you know better.
Svetlana gave the girl the phone and turned away. The atmosphere in the kitchen was not the most pleasant.
– Okay, Ira, take your shoes and let’s go. Today, there are probably magnetic storms, something has “blown away” your uncle’s family a little.
— And the bag?
“Nastya won’t give you the bag, Ira,” Svetlana said crisply.
– Bab…
– I’ll buy you the same one, okay. Let’s go, let’s not make our relatives nervous.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna and her granddaughter left. But the woman did not ignore the behavior of her eldest granddaughter. She told her son how rude Nastya had been to her.
– Can you imagine, son, your Nastasya kicked me out! The girl has completely gotten out of hand! You are too soft with her, you need to spank her once or twice and she will be as smooth as silk.
– Mom, thank you, of course, for the advice. But I am not a supporter of this kind of upbringing.
— She’ll show you later… oh, she’ll show you!
– Okay, I haven’t had dinner yet, I’m sorry…
– Wait, why am I calling… The main thing is that I didn’t tell Svetka! Ira and I are going to a sanatorium by the sea, we need to treat the child a little before school…
– Yes, I understand that you need clothes. For vacation, for school… Sveta has already reported to me. But I’m afraid that we can’t sacrifice two salaries for Irina. Our daughter also wants to go to school in clothes that fit her.
– I already understood, I have another request. Ask through your people to give us a free ticket.
– Mom, they don’t give anything for free to anyone these days. Even Sveta and I will have to buy it at our own expense.
– Why is that?
— Because I was offered such a godforsaken place for free that neither planes nor trains go there. And it’s not free, but at a discount. So with all the expenses it turns out to be more expensive than spending two weeks in Anapa on your own.
– Well, you ask… Maybe they’ll give it to you?
– No, Mom. The employees’ nieces and mothers are not paid anything. There is not even funding for a daughter’s ticket. Only for the employee and, in extreme cases, his wife. And as I already said: there is a small discount. Only the especially lucky ones get to vacation for free, the budget is not unlimited, – Zakhar snapped.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna thought for a moment and hung up. She passed the information on to her daughter, and they began to think about how to resolve the issue.
“If they are going to Anapa for two weeks, it means they have money,” said Svetlana’s sister-in-law.
– They always have money. It’s just that Svetka is a toad. And she’s raising her daughter to be the same.
— We need to put pressure on Zakhar. Let him share.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna went to visit her son again, this time alone.
– I won’t be long. On business.
– Well, come in… Svetlana, really, is not here, she and Nastya went to get a swimsuit.
– It’s good that you haven’t. Zakhar, have you bought your tickets yet?
– Yes.
– Change it.
– What?!
– Give them to us and give us half the money. The doctor prescribed Irochka to breathe sea air. Remember how often she was ill last year! The child is eleven years old, and she has only seen the sea in pictures! What should you share? It won’t hurt you, you go to resorts every year. And for Irochka it’s a real miracle!
– Okay, Mom. Question: if we give you money, are you ready to take Nastya with you? Except for Irochka.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna’s eyes widened.
– For what?
– Well, for example, because she is also your granddaughter! She is also a schoolgirl. If I give you the money, my wife and I will not have enough, and Nastya also needs to “breathe some sea air”. We have already promised her…
– No, Zakhar. I won’t take Nastya, don’t ask. She’s too brazen, ill-mannered. And Irochka will be upset: her sister is all fashionable, with pocket money, and Ira has to look her in the mouth? After all, her mother won’t give her money with her, and you won’t let your own flesh and blood go with empty pockets.
– You know what, Mom? I won’t help anymore. And don’t ask Sveta. Since only one child exists for you, then we will do the same. Ira is not an orphan. Her mother earns well, plus survivor’s benefits, and you probably give them your salary. If you add it all up, your income will be more than ours. So you owe us!
– What are you saying?!
— Of course! When was the last time you gave your eldest granddaughter presents? What did you bring for her birthday? A set of hair ties! And for New Year’s? You gave her sparklers. And we set the tables for everyone, bought Irka a smart watch! You and your sister a tenner worth of cosmetics! And you for us? Lottery tickets for the New Year’s drawing… Of course, I didn’t say anything, I kept quiet. But now everything has become clear.
Vasilisa Vladimirovna silently flared her nostrils. She realized that Zakhar really wouldn’t help anymore.
– Here’s some tea, here’s some gingerbread. I’m going for a walk with the dog, you can close the door from that side, – Zakhar said crisply and left his mother sitting in the kitchen in bewilderment and confusion.
She sat for a while, grieved that she had raised a bad son and left with nothing.
They didn’t go to the sea that year: Irishka asked for a new computer for school.
– I don’t care about your “pensioner” sanatorium, – she wrinkled her nose. – A gaming laptop is better. My old one is no longer enough.
– How much does it cost?
“Look, I threw some options into the basket on the marketplace…” the granddaughter held out her smartphone, and her grandmother felt sick to her stomach.
– Half a million?! Where am I going to get that kind of money?
– And you rack your brain, or get a loan. What does it matter to me? Think about it, others are somehow getting by, – said Ira and went to her room. That evening Vasilisa Vladimirovna understood something… But it was too late.
Zakhar, Svetlana and Nastya had a great vacation in Anapa. And none of them were tormented by the conscience that they preferred their own interests to the interests of their relatives. Especially when they found out that Vasilisa Vladimirovna “invested” the money put aside for a rainy day in buying a laptop for Ira.
