– What did you say? – Galina Borisovna couldn’t believe her ears. – Fifth gear? You’re telling me, your husband’s mother, that now? Are you out of your mind?
She made a surprised and offended face and even for a moment stopped doing her favorite thing – sticking her long nose into all of her daughter-in-law’s affairs.
– Yes, that’s right! Take your handbag and go. And take your scarf back, you ugly thing! – Lisa threw the scarf she had given her in the direction of her mother-in-law, who was standing in the middle of the room.
– Oh really! But it’s a gift! From the bottom of my heart! So that’s how you treat my gifts, ungrateful one! – Galina Borisovna flared up even more.
– I don’t need your gifts. It would be nice to not see you here anymore! I repeat – get out of here!
Liza couldn’t stand it anymore today and finally kicked her mother-in-law out of her and her husband’s apartment. She was a non-confrontational and even docile woman, but her husband’s mother drove her to such a state that she simply didn’t recognize herself.
Today, on the eve of a wonderful holiday, Galina Borisovna showed up early in the morning, although Liza and the children were still asleep.
My son and daughter had their New Year holidays yesterday, and Lisa took two well-deserved days off to add them to the long New Year weekend that was coming soon. My husband Denis worked today. Early in the morning, getting ready for the office, he was very envious of all the members of his family.
– You are so lucky, Lizka! Now you will be sleeping, and I will have to drag myself through traffic jams to work. And then listen to the whining of the boss about how we have not fulfilled the plan again. It’s just awful! I can’t wait for the holidays, I want to relax too, – the husband looked with envy at Liza, who was lying in bed.
– Don’t be jealous. Go to work, and the kids and I will get everything ready for the New Year here, – the sleepy wife answered with a smile.
Denis left, and Lisa continued her morning sleep, since the children were still asleep. But twenty minutes later, a loud and insistent doorbell rang, which woke up not only Lisa, but also her daughter and son.
– Mom, who’s ringing the bell so loudly? They won’t let us sleep, – the sleepy children came out of the bedroom.
“I don’t know, we’ll find out now,” the mother answered, heading for the door and throwing a robe over her light pajamas along the way.
The mother-in-law stood on the threshold, cheerful and smiling from ear to ear.
“Did something happen, Galina Borisovna?” Lisa asked without greeting.
– No, it didn’t happen. But maybe you could say hello first and let me in? – the woman retorted, no longer smiling.
“Come in,” Lisa said resignedly, walking away from the door.
“Grandma, why did you come so early? We’re still asleep,” said the simple-minded seven-year-old Dasha, yawning. “Don’t you know that we’re on vacation now?”
– I know! That’s why I’m here now! All important things should be done in the morning, my girl, so that you can be free later, – Galina Borisovna said instructively.
– We’re already free all day. We don’t have to go to school, – ten-year-old grandson Artem argued with his grandmother. – Let’s go to bed, Dasha!
– Wait, my dears! Grandma didn’t just come for no reason. She brought you New Year’s gifts.
Galina Borisovna gave the sleepy children two small bags of candy and something else in shiny, rustling paper. Having taken the gifts, the children, spoiled by the numerous presents and sweets that had already been given to them the day before, went to their room. And Liza had no choice but to continue communicating with her husband’s mother. She headed to the kitchen to make coffee. There would be no more sleep.
“This is your upbringing, Liza. Children do not know how to express gratitude at all, they grow up callous and indifferent,” Galina Borisovna said discontentedly, following Liza into the kitchen.
“Didn’t they thank you?” Lisa asked, looking questioningly at her mother-in-law.
– They said, but how? They feel neither joy nor gratitude, that’s what’s bad! And by the way, I spent my pension to congratulate them on the New Year! – the mother-in-law proclaimed pompously.
“They are grateful to you, believe me. They just haven’t fully woken up yet,” the daughter-in-law answered reluctantly, so that Galina Borisovna would leave her alone with this question.
The fact that Lisa had raised her children incorrectly had been said more than once by her mother-in-law, and now she heard nothing new. She was a bad mother and a bad wife. This would also be discussed later, Lisa knew.
“I’ve prepared a gift for you too,” Galina Borisovna said, narrowing her eyes and satisfied.
At this point the woman returned to the hallway, where she had left the package with a surprise for Lisa. With a solemn look, the mother-in-law took out a huge knitted scarf with yellow and purple stripes.
– Here, I chose this especially for you. I think it will go very well with your yellow down jacket. Take it and don’t thank me, I mean it with all my heart.
“Thank you!” Lisa could barely squeeze out, her face now showing the full range of feelings that had visited her.
She took the gift from her mother-in-law’s hands and quickly put it aside.
Lisa couldn’t even imagine such bad taste in her worst nightmare. And how she herself might look in it, too. Yes, it was with great “love”, apparently, that her husband’s mother chose her gift for her. She tried very hard.
“Would you like some coffee?” Lisa asked her guest, because the latter was looking at her pouring herself the aromatic drink with obvious reproach.
– No, I won’t! I don’t drink coffee, I have high blood pressure. And you know that perfectly well. But it wouldn’t hurt to make a normal breakfast. Both for yourself and for the children, who need healthy food. Where’s the porridge, Liza, where’s the cottage cheese, enriched with calcium and protein? Where’s the omelet with vegetables, finally? Since you’re at home today and not at work, you could try. Why are my grandchildren deprived of all this? What, tell me, are you going to feed them now? Are you going to give that dry muesli to the children again. Or sausages, God knows what they’re made of? – Galina Borisovna was getting more and more into her usual role.
– I’ll figure out what to feed my children. They’re still sleeping anyway, and most likely won’t get up for the next couple of hours. And then they’ll eat whatever they want.
– There you go! And you don’t monitor their routine at all! After all, this is instilled in them from childhood – the habit of discipline, the correct daily routine. This is not just success in everything, it is, first of all, health! Oh, why am I telling you this. It’s all useless! Just as you grew up without control and supervision, so your children will grow up like grass in a field.
Liza was already boiling, but decided it was better to remain silent. She really hoped that her mother-in-law would leave soon. But today it seemed as if she had deliberately intended to irritate her daughter-in-law.
– Why, tell me, did you buy a real tree? After all, artificial trees were invented for this purpose a long time ago. They are safe, non-toxic and do not produce any waste at all, – Galina Borisovna began to hum, walking into the living room, where a beautiful fir tree, bought by Denis the day before, was already standing on a stand.
“The children like it alive. And so do we,” the daughter-in-law answered dryly.
– What can children understand? They are still stupid! And you must be responsible parents. Look at how long her needles are. One of them will stick into a child’s hand or, God forbid, into an eye. And then what? – Galina Borisovna continued to teach her daughter-in-law. – Well, you have to think before you buy something.
“Everything will be fine, don’t worry,” Lisa said through clenched teeth, barely holding back.
“And what are these little boxes lying here?” the mother-in-law continued her inspection.
– These are garlands. We’ll hang them on the tree and on the window. The kids will have fun, and the holiday will be felt right away.
– Chinese, I suppose? Do you know how many fires they cause now? They’re always on the news, haven’t you heard? – the husband’s mother asked indignantly. – You and Denis haven’t thought about this? Of course, I have to think about everything for you.
– We thought about it. I assure you, there won’t be a fire, because we won’t leave the garlands unattended. That’s it, are you calm now? – Lisa asked sarcastically, already starting to lose her temper.
Galina Borisovna, by all appearances, was not satisfied with the answer. She continued to inspect the apartment, looking for something else to find fault with.
– Tell me, have you changed your sleeping pillows? You know that Denis has allergies, – the mother-in-law asked, looking into their bedroom.
– No, we changed them last year. I bought everything new then – both pillows and a blanket.
– So what! We should have renewed it this year too! Do you want to wait for the attacks? What carelessness! – Galina Borisovna continued to mock her daughter-in-law.
Liza remained silent again, but most of all she wanted at that moment to send her husband’s mother far away.
– What are you going to cook for New Year’s? – she changed the subject. – Have you bought the groceries yet? Or are you waiting for the crowds to come to the stores? You’re so slow-witted!
“There’s enough time, I’ll get everything done. I haven’t thought about the table yet,” Lisa answered reluctantly.
– “I don’t know”, “I didn’t think about it”! That’s how it is with you. You’re somehow not serious, Liza! The holiday is in two days, and she didn’t think about it. By the way, maybe I’ll be celebrating the holiday with you. I’m sure!
“What?” Lisa was horrified to herself, but almost screamed out loud – this is the last thing she needed!
— Larisa and I were planning to celebrate together, but she is going to her sister’s, who suddenly invited her to visit, which hasn’t happened for many years. So I’m without company for now. Most likely, you will become that company. So think carefully now and tell me what you will cook. I can’t eat everything. Only dietary food. You know, I have gall…
“I’m nervous! I won’t be able to control myself and I’ll throw something at you!” Lisa thought, looking around the apartment and looking for something heavier.
– Well! Why are you silent? Answer what you will cook for the holiday table! Or better yet, let’s do it this way. Now we will make a list of what I can eat, and then you will choose from this what to serve at the table, – the mother-in-law continued instructively.
– Aha! So that’s how it is! So no one is going to take our wishes and the wishes of the children into account here? – Lisa realized that a wave of indignation had washed over her and she could no longer remain silent.
– Oh, I know your wishes and preferences! – the husband’s mother continued delightedly, not yet suspecting what awaited her next. – Now you will prepare those salads that everyone loves with an unimaginable amount of mayonnaise, fry chicken in fatty and harmful oil, and even with garlic. Right? What else do you prefer? Tartlets made from fatty dough on harmful margarine, into which you can stuff anything, as a result of which the poor stomach cannot digest it all. Spicy and fatty dishes, in which there is absolutely no benefit – that’s what you prefer! From such a table, everyone, including children, will be sick. It’s time to know about this, dear. And I don’t want my grandchildren and son to suffer from an upset stomach during the New Year holidays!
– And I don’t want anyone to interfere in my life with advice that I didn’t ask for! – Lisa screamed, enunciating each word. – This is my home and my family! And I will figure out what to cook for my loved ones for the holiday table myself! Or haven’t you heard the proverb – don’t meddle in someone else’s monastery with your own rules? So don’t meddle where you are not asked!
– What? – Galina Borisovna was taken aback, not expecting this from her daughter-in-law.
– Oh yeah! It’s not enough that you’re going to visit us, although we didn’t invite you! You’re ruining all our plans for my husband and me. And you’re also dictating what we should eat, offering us your diet crap! No way! – Lisa shouted with pleasure.
– This is my son’s house! And I can come here without an invitation! Whenever I want! – the mother-in-law said proudly, offended.
– Right! You’re dreaming! – Liza decided to kick her mother-in-law out of her apartment. – Now grab your bag and go! Fifth gear!
– What? How dare you? Have you forgotten who you’re talking to, you rude, boorish woman? – the mother-in-law was indignant. – I’ll call Denis now, let him calm you down! You’ve gotten out of hand!
– Forward, I said! Get out of here! And take your ugly scarf!
Liza grabbed Galina Borisovna’s absurd gift and threw it at the woman with great pleasure.
She didn’t lose her composure, grabbed the scarf flying at her and deftly stuffed it back into her bag.
– This is a gift! – Galina Borisovna shouted. – You are an ungrateful bitch!
– Give it to your Larisa or someone else. It will be just right for them. And I’m not going to be a scarecrow yet.
The mother-in-law began to get dressed, threatening the ungrateful and rude daughter-in-law that she would definitely complain to her son.
“He’ll make a New Year for you! You’ll remember it for a long time!” threatened Galina Borisovna, offended to the very heart by her daughter-in-law.
And this New Year really turned out to be such that Lisa’s whole family remembered it for a long time. They had never had such fun before.
In the evening, Denis came home from work and announced that for the holidays, the whole family was going to a ski resort, where his friend and colleague had already rented a house.
– We’ll be celebrating the New Year in nature with two families, won’t it be great? – he said happily. – It’s so blissful there!
– Great! What about your mom? She’s going to celebrate with us, isn’t she? – Lisa was surprised.
– It’s okay, Mom will find someone to celebrate the New Year with. You and she need to be separated, otherwise we can’t avoid a serious scandal. And I don’t want to argue, I want to celebrate and relax to the fullest! – Denis said. – I deserve it!
He already knew that Liza had had a fight with her mother-in-law that morning, Galina Borisovna described everything to her son in detail, seeking his support. Yes, Denis loved and respected his mother, but he loved his family more.
