З життя
«Як чоловік дав ультиматум родині і все змінив»
У мого чоловіка Тараса — велика й галаслива родина. Три брати, дві сестри. Усі давно живуть окремо, зі своїми сім’ями та дітьми. Але до нас додому приїжджають — стабільно. Причому не просто на чай, а на справжні бенкети. Знайдеться ж привід: день народження, свято, ювілей. І щоразу — у нас. Бо, як кажуть родичі: «У вас же зручно, хата велика, подвір’я є». Ми справді купили просторий будинок за містом — довго працювали, збирали. І як тільки з’явилося місце з альтанкою, мангалом, зеленим двориком та місцем для авто — уся родина вирішила, що тепер це їхня «дача».
Спочатку мені це навіть подобалося. Я виросла сама, без братів та сестер. Було приємно відчувати себе частиною великої родини. Ми готували, смажили шашлик, сміялися. Але згодом… згодом це перетворилося на каторгу. Уявіть, скільки треба приготувати, коли приїжджає більше 15 осіб? І жоден навіть не спитав, чи потрібна допомога. Жінки з порогу сідали в затінку з келихом вина, чоловіки йшли розпалювати мангал. А я зранку — на кухні. Нарізала, смажила, мила, чистила. Розносила тарілки, збирала брудні. Лише Тарас зазирав, провинувато посміхаючись: «Тобі допомогти?» Я, стримуючи роздратування, хитала головою: «Впораюся…»
Але найболючіше було не це. А те, як я щоразу виходила до гостей: розкуйовджена, у фартусі, без макіяжу. А вони — у своїх найкращих нарядах. Наче не на заміський дім, а на вишуканий прийом. А мені теж хочеться іншого: надягнути сукню, закласти волосся, сісти з келихом вина. Але я не встигала. Я була обслугою.
Після таких вечорів Тарас сам мив гори посуду, відправляв мене спати. Я бачила — він стомився. Один вихідний на тиждень, і той проходить під крики дітей та гомін бесіди. А він мріяв просто полежати, замовити піцу, подивитися фільм. Але не хотів сварь з родиною. Я теж мовчала. Поки одного разу не подзвонив його брат.
— Будемо святкувати мій день народження у вас, як завжди.
Тарас, поклавши слухавку, повернувся до мене і сказав:
— Завтра ти прокидаєшся, надягаєш свою найкращу сукню, робиш зачіску, якщо хочеш — макіяж. Можемо навіть щось нове купити. Але — на кухню не заходиш. Жодною ногою. Усе.
— Але як же… — почала я.
— Усе. Нехай привозять із собою. Ти не кухарка і не покоївка. Ми теж маємо право на відпочинок.
Я мовчки кивнула. Було дивно, але приємно.
Наступного дня приїхало повне подвір’я гостей. Усмішки, коробки з тортами, м’ясо у пакетах. А на столі — пусто. Родина переглядалася: мовляв, де закуски, салати, де господиня? А Тарас спокійно вийшов і сказав:
— Тепер буде так. Хочете свята — беріть участь. Ми з дружиною втомилися. Вона не зобов’язана всіх обслуговувати. Або кожен приносить щось своє, або шукайте інше місце для гулянок.
Повисла тиша. Усі їли, але без колишнього веселощів. Розмова не йшла. Зате наступного разу одна з сестер — уперше за багато років! — запросила всіх до себе.
Виявляється, можуть. Коли є бажання.
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