Get Out of My Flat! — Mum Said Calmly “Out,” her mother said with perfect calm. Arina smirked and leaned back in her chair — certain her mum was talking to her friend. “Out of my flat!” Natasha turned to her daughter. “Len, did you see the post?” her friend Lena burst into the kitchen, still in her coat. “Arisha’s had a baby! Seven pounds, twenty and a half inches.” Spitting image of his dad, that same button nose. I’ve already run round all the shops buying baby clothes. Why so glum? “Congratulations, Nat. I’m happy for you,” Lena stood to pour her friend some tea. “Sit down, at least take your coat off.” “Oh, I can’t stay long,” Natasha perched on the edge of the chair. “So much to do, just so much. Arinka’s a marvel, does everything herself, works her fingers to the bone.” Her husband is a real gem, they’ve even managed to get a mortgage on a flat and are finishing the renovations. So proud of my girl! I must have brought her up right! Lena silently put a cup in front of her friend. Right… If only Natasha knew… *** Exactly two years ago, Natasha’s daughter Arina had turned up at Lena’s door without calling—face puffy from crying and hands shaking. “Auntie Len, please, don’t tell my mum. I’m begging you! If she finds out, it’ll break her heart,” Arina sobbed, twisting a damp tissue in her hands. “Arina, calm down. Tell me properly—what’s happened?” Lena was seriously frightened. “I… at work…” Arina hiccupped. “A colleague’s money disappeared from her bag. Fifty thousand.” And CCTV caught me going in when no one else was there. I didn’t take it, Aunt Len! I swear! But they said: either I give them fifty grand by tomorrow lunchtime, or they go to the police. One of them claims they saw me hiding a wallet. It’s a set-up, Aunt Len! But who’ll believe me? “Fifty thousand?” Lena frowned. “Why didn’t you go to your dad?” “I did!” Arina dissolved into fresh sobs. “He said it’s my own fault, that he wouldn’t give me a penny since I’m so hopeless. He said: ‘Go to the police, let them teach you a lesson.’ He wouldn’t even let me in, just shouted at me through the door. I’ve got no one else, Aunt Len. I’ve saved up twenty thousand but I’m thirty short.” “And Natasha? Why not tell your mum? She is your mum.” “No! Mum would eat me alive. She always says I embarrass her — and now, this, a theft… She works at a school, everyone knows her. Please, lend me the thirty thousand, yeah? I swear, I’ll pay you back two or three grand a week. I’ve already found a new job! Please, Aunt Len!” Lena’s heart ached for the poor girl. Just twenty, whole life ahead, and already a stain like this. Her father had refused to help, her mother would—and truly could—bite her head off… “Who doesn’t make mistakes in life?” Lena thought. Arina kept weeping. “Alright,” she said. “I have the money. I was saving it for my teeth, but my teeth can wait.” Just promise this is the last time. And I won’t tell your mum if you’re that scared. “Thank you! Thank you, Aunt Len! You saved my life!” Arina threw her arms round Lena’s neck. That first week, Arina really did bring her two thousand. Bubbly, she said it was all sorted, the police wouldn’t be involved, her new job was going well. But then… she just stopped replying to messages. A month, two, three. Lena would see her at Natasha’s parties, but Arina acted like they barely knew each other — a cold “hello” and that was it. Lena didn’t push it. She thought: “Youth, she must be embarrassed, that’s why she’s avoiding me.” She decided thirty thousand wasn’t worth wrecking years of friendship with Natasha. She wrote off the debt and forgot it. *** “Are you even listening to me?” Natasha waved her hand in front of Lena’s face. “What are you thinking about?” “Oh, just… my own stuff,” Lena shook her head clear. “Listen,” Natasha lowered her voice. “I ran into Ksenia—you remember, our old neighbour? She came up to me at the shop yesterday. Seemed odd. Started asking about Arisha, how she’s doing, if she’s paid any debts off. Didn’t quite understand what she meant. I told her my Arinka is independent, earns her own way. Ksenia just smirked and left. You don’t know, did Arisha maybe ever borrow something from her?” Lena felt herself tense inside. “No idea, Nat. Maybe just small change.” “Well, I best be off. Need to stop by the chemist,” Natasha stood, kissed Lena on the cheek, and fluttered away. That evening, Lena couldn’t take it any longer. She found Ksenia’s number and called. “Ksyusha, hi. It’s Lena. Did you see Natasha today? What debts were you talking about?” A heavy sigh. “Oh, Lenka… I thought you’d know. You and Natasha—so close. Two years ago Arinka came running to me. In tears, red-eyed. Said she was accused of stealing at work. Either she paid thirty grand or it was off to jail. Begged me not to tell her mum, sobbed the whole time. Silly me, I gave her the money. She promised to pay me back in a month. Then disappeared… Lena clutched her phone. “Thirty thousand?” she repeated. “Exactly thirty?” “Yeah. She said that’s exactly what she needed. In the end, she paid back five hundred after six months and vanished. Then Vera from the next block told me Arina came to her with the same story. Vera gave her forty thousand. And Galina Petrovna, their old teacher, she also ‘rescued’ Arisha from prison. She gave her fifty. “Hold on…” Lena sat heavily on her sofa. “So she asked all of you for the same sum? Same story?” “Looks like it,” Ksenia’s voice was cold now. “She just squeezed ‘protection money’ from all of Natasha’s friends. Thirty, forty grand out of each. Story all made up, tugged on our heartstrings. We all love Natasha—so we kept our mouths shut, didn’t want to upset her. Meanwhile, Arinka must have splurged it. A month after all this, there she was on Instagram — holidaying in Turkey. “I gave her thirty, too,” Lena said quietly. “There it is,” sighed Ksenia. “That makes five or six of us. That’s not a ‘youthful mistake,’ Lena. That’s proper fraud. And Natasha’s none the wiser, so proud of her daughter. And her daughter’s a thief!” Lena put the phone down. Her ears rang. She wasn’t upset about the money — she’d already let it go. She was sickened by how cold and calculated the twenty-year-old had been, manipulating grown women’s trust so casually. *** Next day Lena went to Natasha’s. She wasn’t planning to cause a scene. She just wanted to look Arina in the eyes. Arina had just come back from the hospital, and was staying with her mum while her mortgage flat was being renovated. “Oh, Auntie Lena!” Arina’s smile was tight as she greeted her mum’s friend at the door. “Come on in. Tea?” Natasha fussed at the stove. “Hey, Lenny, grab a seat. Why didn’t you phone?” Lena sat down directly across from Arina. “Arina,” she began calmly. “I met Ksenia. And Vera. And Miss Petrova. Last night we had a long chat. We’ve formed, shall we say, a ‘victims’ club’.” Arina stilled, went pale, and darted a glance at her mum’s back. “What are you on about, Len?” Natasha turned. “Oh, Arina knows,” Lena kept her eyes on the young woman. “Remember that nasty little story two years ago? When you borrowed thirty from me? Thirty from Ksenia. Forty from Vera. Fifty from Miss Petrova. We all ‘rescued’ you from jail. Each of us thinking we were the only ones who knew your big secret.” Natasha’s hand quivered, spilling boiling water across the hob. “What fifty thousand?” Natasha slowly set down the kettle. “Arina? What’s she talking about? Did you borrow money from my friends? Even from Miss Petrova?!” “Mum… it’s not what you think…” Arina stammered. “I… I paid most of it back…” “You paid back nothing,” Lena said flatly. “You dropped off two grand for show, then disappeared. You conned over two hundred grand out of us using a made-up story. We all stayed quiet out of pity for your mum. Last night I realised, we should have pitied ourselves. “Arina, look at me right now. You scammed money from my friends?! You lied about a theft to rob people who visit this house?” “Mum, I needed the money for a deposit!” Arina shouted. “You never gave me a thing! Dad wouldn’t give me a penny. I had to start my life somehow! So what? It’s not like it was their last bit of money, I didn’t rob them blind!” Lena felt revolted. So that was it… “That’s enough. Natasha, I’m sorry to dump all this on you now, but I can’t keep your daughter’s secret anymore. I don’t want to encourage her behaviour. She’s been treating us all like idiots!” Natasha leaned on the table, her shoulders shaking. “Out,” she said, with perfect calm. Arina smirked and leaned back — certain her mum meant Lena. “Out of my flat!” Natasha turned to her daughter. “Pack up your things and go to your husband. I don’t want to see you here again!” Arina went white: “Mum, I’ve got a baby! I can’t take stress!” “Mother? You haven’t got one anymore. Mother belonged to the girl I thought was honest. But you? You’re a thief. Miss Petrova… She rings me every day, asking how things are, never said a word… How am I supposed to face her now? How?!” Arina grabbed her bag, threw a towel on the floor. “Choke on your bloody money!” she yelled. “You old witches! Go to hell, both of you!” She rushed to the next room, snatched up her baby’s basket, and stormed out. Natasha slumped in a chair and buried her face in her hands. Lena felt ashamed. “Sorry, Nat…” “No, Lenka… You don’t need to be sorry. I’m sorry I raised such a… thief. I honestly believed she’d made it on her own — and all this time… What a disgrace…” Lena squeezed her friend’s shoulder as Natasha broke down into sobs. *** Within a week, Arina’s husband — pale and drawn — visited all the “lenders”, apologised without meeting their eyes, and promised to repay everyone. And he did start making repayments — fifty thousand for Miss Petrova, paid by Natasha herself. Lena doesn’t blame herself for how it all turned out. Surely a trickster deserves to be found out — right?

Out of my flat! Mum said.

Out, Mum said with absolute calm.

Clara smirked and leaned back on her chair she was certain Mum was talking to her friend, not her.

Out of my flat! Natasha turned firmly to her daughter.

Ellie, did you see the post? Her friend practically whirled into the kitchen, not even taking off her coat. Emma had her baby! Seven pounds five, and nineteen inches long.

Spitting image of her dad, got that same button nose. Ive been to every shop, bought loads of little outfits. Whats wrong, you look down in the dumps?

Congratulations, Nat. Really happy for you, Ellie stood up to pour her friend a cup of tea. Sit down, for goodness sake, at least take your coat off.

Oh, I cant stop long, Natasha perched on the edge of the chair. Got so much to do, you know. Claras done so well, all on her own, with her own two hands.

Her husbands a diamond, theyve taken out a mortgage on a flat, nearly finished the renovations. Im so proud of my girl. Must have raised her right!

Ellie set the cup in front of her friend, quietly. Right, she thought… If Natasha only knew…

***

Exactly two years ago, Clara, Natashas daughter, turned up at Ellies unannounced, her eyes red and swollen from crying, hands trembling.

Auntie Ellie, please, you cant tell Mum, please! If she finds out, shell have a heart attack, Clara sobbed, twisting a damp tissue in her fingers.

Clara, calm down. Tell me slowly, whats happened? Ellie had genuinely started to worry.

I… at work… Clara hiccuped. Someones money went missing. Fifty thousand pounds.

And the cameras caught me going into the office when nobody else was about. I swear I didnt take it, Auntie Ellie! Honestly!

But they said either I give back the fifty thousand by tomorrow or theyll press charges.

Theyve even got a witness who claims they saw me tuck a wallet away.

Its a set up, Auntie Ellie! But whod believe me?

Fifty thousand? Ellie frowned. Why didnt you go to your dad?

I did! Clara broke into another round of sobbing. He said it was my own fault and he wouldnt give me a penny if I was so hopeless.

He said, Go to the police, let them teach you a lesson.

He wouldnt even let me in the house, just yelled through the door.

Auntie Ellie, Ive got no one else. I managed to save up twenty thousand, but Im thirty short.

And Natasha? She is your mother.

No! Mum would go ballistic. She already says Im an embarrassment, and if she found out about theft…

Shes a teacher, everyone knows her.

Please, could you lend me thirty thousand? I swear Ill pay back two to three thousand every week. Ive got a new job lined up!

Please, Auntie Ellie!

Ellies heart broke for the poor girl. Twenty years old, just starting out in life, and already such a mark against her.

Her own father had turned her away, and her mother truly would have torn her to shreds…

Who hasnt made mistakes in life? Ellie thought at the time.

Clara couldnt stop crying.

Alright, she said. Ive got the money. Was saving for my teeth, but they can wait.

Just promise me this is the last time. And I wont say a word to your mum, since youre that frightened.

Thank you! Thank you, Auntie Ellie! Youve saved my life! Clara hugged her tight.

The first week, Clara did bring two thousand. She came in cheerful, said it was all settled, the police werent involved, new job was going well.

And then… she just stopped replying to messages altogether. One month, two, three. Ellie still saw her at Natashas birthday parties, but Clara acted like she barely knew her cold hello and that was it.

Ellie didnt want to push her. She thought:

Well, shes young, probably ashamed, avoiding me.

She decided thirty thousand pounds wasnt worth destroying a friendship of decades with Natasha. She wrote off the debt and let it go.

***

Are you listening to me at all? Natasha waved her hand in front of Ellies face. Whats going on in that head of yours?

Oh, nothing, Ellie shook her head. Just my own thoughts.

Listen, Natasha lowered her voice. I saw Sophie, you remember, our old neighbour? She came up to me in the supermarket yesterday. Bit odd, really.

She was asking about Emmie, how shes doing, whether shes paid her debts. Havent a clue what she meant.

Told her Emmies independent, earning on her own. Sophie just gave me a funny look and walked off.

You dont know, did Emmie owe her anything, ever?

Ellie tensed, feeling something was wrong.

No idea, Nat. Maybe just something small.

Right, I need to pop to the chemist, Natasha got up, kissed Ellies cheek and fluttered off.

That evening, Ellie couldnt hold back. She found Sophies number and called her.

Soph, hi, its Ellie. Did you see Natasha today? What are these debts you were asking about?

There was a heavy sigh on the other end.

Oh, Ellie… I thought youd know. You see them more than anyone.

Two years back Emmie came to me. In bits, eyes all red. Told me shed been accused of theft at work.

Said it was prison unless she paid back thirty grand. Begged me not to tell her mum, in tears.

I, idiot, gave her the money. She promised to pay it back in a month. Then she vanished

Ellies hand tightened on the receiver.

Thirty thousand? she repeated. Exactly thirty?

Yep. Said thats what she needed. Paid me back five hundred after six months and then disappeared.

Turns out Vera from number thirty-seven got the same story Emmie asked her for forty.

And Mrs. Gray, the old teacher, saved her from jail too; she gave fifty.

Wait Ellie sank onto the sofa. Does that mean she asked everyone for the same sum? The same story?

Pretty much, Sophies voice grew hard. The girl took a tithe from every one of Natashas friends. Each got a sob story for thirty or forty thousand.

She made up the theft, tugged on our heartstrings. We all love Natasha, so we kept quiet, didnt want to upset her.

And Emmie, well, she mustve blown it all. Right after, her social media filled up with pictures from Spain.

I gave her thirty myself, Ellie said quietly.

So there you go, Sophie said dryly. Theres at least five or six of us. Thats a racket, Ellie.

Its not some youthful mistake, its plain old fraud. Natashas clueless. Walking about, proud as punch of her lovely daughter. And her daughters a thief!

Ellie set the phone down, her ears buzzing. She didnt miss the money shed mentally parted with it ages ago.

It sickened her, realising how cold and calculated a twenty-year-old could be, taking advantage of grown women who just wanted to help.

***

The next day Ellie headed to Natashas. She wasnt planning to cause a scene. She just wanted to see Clara with her own eyes.

Clara was home from hospital and, while her own flat was still in the midst of renovations, was staying with her mum.

Oh, Auntie Ellie! Clara offered a strained smile, seeing her through the door. Come in, cup of tea?

Natasha was bustling at the hob.

Oh, Ellie, sit down. Couldve rung ahead, you know!

Ellie sat across from Clara at the table.

Clara, she started quietly. I saw Sophie. And Vera. And Mrs. Gray. We chatted a long time last night. Made ourselves a sort of Victims Club, you could say.

Clara froze, paled, shot a furtive glance at her mums back.

Whats this about, Ellie? Natasha turned round.

Clara knows what I mean, Ellie watched Clara, eyes steady. Remember, Clara, that nasty business two years ago?

When you asked me for thirty grand? And Sophie for thirty? Vera for forty? Mrs. Gray for fifty?

We all saved you from prison. Each thought she was the only one who knew your awful secret.

The kettle in Natashas hand trembled, boiling water spluttered on the hob.

Whats this about fifty thousand pounds? Natasha set the kettle down, slow and measured. Clara? Did you borrow money from my friends? Mrs. Gray too?

Mum… it’s not how it seems… I… I gave it all back… nearly…

You didnt give anything back, Clara, Ellie said sharply. You brought me two grand as a front and then vanished.

You wrung nearly two hundred thousand pounds out of us all with your story. We stayed quiet out of pity for your mum.

Last night I realised: its not her I should pity its us.

Clara, look at me. Did you con my friends out of money?! You spun a yarn about theft just to fleece the people who visit this house?

Mum, I desperately needed money to move out! Clara shouted. You never gave me anything!

Dad wouldnt spare a penny, and I had to start my own life!

So what? Its not like I took their last pennies, theyve got plenty to spare!

Ellie felt ill. So thats how it was…

I see. Natasha, Im sorry to dump this on you now, but I cant keep hiding it.

I cant let her carry on like this. Shes taken us all for fools!

Natasha braced her hands on the table. Her shoulders were shaking.

Out, she said, perfectly calm.

Clara grinned, thinking her mum meant Ellie.

Out of my flat! Natasha swung round to her daughter. Get your things, go to your husband. And dont let me see you here again!

Claras face went ashen.

Mum, Ive got a baby! Im not supposed to get upset!

You dont have a mother, Clara. That girl I thought was honest had a mother. Youre a thief.

Mrs. Gray… My God, she rang every day asking how things were, never said a word… How am I supposed to look her in the eye now?

Clara grabbed her bag, threw a towel on the floor.

Choke on your bloody money! she screamed. Stupid old bats! Sod the pair of you!

Clara ran to the bedroom, grabbed the babys carrier and stormed out.

Natasha sank onto a chair, face in her hands. Ellie felt ashamed.

Im sorry, Nat

No, Ellie… you apologise for nothing. I should be apologising for raising a… a crook. I really did believe shed made her own way. And now… Lord, what a disgrace…

Ellie patted her on the shoulder and Natasha began to sob.

***

A week later, Claras husband pale and haggard made his rounds to all the lenders, apologising without meeting their eyes. He promised every penny would be repaid.

And he kept his word: fifty thousand to Mrs. Gray was covered by Natasha herself.

Ellie does not feel guilty for what happened. A liar surely has to face consequences. Thats justice, isnt it?

Looking back, I learned a hard truth sometimes, kindness is easily mistaken for weakness, and you pay dearly for ignoring the warning signs. I wont let myself be fooled so easily again.