З життя
Коли ми з чоловіком зійшлися, моїй дитині не було ще й двох.
Коли я з чоловіком познайомилась і ми вирішили жити разом, моєму синові було трохи менше двох років. Я відтягувала наш з сином переїзд. Мене хвилювало те, що у чоловіка на той час була чудова собачка Ярик породи бультер’єр. У мене ніколи не було собак, і я думала, що собаки цієї породи живляться виключно своїми господарями. Чоловік мене заспокоював, мовляв, не завжди, іноді господарі встигають утекти. Отже, ми з сином переїхали.
І ось сидимо якось разом на кухні четверо: чоловік, я, син і Ярик. Святослав мій вертиться з печивом поряд, пес дивиться в інший бік, ніби не помічає хлопчика, та й тим паче те, що в нього в руці. Усі розслаблені та задоволені.
Раптом блискавичний ривок собаки, і Святослав здивовано дивиться на свою ручку. А вона – порожня. Цей песик уміло вихопив печиво і зжер його. Святослав, недовго думаючи, вкусує Ярика в вухо. Ми з чоловіком схопилися, у мене душа пішла в п’яти. Усе сталося за частки секунди. Але Ярик не торкнувся дитини, навпаки, з того часу вони стали найкращими друзями.
Ця дружба була взаємовигідною, причому більше привілеїв отримував пес. Святославу іноді дозволялося покататися на собачій спині, а потім Ярик падав на бік разом з маленьким вершником. Це означало, що заїзд закінчено.
Бігали за один одним у хованки: Святослав за Яриком – старанно, а Ярик за Святославом – тільки за смаколиком.
Спати пес ходив тільки до Святослава на його маленький диванчик. Взагалі-то у Ярика було власне крісло, але зранку я зазвичай заставала одну і ту ж картину: син спить, закинувши ногу на собаку.
А потім син і собака об’єдналися в банду. Як вони до цього дійшли і хто був ініціатором, досі невідомо. Можу припустити, що все почалося з цукрового піску, який Святославу й Ярику був заборонений, але дуже спокусливий.
Отже, одного чудового ранку я виявила, що в кімнаті, де спали мій син і донька чоловіка, весь килим щедро усипаний цукровим піском. Причому всі троє сплять, як янголи, включаючи пса. Зрозуміло, що 16-річній дівчині ці забави не потрібні, собака не дістане до навісної шафи, а Святославу не потрібен їсти з підлоги. Значить, син постарався для собаки і, судячи з червоних плям на щоках, себе теж не обділив. Була проведена виховна бесіда, син зобразив каяття. Увечері чоловік надійно зачинив двері на кухню, син не зміг би сам її відкрити.
Наступного ранку мене чекав черговий сюрприз. У кімнаті, крім розсипаного піску, стояли принесені з кухні каструля з борщем і сковорода з рагу. Їжу довелося викинути, що мене особливо “порадувало”, я якраз приготувала все це напередодні вечора, щоб звільнити наступний день від готування. Двері на кухню були відчинені, донька чоловіка сказала, що вночі не вставала. Хто ж відкрив двері?
Ми з чоловіком задумалися, як би зловити злочинців на місці злочину, і вирішили не спати. Двері в кухню закрили ще щільніше, обмотавши навколо ручки рушник, і стали чекати.
Пам’ятаю, що, глянувши черговий раз на настінний годинник, я відзначила час – третя ночі. І задрімала.
Нас розбудив галас, хтось старанно ламався кудись усім своїм тілом. Ми з чоловіком вскочили з кімнати і застали таку картину. Син стояв осторонь, а повз нього з розбігу мчав Ярик, і, вдаряючись плечем і боком, намагався відкрити кухонні двері. Очевидно, напередодні двері піддалися відразу, тому що не були так надійно закриті, отже, ми і не прокинулися. І час вони вибрали зручний – чотири години ранку, коли спиться найсолодше.
Так злочинці були викриті й піддані колективному осуду.
Вже давно немає Ярика. Але Святослав смішить нас до сліз, коли говорить:
– Ярик був мені як брат.
З іншого боку, це звучить дуже зворушливо. Напевно, це найкраща епітафія для собаки. І коли син у чомусь не правий і я нудно читаю йому нотації, втручається чоловік:
– Ну що ти хочеш від дитини, яку виховала собака?
How My Mother-in-Law Ended Up Homeless – The Story of Family Drama, Sibling Favouritism, and the Battle Over Who Deserves a Home
How My Mother-in-Law Ended Up Without a Home I am quite certain that it was never our duty to support...
“She’s Not Your Daughter—Are You Completely Blind? My Mother-in-Law’s Relentless Suspicion, Family Drama, and the Test That Changed Everything”
That’s not your daughter, are you completely blind? Id been seeing my future husband for less than a year when...
You’re Robbing My Son Blind—He Can’t Even Afford a Light Bulb! On Sunday morning, I was curled up on the sofa with a blanket while my husband drove over to his mother’s to “change some light bulbs.” But of course, the real reason for summoning her darling boy was something else entirely: “Son, have you forgotten it’s Igor’s birthday today?” My husband’s the generous type—his salary barely lasts a week. Thankfully, he still gives me cash for the bills and groceries, but the rest? He blows it all on new video games and whatever gadgets go with them. I don’t mind; better my man enjoys his hobbies than squanders his time (and money) in pubs or nightclubs. Besides, I once read that the first forty years of childhood are the hardest for any man. I’m not telling you this for sympathy, just so you understand why my husband always has empty pockets. I have no such problem—even manage to save. I often lend him money in emergencies, but when it’s for his mum, niece, or sister, I always say no. Naturally, I remembered Igor’s birthday. Last week, I bought his present myself. Before my husband set off, I handed it over and settled down to watch a film. I didn’t go—the mutual animosity between me and my in-laws made sure of that. They think I don’t love him, accuse me of being mean because I refuse to fund their expenses or mind my sister-in-law’s kids. Once, I watched them for an hour, but they picked them up half a day late, making me miss work—when I dared complain, his mum and sister called me shameless and rude. After that, any requests to babysit were met with a firm “no.” Didn’t bother me if my husband watched the kids—he enjoys their company. Not long after my husband left, he returned—with the whole family in tow, nieces and all. His mum barged in, coat still on, and declared: “We’ve decided that, for Igor’s birthday, he’ll get the tablet he wanted—two grand it cost. You owe me a thousand pounds for your share. Pay up.” I might have bought the lad a tablet—but nothing that expensive. Obviously, I refused to hand over any cash. That’s when my husband started guilt-tripping me for being stingy. I turned on the laptop and called Igor over. In five minutes, we picked and ordered a gadget he really wanted—job done. Thrilled, Igor dashed off to his mum, who’d been sulking in the hallway. My sister-in-law always had sticky fingers—nothing in our house was safe. My mother-in-law, meanwhile, ignored my thoughtful gesture and exploded with indignation: “No one asked for your help. You were meant to give money! You’re with my son, and he’s always skint, can’t even buy a lightbulb. Hand me a thousand pounds now—you know full well that money belongs to my boy!” She reached for my handbag on the nightstand. I glared at my husband and hissed, “You’ve got three minutes to get them out of here.” In less than three minutes, he’d grabbed his mother and chucked her and the lot of them out the door. So, yes, I’d rather my husband waste his wages on games than have his mother snatch every penny. At least he spends it on things that make him happy, not on those freeloaders. Sometimes, I genuinely think I’d have been better off marrying an orphan!
Youre robbing my son, he cant even afford a lightbulb. One Sunday morning, I was curled up under a blanket...
“I Don’t Want Any Other Daughter-in-Law—Do Whatever You Like!” said the Mother to Her Son Mark was finishing uni and thought it was the perfect time to marry his first love from sixth form, Maddie! Maddie wasn’t just pretty; she was smart and kind, writing her master’s dissertation at the time. The young couple planned to tie the knot as soon as she finished her degree. Mark decided to tell his mum about the wedding, but she wasn’t thrilled. His mother insisted he either marry Amanda from next door—or no one at all. Then she asked what mattered more: his career or love? Mark’s mum dreamed of her son becoming a true success story. Amanda was from a well-off family and had fancied Mark for ages, but he only had eyes for Maddie, whose family background wasn’t ideal. Maddie’s mum had a bad reputation… What would the neighbours say? “I don’t need any other daughter-in-law. Do as you wish!” his mum told him. Mark tried for ages to change his mum’s mind, but she wouldn’t budge. Finally, she said she’d disown him if he married Maddie. Mark lost his nerve. He kept seeing Maddie for six more months, but their relationship slowly fizzled out. Eventually, he married Amanda. She truly loved him, but there was no big wedding—Mark didn’t want Maddie to see any wedding photos. With Amanda’s wealthy background, he moved into her parents’ massive house, and they even helped his career. But true happiness never came. Mark didn’t want kids. When Amanda realised she couldn’t change his mind, she filed for divorce herself. By then, Mark was forty and Amanda thirty-eight. Amanda remarried, had a child and finally found real happiness. Mark always dreamed of marrying Maddie, tried to find her, but she seemed to have vanished. Then he learned Maddie was gone—after their break-up she’d married the first man she met, who turned out to be violent. He beat her to death. After that, Mark ended up living alone in his parents’ old flat, drinking himself to death, staring at Maddie’s photo and never forgiving his mother.
I wont accept anyone else as my daughter-in-law, do as you wish! declared his mother. Matthew was finishing university and...
An Unexpected Inheritance from an Ex-Husband or a Surprising Gift from the Mother-in-Law: How Elaine Ended Up Caring for Her Former Mother-in-Law and Uncovered a Legacy She Never Anticipated
Inheritance from the Ex-Husband or a Surprise from the Mother-in-Law As something of a parting gift from her alcoholic ex-husband,...
Raised by My Gran: Grateful for Her Care, but Her Love Came with Strings Attached
It was my grandmother who raised me. Of course, Im grateful to her, but in truth, her love had its...
“Two Weeks to Pack Up and Find Somewhere Else to Live: Daughters Offended After Mum Draws the Line”
“Two weeks to pack your things and find somewhere else to live.” The daughters were offended. Sarah lost her husband...
Twenty Years Later, I Recognise My Younger Self in the Boy On the Eve of His Wedding, Arthur Suspected Martha of Cheating—Even Though She Swore She Was Faithful, He Refused to Listen. Two Decades On, He Met Her Son—His Spitting Image… They Shared a Storybook Romance—Passionate, Extraordinary, and the Envy of All Around Them. Just as They Prepared for the Wedding That Never Happened, Martha Revealed She Was Pregnant. Instead of Joy, Arthur Accused Her of Infidelity, Insisting the Baby Couldn’t Be His. Devastated, Martha Gave Birth and Raised the Child Alone, Despite Pleas from Friends Who Saw Her Devotion. Arthur Offered Abortion, but She Refused—and Waited in Vain for His Apology. They Lived Separate Lives. Whenever Their Paths Crossed, Arthur Looked Away, Refusing to Recall the Past He’d Buried. Raising Her Son as a Single Mum Was a Struggle, but Martha Poured Her Heart into It, Working Multiple Jobs to Give Him a Good Life. Her Son, Chris, Became Her Pride and Protector, Earning a Degree, Serving in the Forces, and Finding Work. He Stopped Asking About His Father—He Understood Without Words. At Twenty, Chris Was the Image of Arthur—The Man Martha Had Loved So Deeply. One Day, Their Paths Crossed: Martha, Arthur, and Chris, All Together. Arthur Couldn’t Deny the Likeness and Was Stunned into Silence. Three Days Later, Arthur Came to Martha and Asked, “Can You Forgive Me?” “Long Ago…” Martha Whispered. And So, the Stories of ‘Daddy’ Came Alive—As Chris Met His Father for the First Time.
Twenty years later I see in this boy a spitting image of my younger self. The evening before the wedding,...