З життя
Несподіваний подарунок свекрусі на свята
**Новорічний сюрприз для свекрухи**
Новорічний вечір у свекрухи, Ганни Михайлівни, був завжди особливим. Сидячи біля святкового столу, я, Оксана, насолоджувалась її знаменитим олів’є та очікувала на бій курантів. І раптом мій чоловік, Ярослав, дістав із кишені конверт і з усмішкою подав його мамі: «Мамо, тут тобі квитки до Єгипту! Ти ж завжди мріяла про море. І ще автобус до Львова, щоб зручніше дістатися до аеропорту». Я ледь не впустила виделку від здивування. Єгипет? Львів? Це ж мій Ярик, який зазвичай обмежувався квітами чи коробкою цукерок, вирішив відправити матір на інший кінець світу? Я сиділа, безсило моргаючи, а в голові крутилося — коли він встиг все організувати? І чому я, його дружина, дізналася про це останньою?
Ми з Ярославом одружені вже п’ять років, і кожен Новий рік зустрічаємо у його батьків. Ганна Михайлівна — жінка енергійна, все життя працювала вчителькою, а тепер на пенсії займається садом та громадськими справами. Вона часто згадувала, як у молодості мріяла подорожувати, але так далі Карпат і не вибралася. «Ох, поїхати б до Єгипту, подивитися на піраміди!» — зітхала вона, показуючи нам старі листівки. Я завжди думала, що це лише мрії, як «полетіти на Місяць». Але Ярослав, виявляється, слухав уважно. А я, дурна, навіть не здогадувалася, що він готував такий сюрприз.
Того вечора стіл був заставлений стравами: салати, холодець, печена курка, пиріжки — Ганна Михайлівна не шкодувала сил. Ми сиділи всією родиною, піднімали келихи, жартували. Я допомагала свекрусі на кухні, готувала закуски, і все йшло за звичним сценарієм. Аж раптом Ярослав підвівся, ніби для тосту, але замість цього дістав той конверт. «Мамо, — сказав він, — ти все життя піклувалася про нас, тепер твоя черга». Ганна Михайлівна розкрила його, прочитала, і очі їй засяяли. «Ярику, це правда? Єгипет!? Я ж тільки мріяла!». Вона ледь не заплакала, обійняла сина, а я сиділа ніби приголомшена.
Чесно кажучи, я була в шоці. Не те щоб я була проти — свекруха заслуговує такої подорожі, вона чудова жінка. Але чому Ярослав мені нічого не сказав? Адже ми разом плануємо витрати, разом обираємо подарунки! Я подарувала їй хустку та крем для рук, а він — квитки до Єгипту! Ніби я приніс гілочку верби, а він — золотий ланцюжок. Я посміхалася, вітала її, але всередині клекотіло. Коли ми залишилися на кухні наодинці, я пошепки запитала: «Ярику, коли ти це встиг організувати? І чому мені ні слова?». Він тільки знизав плечима: «Оксанко, хотів зробити сюрприз. Знав би ти — почали б обговорювати бюджет». Обговорювати? Може, я б і підтримала, якби знала!
Ганна Михайлівна була на сьомому небі. Відразу ж почала планувати: «Треба купити капелюх, а то в Єгипті сонце пече! І нову валізу, моя вже стара». Я слухала, ківала, а сама думала: «Ну й конспіратор цей Ярик!». Навіть автобус до Львова підготував, щоб їй не довелося морочитися з пересадками. З одного боку, це гарно, але я відчувала, ніби мене обійшли. Адже я теж хотіла б взяти участь у такому подарунку — додати щось від себе, відчути, що це й моя радість. А замість цього лише аплодувала, немов глядач.
По дорозі додому я не витримала: «Ярику, ти молодець, але я ж твоя дружина! Могла б знати про такі плани. Це ж не просто коробка цукерок, а ціла подорож!». Він подивився на мене, ніби на дитину, і сказав: «Оксанко, не сердься. Хотів, щоб мама справді здивувалася. А ти б прослизнулася». Прослизнулася?! Та я ж умію тримати язик за зубами! Але сперечатися було марно — Ярослав уже сяяв від власної витівки, а я відчувала себе трохи обдуреною. Не через гроші, а через те, що він не поділився зі мною цією радістю.
Наступного дня я подзвонила подрузі, щоб виговоритися. Вона засміялася: «Твій Ярик — геній сюрпризів! Радій, що свекруха їде до Єгипту, а не на город!». Я теж засміялася, але образа не минула. Подруга порадила: «Скажи йому, щоб наступного разу робив сюрпризи і тобі». Може, й справді натякнути, що я теж не проти моря? Але потім подумала — нехай Ганна Михайлівна їде, вона заслужила. А я поговорю з Ярославом, щоб більше не влаштовував мені таких несподіванок.
Тепер свекруха дзвонить щодня, розповідає, як вибирає купальник і читає про піраміди. Я слухаю, усміхаюся, і серце трохи м’якшає. Вона така щаслива, що неможливо довго сердитися. Ярослав, помітивши, що я відлигаю, підморгнув: «Оксанко, наступного року поїдемо втрьох, обіцяю». Втрьох? Оце вже цікавіше. Може, цей сюрприз був не лише для неї, а й для мене — нагадуванням, що мій чоловік вміє вражати.А потім, коли ми повернулися додому, Ярослав раптом дістав ще один конверт і з хитромудрою усмішкою сказав: “А це вже для нас, кохана – подорож до Італії навесні”.
My Dearest One: A Tale of Family, Lost and Found Marina always believed she had grown up in a loving family—until she learned as an adult that she was adopted. Her foster parents, who had found her as an abandoned toddler in Sherwood Forest, never spoke of her past until her mother’s dying moments. With both parents gone, Marina discovers a hidden folder of letters and newspaper clippings about her origins, still unsure whether the truth should ever come to light. Years later at work, a woman named Hope brings news that a gravely ill retired schoolteacher from Yorkshire—who has been searching for her lost child all her life—believes Marina could be her missing daughter. A DNA test confirms it, leading Marina to the woman’s hospital bedside for a bittersweet reunion. Now torn between the mother who raised her and the one who lost her, Marina must decide whether to reveal a truth that could unsettle the family peace, or keep it hidden and honour the love she has always known. But as the past catches up, Marina realises that, for her, there has only ever been one real mother—a bond defined not by birth, but by love and devotion.
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The Nuisance Next Door “Keep your hands off my crystal glasses!” shouted the former friend. “Mind your own eyes! You think I don’t see who you’re ogling?” “So you’re jealous, are you?” Tamara Barrington was taken aback. “Just look who you’re after! I know what I’m getting you for Christmas—a lip-zipping machine!” “Why not keep it for yourself?” retorted Lynda, undeterred. “Or have you already worn yours out? You think I don’t notice?” Old Mrs. Tamara swung her legs off the creaky bed and walked over to her home icon shelf to read her morning prayer. Not that she was especially religious—she believed there was something out there running things, but who exactly remained a mystery. This all-powerful force went by many names: the universe, fate, and, of course, the Good Lord—a kindly old gent with a white beard and halo, sitting on his cloud and worrying about folks down on Earth. Besides, Mrs. Barrington was long past life’s halfway mark and edging near seventy. At that age, it was best not to quarrel with the Almighty: If He didn’t exist, believers lost nothing. If He did, non-believers lost everything. At the end of her morning devotions, Tamara added a few words of her own. Ritual, done. Soul at peace. She could start her new day. In Tamara Barrington’s life there were two main troubles. Not, as you might think, the usual English gripes of weather and taxes—those were old hat! Her nightmares were her neighbour, Lynda, and her own grandchildren. The grandchildren were predictable: today’s kids, not an ounce of effort in them. But they had parents to deal with them—let them take that on! Lynda, however, was a classic nerve-shredder of a neighbour! Only in the movies do the spats between national treasures like Dame Judi Dench and Maggie Smith seem sweet and charming. In real life, it’s nowhere near so cute—especially when the nitpicking is personal and persistent. To make matters more colourful, Mrs. Tamara had a chum with the nickname “Pete the Moped.” In full, it was Peter Ephraim Cosgrove—the surname a solid English sort! The origin of his nickname was obvious: In his youth, Pete Cosgrove—such a ring to it, eh?—loved zipping around on his scooter. Or as his mates called it, his “mopette.” In time, the battered moped gathered dust in the shed, but the nickname stuck like only village monikers can. In their younger days, they were family friends: Pete and his wife Nina with Tamara and her late husband. Now both of their spouses were resting peacefully in the village cemetery. So Tamara and Pete, whose friendship went back to school days, carried on together by habit—he was a true, loyal friend. Back in school, their trio—her, Pete, and Lynda—had pulled off friendship splendidly. Real, pure camaraderie—no teenage flirting involved. They always moved as a trio: Their strapping gentleman between two smartly dressed ladies, each on his arm. Like one of those double-handled English tea cups—built not to be dropped! As the years went by, the friendships changed. First came a chill from Lynda, then outright spite. It was as if Lynda had been swapped for someone else—a different script altogether! This switch came after her husband passed away; before that, things had been tolerable. It’s no surprise: time sharpens certain traits. The thrifty turn stingy. Chatty types grow unbearable. And envy—well, it will tear you to pieces. And there was plenty to envy! First, despite her years, Tamara stayed trim and neat, while Lynda had become rather dumpy—a common by-product of time. Tamara always cut a better figure. Second, their old friend Pete now lavished more attention on lively Tamara. They whispered and laughed over private jokes, their silvery heads nearly touching. With Lynda, conversation was limited to short, dry remarks. And Pete visited Tamara far more often, while Lynda had to beg for his company. Perhaps Lynda wasn’t as clever as infuriating Tamara, nor as quick with a joke—Pete had always loved a good laugh. Ah, there’s a fine old English word—”yakking”—which would fit what Lynda did these days: picking fights over every little thing. First, she complained Tamara’s loo was in the wrong spot and stank! “Your privy stinks up the whole place!” grumbled Lynda. “Rubbish! It’s been there for ages—you only just noticed?” Tamara riposted. “Oh yes! And your eye implants were on the NHS! Nothing good comes free, you know!” “Keep your nose out of my cataracts!” shot back Lynda. “Watch who you’re giving the side-eye!” And so it went, again and again. Pete even suggested filling in the old outside toilet and setting one up inside. Tamara’s children pooled money to sort out an indoor loo for their mum. Pete himself helped fill in the old pit—problem solved. Lynda, find something new to complain about! She did: Now she accused Tamara’s grandkids of stealing pears from her tree, whose branches hung well into Tamara’s plot. “They thought it was ours,” Tamara tried to explain, doubting the kids took any—she hadn’t seen any missing. “Besides, your chickens are always scratching round in my veg patch!” “A chicken is a simple creature! Either a broiler or a layer!” Lynda retorted. “And you ought to be raising your grandkids right, not giggling with old men all day!” On it went: the pears, the tree branches, the chickens, and always some new row to pick. In the end, Pete suggested cutting back the offending branches—after all, they were on Tamara’s side of the fence. Under his watchful eye, Lynda kept silent for once. Once that was sorted, Tamara took exception to Lynda’s new breed of chickens, which now truly did dig up her beds. She politely asked Lynda to keep them fenced in. Lynda only smirked: “Sweep away for all I care—see what you can do!” Tamara would never dream of catching a chicken and roasting it to prove a point—she was too soft-hearted for a risky experiment. Instead, clever Pete suggested an idea from the internet: quietly scatter eggs in the beds at night, and collect them next morning. It worked! Lynda, seeing Tamara returning with a full bowl of eggs, was flabbergasted—and her chickens never trespassed again. Couldn’t they just make peace now? Not likely! Now it was the smoke and smell from Tamara’s summer kitchen that bothered Lynda. “Yesterday I didn’t mind it, but today I do! And maybe I’m vegetarian! Haven’t you heard Parliament passed a law about barbecue smoke?” “Where do you even see a barbecue, Lynda?” Tamara tried reasoning. “You might want to wipe your glasses once in a while!” Always patient, Tamara finally lost her cool. Lynda had become utterly impossible—some words just suit her! “Maybe she ought to be sent off for experiments,” Tamara sighed to Pete over tea. “She’s eating me alive!” Weary and thin from the daily stress, Tamara thought she might waste away—but Pete encouraged her to hang in there. One bright morning, Tamara heard a familiar song: “Tammy, Tammy, come out from your cottage!” Outside, Pete stood proudly beside his newly repaired moped. “Why was I so glum before?” he proclaimed. “It’s because my moped was down! Now climb on, darling, let’s relive our youth!” Tamara hopped on. After all, Parliament had officially cancelled old age: everyone was now an active pensioner at sixty-five! She rode off into her new life—literally and figuratively. Before long, Tamara became Mrs. Cosgrove—Pete proposed, and the puzzle was complete. She left her worries (and her cantankerous neighbour) behind and moved in with her new husband. Lynda remained a solitary, grumpy woman—who, with no one left to argue with, turned all her bitterness inwards. But you can bet she found new things to envy. So hold tight, Tamara, and maybe don’t step outside too soon! Village life—it’s a real song, isn’t it? What did you expect? All that fuss over a loo, for nothing…
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