З життя
Подарунок на весілля зник у руках родички.
Братова забрала собі наш весільний подарунок.
Коли ми з чоловіком одружилися, отримали нову пральну машину. Це був найдорожчий подарунок. Мої брати організували збір коштів, аби порадувати нас цією покупкою.
Після весілля ми переїхали в орендовану квартиру. Мої брати жили неподалік, тому ми часто зустрічалися з їхніми дружинами, але наші стосунки були напруженими.
Оксана, дружина старшого брата, була дуже балакучою, але не шкідливою. Наталка ж була загадковою: відстороненою, мовчазною, замкненою. Рідко бували у них вдома, але їхні діти часто навідувалися до нас, особливо діти Наталки, 6-річний син і 4-річна донька.
Вони приходили без попередження, самі відчиняли двері і брали, що хотіли. У юності я була дуже сором’язливою – навіть боялася до них заговорити.
Після народження дочки ситуація погіршилася. Жили ми дуже скромно, мусили економити на всьому. Я купувала печиво, фрукти та м’ясо для доньки, а з чоловіком ми їли дешевші продукти.
Діти моїх братів не соромилися нишпорити в усіх шухлядах і шукати довкола. Звісно, я їх пригощала, але вони не могли насититися і хотіли забрати все. Мої батьки навчили мене в дитинстві нічого не брати у гостей без дозволу, але діти братів навряд чи знали хоч трохи дисципліни.
Коли зрозуміла, що розмова не вирішить проблему, почала зачиняти двері на ключ. Вони могли годинами стукати – тоді чоловікові урвався терпець, він нагримав на них, і візити припинилися.
Одного дня я готувала обід, і Наталка увійшла без стуку. Вона навіть не привіталася, лише спитала:
– Де пральна машина?
– У ванній, – відповіла я поспіхом.
– Моя зламалася, тому візьму твою. Мій чоловік замість купити нову для нас, придбав її для вас, тож я її конфіскую!
– Не тільки твій чоловік дав її мені. Усі брати до цього долучилися.
– Мене не хвилює, хто дав гроші. Ніхто не спитав мене, я не погоджувалася. Як мені тепер прати, руками? Забери своє прання звідти швидко.
Я почала все витягувати і плакала від стресу. Вона навіть не звернула на це уваги, запакувала пральну машину в багажник і пішла.
Через кілька днів я попросила повернути пральну машину, але у відповідь отримала категоричне «ні». Мені набридла братова. Я вирішила поговорити з чоловіком, і він відразу пішов до мого брата. Вони довго розмовляли, він повернувся і сказав:
– Наталка, очевидно, не змінилася. Ще до весілля вона доводила мене до злості. Але не хвилюйся про пральну машину, твій брат обіцяв нову.
Він стримав обіцянку, але приніс машинку “Франю”, а не сучасну. Вибачився за дружину, але не міг нічого вдіяти з її поведінкою.
Відтоді я не розмовляла з нею, хоча минуло багато років. Вона самотня і завжди незадоволена, не має навіть друзів через свій дурний характер. Вона намагалася налагодити зі мною відносини, запрошувала мене в гости, але я продовжую тримати образу і жаль.
З віком братова трохи змінилася, може, стала мудрішою, чи якось так. Вона зрозуміла, що без друзів і родичів важко вижити в цьому світі. Я не відвертаюся від неї, але й не дозволяю надто зблизитися.
Наші діти виросли, спілкуються між собою, але племінниця – точна копія Наталки в молодості. Загалом, генетика – це генетика, важко від неї втекти.
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