Her own son turned against his mother
At the graduation all the girls wanted a photo with him. He chose Oksana She wasnt striking in looks, intellect, or learning, but her father was a local official. Oksanas dress at the ceremony was the most dazzling, and she later entered the institute. It was as if she had taken his hand at the prom and never let go for several years, eventually leading him to marriage.
—
LIFE AS IT IS. Son
As a child he was adored like a picture. Besides being handsome, the boy was also extremely compliant. Whoever lifted him felt a warm, familiar glow. Even strangers would offer him sweets. Maria feared that people might try to claim her child. When he started school, the girls would tease each other, all eager to befriend him and later date him. Mykola was both an excellent student and an athlete, though his family was poor. The local fashionistas ignored the fact that their idol wore only wornout jeans until they finally fell apart. Others might have laughed at him, but not the villagers. At the graduation every girl wanted a picture with him; he picked Oksana She lacked beauty, wit, and knowledge, yet her father was a local boss and her gown was the most splendid of the night. She also entered the institute. It seemed she had taken his hand at the prom and never released it, guiding him toward marriage for years to come.
Before the wedding Maria sold a pig, gave the money to her son, and that was it. Mykola took the few thousand and left
* * *
Maria arrived in the village cradling a small boy. Whether the tale is invented or true, no one knows. Supposedly the childs father bought them a house so she would have no claim against him, being already married. No one in the village ever saw her relatives. Maria lived modestly, worked in the local shop, kept a tiny garden. Suitors would appear in droves, but she turned them all away, saying, I already have a husband! It was laughable. Friends would tease her, saying life was hard for a single woman, and she would get angry.
When she took Mykola to first grade, she first saw Victor, the physicaleducation teacher who had just returned from university to work at the school. Their eyes met by chance, then kept finding each other. They soon started meeting: Victor taught Mykola to ride a bike and fix a wheel, they walked together in the winter woods, and in spring they planted a garden side by side. Maria seemed afraid to tell her son the truth; whenever she hugged Victor or rested her hand on his arm, he would stiffen and fall silent.
You see, my child, hes a good man. Hell be your father, she whispered, guiding her beloved.
I dont want you to love him! I want you to love only me! the boy protested.
One morning Mykola awoke to find his mother in bed with Victor.
Now its settled, my boy! his stepfather embraced him, truly feeling for him.
No! I dont want you living with us! Mykola screamed, refusing breakfast and running away. Later that evening his mother found him and brought him home.
Is he in the house? she asked through tears, pointing at the door.
Yes, hes inside
Let him go then. I wont go in there!
My son, he hasnt hurt you a word. Well live as a family, like everyone else, she coaxed.
I dont want to be like everyone! I want only you! Hes not my father!
Hell become your father, youll see
Victor emerged with a suitcase, just as he had arrived. He hugged Maria, held her close, and kissed her forehead.
You think Im your enemy, Mykola? Im not, he said shyly. Will you think otherwise?
No! the boy shook his head and turned away.
If you accept him, Ill leave! Maria declared as the door shut behind Victor.
Maria chose her son. Victor left the village, probably far away, since nobody ever saw him again. At New Years Maria gave birth to another son, Yurko. She worried that the elder might reject the newcomer, yet Mykola, ever curious about everything, never asked his mother why she had another child or for what reason. He loved him, looked after him. Maria seemed constantly to atone for a perceived guilt toward her first son, fearing to say the wrong thing.
My Mykola is such a grownup, she bragged to friends, my golden child, I ask him for advice more than he asks me.
Her friends laughed, knowing that it was precisely that advice that left Maria alone
When Mykola started dating Oksana at school, Maria rejoiced. Oksanas family was wealthy; if they married, they would help the son stand on his own feet. Maria kept hope alive.
As always, she waited for her student son on Saturday evenings. She baked pies, made aspic. The train had long since whistled past, but Mykola was still missing.
My mom! Yurko ran home from the stadium, Our Mykola went to Oksanas house!
They didnt have dinner. They waited, and he didnt returnneither in the morning. He sprinted back toward the train station, didnt even kiss his mother as usual.
Mom! Were getting married! he announced.
She wanted to scold him for not coming home, to say what had been on her mind all night, but she couldnt find the words because her son said,
Youll help me a bit, even sell a pig!
Of course, my son! Whens the wedding?
I dont know yet. Were students in Kyiv; we dont want a village wedding.
By the next weekend Maria sold the pig, and Mykola finally came back for the money. He took it silently, without counting, then hurried to Oksana.
In the village everyone knows everyone. Rumors swirled that Oksanas family was already preparing for a village wedding. Mykola didnt return home. The whole situation felt unnaturalno proper courtship, no agreement. Maria gathered courage and went to the prospective inlaws to ask for help. The matchmaker met her at the gate:
What help do you think you can give? she snapped. We have professionals for everythingour own people! Youre not even a woman or a widow! The boy grew up without a father, a rogue! Do you think were happy to let such a person into our family? Hes fine for the sake of our daughter, but you stay out! She slammed the gate in Marias face.
Maria staggered home, feeling as if she were drunk. No one had ever insulted her so deeply. How could I raise such a son when Im not even decent myself? she thought, drowning in selfpity, blind to the world beyond her tears.
The village wedding was deafening. Three days of hired musicians played for the whole settlement. They shouted at the groom from the streets, selectively inviting guests. They claimed theyd never seen a feast for the whole world. Yet every conversation boiled down to one astonishing fact: the brides father was missing. Some smiled skeptically, others shook their heads, wondering how that could be.
Maria didnt leave her house that day. She waited for her son on the eve of the wedding, hoping he might appear early in the morning. No. Cars honked loudly as they passed her home. She hid under the covers, head tucked in her pillow, while Yurko pretended to read a book. Hours dragged on until late evening. When darkness fell, Yurko slipped into the wedding party and grabbed his brother by the elbow:
Mykola! How could you? Mom has been crying all day! he whispered.
Listen, kid. Tell her not to cry. Everythings fine for me. Ive made a deal with Ksyusha and her parents: Ill marry and never set foot in your house again. My word is my bond!
Give me a break! Yurko swung at his brother, but Mykola caught his arm and squeezed hard.
Get out before they notice you here! Ive had enough of you ruining my life, you scoundrel! he pushed him onto the street. Do you understand me?!
Maria waited on the doorstep for her son, never asking where he had been. When he finally returned, they embraced.
