Svetlana, but its freezing there in winter! Youll need a stove, firewood, and wood heating!
Mom, you grew up in the village, thats all you ever knew. Grandpa and grandma spent their whole lives in the countryside, never complained. And in summer its wonderfulgardening, picking berries, mushrooms in the forest.
Halyna had just begun to adjust to retirement. Sixty years behind her, thirtyfive of them spent as an accountant at a factory. Now she could leisurely sip her morning tea, read books, and take her time.
The first months of her pension she savored the quiet. She rose whenever she felt like it, ate breakfast unhurriedly, and watched TV programs. She shopped at the store when the lines werent longafter forty years that felt like a true blessing.
Her daughter Svetlana called early Saturday morning:
Mom, we need to talk. A serious talk.
Whats wrong? Halyna asked, concerned. Is everything okay with Mariyka?
Everythings fine with my daughter. Ill come over and explain. Dont worry!
Those words made Halynas worry grow. When children say dont worry, theres always something to worry about.
An hour later Svetlana was sitting in the kitchen, rubbing her nowrounded belly. She was thirtytwo, a second child on the way, and still hadnt married Oleg. Though theyd lived together for four years, daughter Mariyka was growing, and the marriage certificate seemed irrelevant to them.
Mom, we have a housing problem, Svetlana began, fiddling nervously with the mugs handle. Our landlord is raising the rent. Were barely managing the current amount, and now she wants an extra two thousand.
Halyna nodded sympathetically. She knew how hard it was for young people. Oleg worked here and theretoday a loader, tomorrow a courier, the next day a guard. Svetlana was on maternity leave with her daughter and would soon go on a second one.
We thought about moving somewhere cheaper, the daughter continued, but no one wants to give up a place with a child.
What are you planning to do? Halyna asked, already sensing a complication.
Thats why Im here, Svetlana fidgeted with the edge of her sweater. Mom, could we stay with you for a while? Just temporarily, until we save enough for a mortgage.
Halyna poured tea. Her tworoom Khrushchev flat was already cramped; now a whole family with a small childand another on the waywould have to fit in.
Svetlana, how will we all fit? I have only two tiny rooms.
Well manage somehow. The main thing is to save money. Were paying thirteen thousand in rent now; in a year thats one hundred fifty thousand! Those funds could become a downpayment for a mortgage.
Halyna imagined Oleg roaming the apartment in his slippers, speaking loudly on the phone. Mashas constant crying, toys scattered in every corner, cartoons blaring at full volume. Svetlanas swollen belly, her whims, her need for special attention.
Where will Mariyka sleep? Halyna tried to find a reasonable answer.
Well put a crib in the big room with us. Youll take the small room; you dont need muchjust a sofa and a TV. Itll be fine!
Svetlana, I just retired; I want some peace. Forty years of work have worn me out!
Svetlana sighed, as if Halyna had said something absurd.
Mom, why do you need peace at sixty? Youre still young and healthy. Grandmothers your age are still busy caring for grandchildren.
It sounded like a rebuke, implying other grandmothers are useful while she is selfish.
And besides, you have a dacha, right? A lovely house that Grandma has kept in good shape. You could live thereclean air, quiet, perfect for a pensioner.
At the dacha? Halyna asked, disbelief in her voice.
Yes. Its a solid house; we could plant a garden, grow tomatoes. Doctors recommend the elderly spend more time outdoors.
Halyna felt a chill inside. The dacha was thirty kilometres from the city, with a bus that ran only in the mornings and evenings.
Svetlana, but its cold there in winter. Youll need a stove and have to haul firewood.
Mom, you grew up in the village; thats all you ever knew. Grandpa and Grandma lived their whole lives there without complaint. And in summer its beautifulgardening, berries, mushrooms.
Svetlanas tone made it sound as if she were offering a luxury resort, not a basic countryside dwelling.
What if I need a doctor? A pharmacy? The grocery store?
You wont go to the doctor every day. Once a month for a checkup is enough. And you can buy a lot of food at once and keep it frozen; your freezer is big.
And my friends? The neighbours Ive known all my life?
Call them. Or they can come over to the dacha for a barbecue. Itll be fun!
Halyna listened, stunned. Her daughter was seriously suggesting that she become a secluded dacharesident so the flat could be freed for her own family, presenting it as caring for her mothers health.
How long do you plan to stay in my flat?
At least a year, maybe a year and a half.
A whole yearor a year and a halfliving with them in a tworoom apartment, or staying alone at the dacha.
What does Oleg think about this?
Hes all for it, Svetlana gushed. He says youll be much better off at the dacha than in the cityno hustle, no stress.
You could read books, watch TV. Oleg even offered to install a satellite dish so youd have more channels.
Halyna pictured Oleg generously contemplating her wellbeing while lounging on her favourite couch, even offering a satellite antenna.
Mom, think about it, Svetlana continued. What will you do alone in two rooms? Theres plenty of space, but no real benefit. Well settle in, save money, get back on our feet.
When would you move in?
We could be there tomorrow. We dont have many belongings. The landlady is already looking for new tenants; we have to vacate by the end of the month. Time is short.
Halyna poured more tea with trembling hands. Her daughter stared, waiting, her eyes saying, What will you do, Mom? Will you really turn away your own child in her hour of need?
Svetlana, what if things dont work out between you and Oleg? Youre not officially married.
Mom, does it matter whether were registered or not? We have children together, weve lived four years as a couple. Marriage wont change anything.
But if you break up, what then?
We wont break up, Svetlana said firmly. And even if something happens, the flat is still yours.
It didnt sound convincing. Halyna had known Oleg for four years; he was never a permanent partnertoday here, tomorrow elsewhere. He changed jobs every six months, friends came and went. Yet Svetlana was infatuated, ready to do anything for him.
Mom, I just retired; I want a little peace for myself.
Mom, what does peace for yourself even mean? Svetlana snapped. Its a holy duty to support your children and grandchildren!
Svetlana was expertly playing on her mothers emotions. Halyna felt her resistance melting.
And if I say no? If I cant take you in?
Svetlana fell silent, then sighed heavily and rested her hands on her belly:
Mom, I dont know what would happen then. Honestly, it would hurt me a lot. It would be terrible if my own mother turned me away at a difficult moment.
Her words carried a thinly veiled threat: a lifelong grievance, a rupture, loss of contact with her grandchildren. Halyna imagined Svetlana telling everyone, Can you believe my mother refused to help her own daughter?
And then where will we go? Svetlana wept. Two kids, no money. Oleg suggests we maybe move to his mothers place, but she only has a oneroom flat and doesnt respect us much.
Halyna knew Olegs mothersharp, direct. Svetlana wouldnt last long there.
Mom, please help us! she pleaded. Just a year! Well be careful, wont bother you. You can go to the dacha, escape the citys bustle.
And Id have to travel there often?
When it works out. Maybe youll come to the city on weekends, buy groceries, see friends. During the week youll stay at the dachaquiet, peaceful. Perfect for an older person!
Fine, Halyna finally said, feeling herself give in. But only for a year. Exactly one year, no more! And on the condition that you save, accumulate money, and actively look for your own housing.
Svetlana threw her arms around her mother:
Thank you, Mom! Youre the best! Youll see, everything will be wonderful! We wont disturb you; well handle all the chores.
And Ill go to the dacha whenever I want, Halyna added. Thats my condition.
Of course, Mom! Your flat, your rules. Were guests, we understand.
A week later they moved in. Oleg efficiently arranged his belongings in the wardrobe. Masha ran from room to room, exploring the new space. Svetlana directed where everything should go.
Halyna stood amid the upheaval, packing a bag for the dacha, feeling like an exile from her own home.
The first months were a nightmare. Oleg quickly settled in, blasting the TV at full volume, chatting on the phone at all hours. Energy drinks and protein shakes crowded the fridge shelves.
Svetlana, irritated by her condition, demanded special attentionsometimes too hot, sometimes too cold, music too loud. Masha cried at night, toys scattered everywhere, cartoons looping from sunrise to sunset.
Halyna came to the city once a week for groceries and medication, each visit a shock at the chaos. Her tidy apartment had turned into a hallway.
Mountains of unwashed dishes piled in the kitchen, childrens clothes and Olegs socks drying in the bathroom. The beloved sofa was stained with crumbs and juice.
Svetlana, maybe we should tidy up a bit? Halyna suggested.
Mom, when? the daughter brushed off. The baby is tiny, Im exhausted. Oleg works all day; he needs evenings to rest.
I can help while Im in the city.
No, Mom, well manage ourselves. The baby will come, then well clean.
The then never arrived. Halyna washed dishes, vacuumed, dusted, but each time she returned, the mess was back.
At the dacha, Halyna felt like a true outcastthirty kilometres from civilization, the nearest shop three kilometres away, a bus that ran only twice a day.
Neighbors stared:
Halyna, why are you staying there all year? You still have an apartment in the city.
My daughter and her family are staying temporarily, Halyna replied. Theyre saving for their own flat.
Oh, I see. Young people do need help.
You cant explain to the neighbours that the apartment is occupied by a daughter and her partner, and they politely pushed her out to the countryside for health.
Winter at the dacha was especially harsh. Firewood ran out quickly, water had to be heated on the stove. Halyna felt stranded at the edge of the world.
Six months later Svetlana gave birth to a son, Denis. Halyna hoped the new arrival would spur them to find housing faster. But when she visited the city to see the newborn, Svetlana announced:
Mom, with two kids we definitely wont find anything suitable. Who will take a family with an infant? Lets stay another year, okay?
Halyna realized she had been deceived from the start. One year would become two, two would become three.
And shell spend her pension years on that abandoned dacha? No way!
The daughter and her family were eventually evicted with police assistance after refusing to leave. Halyna was cursed, insulted, threatened.
But she no longer cared; the agreement was for one year, and she kept it. Was she ashamed before family and neighbours? No. As the saying goes, You reap what you sow.
What do you thinkdid the mother act rightly, or did she overstep? Share your thoughts in the comments and give a like.
