Anya fundamentally could not understand why they needed this man in their house. She always wanted her mom to get married and be happy, but not with him. The girl sat on the sofa, pretending to read a book, while stealthily watching Arthur. He had just woken up and was now casually moving around the house, ignoring Anya and constantly talking on the phone. And as she understood, definitely not to a man. Apparently, he thought she was too young to care, as he spoke freely, «Mil, what are you saying? I have a wedding in two weeks, and you want to seduce a nearly married man?» He listened to the responses, laughed, and then talked again. Anya was disgustingly repulsed by hearing all this and by the fact that this man, whom her mom loved so much, was deceiving her.
Anya abruptly put down her book. Arthur turned, looked at her attentively, and went into the bedroom, firmly closing the door behind him. Anya decided to consult with her best friend. She slipped out onto the street and dashed down the road to the barracks not too far away, hidden from view by tall planted thuja trees, which seemed to separate the elite settlement from the ordinary city slums.
If Alla Olegovna knew her daughter went there, she probably would have had a heart attack. Anya checked her surroundings, nobody was nearby. She put two fingers in her mouth and whistled piercingly. Immediately, a shaggy head popped out of a barrack window:
«Anya, come in, the folks went to grandma’s.»
She jumped over the windowsill, who needs doors, and asked:
«Why didn’t you go?»
Petka, Anya’s friend, scratched the back of his head:
«I got a D in English, so I’m cramming, or else my dad promised to belt me.»
Anya smiled. Petka’s dad was big, bearded, and terribly kind. All the kids in the courtyard loved him, but he periodically threatened to belt Petka, though he had never yet followed through.
«Anya, what’s up? We only agreed to meet tomorrow evening.»
«Petka, I need your advice.»
Petka was a whole two years older than her. Anya had just turned twelve, while Petka was already fourteen, so he was a real authority for her. They had been friends for a long time, ever since Petka helped her get home when she fell off her bicycle at eight.
«Yeah?» Petka closed his textbook. He knew that changes were coming soon in Anya’s family, and he immediately understood that his friend came to him with this. Anya told him about Arthur’s behavior, saying that her mom noticed nothing at all. «Petka, I don’t understand, how do I tell her so she’ll believe me?»
«I don’t understand what you’re afraid of, you and your mom have a good relationship, just sit her down and tell her everything, she’ll definitely listen to you, or at least take heed.»
Anya pondered. That was true. They had always been close with her mom, though recently they weren’t as they used to be, no more watching movies or discussing things cuddled up. Now her mom cuddled and discussed everything with Arthur.
«Alright, I’ll do that. Thanks, Petka.»
The guy blushed:
«No, why? Thanks for what?»
«Well, for being there.»
In the evening, Arthur started getting ready to go out. Alla, who had just come from work, looked at him surprised.
«Where are you going?» He kissed her and replied.
«Oh, just going to sit at the bar with a friend, I’m about to be a married man, won’t have the chance later, and it’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other. Don’t worry, I won’t be long.»
Alla smiled:
«Go ahead, of course, I’m always at work with people, and you’re always home alone. And don’t hurry, relax, sit with your friend.»
«Thanks, darling, you’re the best.»
Only Arthur hesitated, and Alla slapped her forehead:
«Oh, I didn’t even think of it. Here, take this.» She quickly handed him some money. Arthur kissed her again and left.
Alla watched him go for a while, then turned to Anya as if remembering her existence:
«Well, shall we have a girls’ night out today?»
«Let’s, mom.» They cooked dinner together. Anya had already forgotten when they last did this. They dined, laughed, and after the dishes were done, Anya sat down in front of her mom:
«Mom, I want to talk to you.» Alla sighed:
«Anya, I know you don’t like Arthur. I know, rather, I remember he’s younger than me, but don’t you want your mom to be happy?»
«He can’t make you happy. While you’re at work, he talks to other women and now I’m sure he’s taken your money to the bar to meet someone else, not just his friend.»
Alla slammed her palm on the table: «Enough, that’s it. It hurts me to realize I’ve raised such a selfish girl. I don’t want to hear anything. And you’re too young to discuss such matters. Go to your room.»
Anya huffed offendedly and left immediately. Hopeless. Her mom just wasn’t listening to her. It seemed Anya would have to resign herself to the fact that Arthur was simply using her mom and her money. At night she woke up from loud voices, looked at the clock—it was half past three. Arthur had just returned, apparently not in very good condition. Her mom was scolding him, then he yelled: «Listen, Alla, why do you act like a grandma with her grandson? Stop nagging me.»
The bedroom door slammed. Then again, and Anya heard her mom’s apologetic voice. It was so disgusting that the girl pulled a pillow over her ear.
The next day, Anya and Petya sat on a wasteland:
«Yep, something needs to be done.»
Anya sighed:
«Petya, what can you do? You understand, mom only listens to him, she notices nothing.»
«When’s the wedding?»
«Petya, the tenth.»
Petya smiled:
«Listen, I have a plan. I don’t know if you’ll like it or not, but it seems there’s no other way for mom to hear you and understand something.»
Anya’s eyes lit up:
«Tell me, Petya!»
When Petya finished, Anya hesitantly shook her head:
«Petya, but how are we going to do it? You understand, we’re in school, and this needs…»
«Wait, I’ve figured it all out….»
The tenth was approaching. Arthur had even stopped arguing with mom. Yes, he was gone almost every evening, but Alla kept silent. Apparently, she remembered that scandal when Arthur compared her to a grandmother. Anya knew that Arthur was ten years younger than her mom. She didn’t see anything wrong with that if it weren’t for one «but.» She was sure. Arthur didn’t love her mom, and the recent investigations she and Petya conducted only confirmed it.
Anya was in her room when she overheard Arthur’s phone conversation:
«Mil, I’ve arranged with Kolya, come as his girlfriend. Don’t be scared, nobody knows you, of course. Just look at what awaits us now, what life. Come on, don’t grumble, I’ll only kiss her because I have to. And you, watch you don’t get drunk, I know you.»
Anya clenched her fists. «What a bastard, completely shameless.»
In the evening at the dinner table, Arthur casually said:
«Alla, I remembered about my friend, I’d like him and his girlfriend to be at the wedding, you’ll call the restaurant?»
«Of course, what friend?»
«You haven’t met him yet, Kolya, we were friends as kids, then he moved somewhere, but he just returned and called.»
«Well, that’s great, so many of your friends at the wedding, it’ll be fun.»
Anya stood up and silently left. She just couldn’t listen to all this, couldn’t watch how foolish her mom looked. Of course, she thought Arthur loved her, but Anya understood, he never loved her. And Arthur understood everything, and only mom remained completely clueless.
So much money was spent on the wedding that probably an ordinary person would have enough for a lifetime. But Alla spared nothing for her beloved. And she thought it was great, to organize such a celebration, when a real family forms, when there’s such love.
Only her daughter didn’t make her happy. Each time Alla promised herself that she would talk to Anyechka, that she would give her more attention, which Arthur had taken away, but a little later, after the wedding. Alla remembered their evenings together and thought that they definitely needed to return them. Just now they would watch some movie not just the two of them, but three.
The celebration took place in a lavish restaurant. Anya couldn’t concentrate on greeting everyone and responding to greetings. She hadn’t even noticed how beautiful the hall was. She was terribly nervous. She didn’t know what would happen after her congratulations. What if their plan didn’t work? What if mom got mad at her and that was it? Anya didn’t want any harm to come to her mom, but… The girl tried to talk to her again, but her mother abruptly dismissed her:
«Anya, stop, okay? You’re not a child to behave like this. After all, it’s low. Don’t spoil my mood before the most important day of my life.»
Anya stepped back. She couldn’t even say that before the most important day used to be her birthday.
«And now, congratulations from Anna, the bride’s daughter. Anyechka, please,» the host’s voice made her shudder.
In preparing the congratulations, all the boys from Petya’s courtyard took part. Anya straightened up and walked onto the stage:
«Mommy, before you see what I want to show you, I want you to know, I love you very much. And more than anything in the world, I want you to be happy.»
Then the host played a video recording that Anya had given him before the wedding. On the screen, Arthur passionately kissed a girl who was now sitting not far from him. Then Arthur in a bar and again with this lady, who was in her underwear. Now, nobody was looking at the screen, everyone was looking at the newlyweds. The lady immediately disappeared, and Arthur quietly slid under the table.
Anya saw her mom’s eyes.
«Mommy, forgive me, but you didn’t want to hear me, and he, he just doesn’t love you.»
Alla didn’t respond. Anya thought that at that moment her mom hated her. The girl threw the microphone into the host’s hands and ran out of the restaurant. Petya waited for her outside. Well, Anya didn’t answer, just ran past. Petya caught her near the river:
«Hey, stop, you crazy!»
Anya turned to him, buried her face in his chest, and cried:
«Petya, what have I done?»
«Nothing, everything’s right. Well, of course, it wasn’t very nice, but you were protecting your mom.»
They sat by the river and threw stones into the water. Both were silent. Finally, Petya asked:
«Are we going to sit here till morning?»
Anya shrugged:
«I don’t know. I don’t know what’s at home and how to go home.»
They were silent again. Petya said:
«Well, let’s go to my place. You know my mom, she’ll feed you, put you to bed.»
«I can’t. Mom will worry.» Anya’s words sounded unsure. «No, mom, of course, will worry, but probably not as much as before.»
«Anya!» The girl jumped. They and Petya stood up. Next to them stood Alla:
«Hello, Petya. Can I sit with you? I’m tired, I was looking for you.»
Petya grumbled:
«Of course. Here, sit on the jacket.» He spread his jacket, and Alla smiled:
«Thank you.» She sat down and carefully hugged Anya, «Forgive me, daughter!»
«No, mom, it’s you who should forgive me. It shouldn’t have been like this. I didn’t think that not only you but all the guests would see it.»
Alla smiled:
«Damn it. You know, Anyuta, it’s as if handcuffs were taken off me. I made up happiness for myself and ran around with it, like an idiot.»
«Mom, you’re not an idiot, you’re smart, beautiful, the best.»
Petya sat down next to them. Alla hugged him with the other arm:
«So, you’re the legendary Petya, whom I’ve heard so much about but never seen. Why have you never visited us?»
Petya chuckled sheepishly:
«Well, probably because I don’t live in your settlement.»
Alla looked at him concernedly:
«Where? Somewhere far?»
«No, not very, in the barracks. But don’t think, I don’t teach Anya anything bad.»
«And I don’t think so.»
«Wait, so you decided that I’m the kind who would look at you differently because you’re not…»
Petya nodded sheepishly.
«Wow. Anya, you know me, how could you think? You know what, let’s have a celebration tomorrow, invite Petya’s parents, your friends, I’ll invite someone from mine and let’s have a ‘party’ like you say.»
«We have a whole restaurant of food and a paid host.»
Anya laughed:
«Mom, what are we calling the celebration?»
Alla thought, then pulled out her phone:
«So, what do we have tomorrow? There, found it! Tomorrow is cat day. Anya, do you have anything against cats?»
Anya shook her head no and hugged her mom:
«I’m so glad you’re back. A good man, we’ll definitely meet him, you’ll see!»
Alla kissed her daughter on the top of her head:
«Alright, everyone home. Tomorrow I expect everyone at the celebration. Petya, be there with your parents!»
