Listen, Valera, I’m telling you again, meet your mother anywhere you like, but I don’t want to see her in our house! I’m tired of going through the same thing every time! Whenever your mom comes over, something inexplicable always starts happening! She’s always meddling, trying to impose her own rules here, even yelling at me!
Sasha, you’re not exactly blameless either! Remember what you did to her last time! Why did you dump salad on my mother’s head from your plate? I understand she can be critical, sometimes unreasonably, but dumping salad on her head, dear, isn’t that a bit much?
It doesn’t seem like it to me! — Alexandra began to lose her temper. — And if she comes over this time and opens her mouth at me even once, I’ll put a pot of soup on her head! And kick her out in that state! So think about it, Valer, do you really want that? You know I’ll do it!
I know! I know that both of you, my mom and you, sometimes don’t think straight!
Then book a hotel room, find a short-term rental, and settle your mom there for the weekend! And here, make sure she’s not around! You understand, even the kids don’t want to see her! Because she’s always picking on them!
How sensitive you all are! Poor things, being picked on! — Valera started losing his temper just like his wife Sasha.
You know what?! Sensitive… I’ve already told you everything! If you don’t want a major scandal, then find somewhere to stash your nasty mommy!
You two aren’t that different! Neither one of you can give in! So, it’s debatable who’s the nastier one among you!
Why should I give in to her? Do you even hear what you’re saying? When we used to go to your parents’ house, did I dig through her cupboards? Did I turn her kitchen upside down? Did I throw anything out at their house, like your mom could?
What did she throw out? — the husband was surprised.
You don’t know?
No!
Even before the last time, when we were both at work, and she was with the kids! She went ahead and threw out my short shorts that I wear around the house and a ripped t-shirt!
Why do you think she threw them out?
Because I didn’t throw them out, and after your mom left, I found my things in the garbage bin at the dump when I took out the trash! And before that, she constantly nagged me not to appear in front of her dressed like that! And she took and threw them out while we weren’t home!
Wow! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?
I just forgot! I wanted to say, and it just slipped my mind! So, I think you understand me! If you don’t want a scandal, don’t bring your mom to our house!
But she’s coming tomorrow! What should I tell her, in your opinion? Mom, I’m sorry, but you’ll be staying in a hotel?! Is that how you see and imagine this?
That’s not my problem, Valer! Not mine!
Okay, then your relatives who come to visit us will also stay in a hotel! Deal?
Go tell them that yourself! — Sasha smirked.
Why should I tell yours too?
Why are you so scared all of a sudden? My mom, unlike yours, only ever picks on me, and she always protects you! You’re her favorite son-in-law! Do you know how many times I’ve been slapped for you by her? And when she visits us, she brings treats for her favorite son-in-law and grandchildren, not for me! So you tell her yourself that she’ll be staying in a hotel when she visits us!
Then you tell my mom yourself that she’ll be staying in a hotel!
You think I won’t say it? — the wife smirked again. — I’ll even show her the way, I think she won’t get lost!
That evening, Valera, while talking to his mother, didn’t tell her that she would be staying in a hotel all weekend. He just couldn’t bring himself to say such a thing to his own mother.
The next morning, he asked his son Vitka to go with him and meet grandma. The boy refused. He said he didn’t want grandma to come at all. Seven-year-old Vitka motivated all this by saying that she was very mean and always yelled at him and his sister when the parents weren’t looking.
Then Valera tried to discuss the same topic with his daughter Oksana, who was three years older than her brother. And he heard the same thing from her.
His wife just stood by and watched all this, and then, when the kids dispersed to their rooms, she said to her husband:
I told you so!
Yes, I already understood! The only thing I don’t understand is why you never told me anything about this?
Seriously? — Alexandra was surprised. — You and the kids are always telling me about it, but you only ever listen to yourself! Everything that others tell you just goes in one ear and out the other, and you always brush it off, saying it’s all made up!
Alright! — said Valera. — I’ll talk to mom about this today! And if she confirms it, then I’ll draw conclusions!
Great! If she confirms it?! That means our words and the kids’ mean nothing to you! You need mom to confirm everything?! And if she doesn’t confirm, does that mean, as usual, we made it all up?!
Sasha, calm down! Enough! I already told you, I’ll sort everything out!
Yeah, I know how you can sort everything out! You’ll bring her here again, and as usual, you’ll leave for some urgent business! And we’ll be left to fight with her!
Then don’t fight with her! Just ignore her!
Do you even realize how impossible that is! Ignoring someone who constantly wants to take a bite out of you on the sly? And sometimes can openly say nasty things!
Valera stopped arguing with his wife, got ready, and went to the bus station to meet his mom, who was supposed to arrive in town in about an hour.
The bus, on which Vera Vasilievna, Valera’s mom, arrived, came fifteen minutes earlier than scheduled. And Valery himself arrived at the bus station precisely at the scheduled arrival time. He saw his mom, standing next to the bus station. And she looked extremely displeased.
Hello, mom! — the son greeted. — Oh, has your bus already arrived? I thought it would be late as usual!
Where have you been? — instead of greeting, Vera Vasilievna asked. — I’ve been freezing out here on the street forever, and you’re nowhere to be found!
Why couldn’t you go inside the bus station to warm up? You could have gone inside and sat there! Especially since you don’t have any bags or anything heavy to carry around!
Alright, enough of that, let’s go to your place! — the mother ordered.
Get in the car, mom, and I have a serious conversation to have with you!
A serious conversation with me? — she was surprised.
Mother and son got into the car, and Valera asked her:
Listen, mom! What’s all this about? Why did you throw Sasha’s clothes in the trash?
What clothes? What are you talking about? The last time I came to your place, your Sasha, if you remember, dumped a bowl of salad on my head!
That wasn’t the last time! As far as I understand, it was even before that! So why did you do it?
Vera Vasilievna fell silent and turned away from her son. Then she gathered her thoughts and answered him:
And why does your wife walk around the apartment like a street girl? Like some kind of tramp! Doesn’t she have any decent clothes? I can’t stand it when women wear torn rags! And I repeatedly asked her to throw them out herself, but she didn’t listen to me, so I decided to do it myself!
So it’s true! — Valera said to himself. — Alright! And why do you always yell at the grandchildren? When you’re home alone with them?
Me? Yell at the grandchildren? — the woman smirked. — Who told you that nonsense? Your crazy Sasha, who can’t control herself and behave properly?
No! They said it themselves! They said that grandma is always picking on them, yelling, scolding!
You’re going to say that I hit them next! Although that wouldn’t hurt! Since your wife can’t raise them, I might indeed start spanking those little brats soon!
So that’s true too!
I don’t understand! Are you interrogating me now? Are we going to get going today, or are we just going to stand here and clarify obvious things?
So why do you yell at them? Explain to me, please! — Valera demanded from his mother.
Because, Valera, they don’t understand anything else! Just as stubborn as their mommy! Who, instead of listening to her elders, to those who’ve lived life, and who are hundreds of times smarter than her, only argues, snaps back, and pretends that she knows everything without my help! And if you dig into it, she doesn’t know anything at all, doesn’t understand how this life works!
In short, mom! Please explain to me! Why do you keep coming to us all the time? To sort things out with my wife? To yell at the grandchildren? Why?
I come to you! I miss you! Ever since you met your Sasha, you’ve forgotten about your mother! And I will not tolerate some, excuse my expression, bitch…
Just try to continue! — Valera interrupted her. — You’ll be going right back home!
Why are you talking to me like that, Valera? Your mother came to visit you, I missed you, and you’re sitting here scolding me like I’m some kind of girl! What’s all this about?
I’m not scolding you, mom! I’m just trying to figure things out!
Figured it all out? Now let’s go! — the mother ordered again. — I’m going to give your Sasha a piece of my mind! She’ll remember me for a long time!
Mom, if you say even one word to her in that tone! You’ll be staying in a hotel or actually going back home! My kids are not thrilled about your weekly visits either! Why doesn’t dad come to us every week? Although he misses me no less!
Oh, let’s not talk about your father right now! — Vera Vasilievna responded.
Valera started the car, and they drove to his house. Along the way, he asked his mom several times to behave properly at his house, without picking fights and without provoking another scandal. The mom, of course, verbally agreed that yes, she wouldn’t do that, but in fact, she was already itching to grab her daughter-in-law by the hair and drag her around properly.
When they arrived, Sasha was very displeased with her mother-in-law’s visit. And the grandchildren were also not thrilled about grandma’s arrival. They all just said hello to her and scattered to their rooms.
Sasha wanted to ask her husband why on earth he brought his mom here again. But she couldn’t do it, as Vera Vasilievna was constantly in sight.
And when they later sat down for tea, the mother-in-law began to snort discontentedly and complain. First, she didn’t like the tea right away. Then she started saying that instead of buying pastries, Sasha could have made something herself.
Valera carefully observed his mother’s and wife’s behavior. And he concluded that Sasha was indeed right. He just hadn’t paid attention to it all before. For him, it was normal. He grew up in such an environment and had long been accustomed to his mother’s antics.
When they finished their tea, Sasha cleared the table and decided to wash the dishes right away. But Vera Vasilievna didn’t like something about it. She waited until Valera left the kitchen, approached her daughter-in-law, and just pushed her away from the sink.
Get out of here, I’ll wash the dishes myself! Your hands seem to grow from another place, I can’t stand watching how you wash dishes!
What, have you completely lost your mind, old woman? Why are you pushing me, completely out of your mind or what?
I’ll show you old and out of your mind, I’ll pull out every hair on your head, you snotty brat! — the mother-in-law began to yell, not holding back.
And she lunged at her daughter-in-law with her fists.
She grabbed Sasha by the hair and started dragging her back and forth until the woman fell to her knees. Valera immediately flew into the kitchen. And he simply froze from the scene he saw.
While everyone froze for a moment, Sasha took advantage of this and also grabbed the old woman by the hair and yanked so that Vera Vasilievna’s nose met the floor. There was so much screaming that the children also came running. Sasha got up from her knees, looked angrily at her husband, and kicked his mom hard in the butt. Valera was just at a loss; he didn’t know what to do.
But Sasha knew exactly what needed to be done. She grabbed her mother-in-law by the hair again and dragged her out of the kitchen, pushing her husband away in the process, the woman flung Vera Vasilievna toward the threshold and kicked her again.
Just try to say something to me now! — ignoring what the mother-in-law was shouting at that moment, Alexandra addressed her husband. — You saw everything yourself! Now pick up this body and drive her away from here, wherever, I don’t care! But she needs to be gone right now!
Valera walked behind his wife and tried to help his mother get up.
Mom, are you okay? — he asked. — Come on, get up and go to the living room for now! And I’ll talk to Sasha right now!
Kill that beast! — Vera Vasilievna screamed. — Before I do it myself!
Oh no, my dear, your mom will never set foot in my house again! And if you don’t like it, you can follow her! He’s going to talk to me! I’ll talk to you now in a way you won’t forget! I told you yesterday not to bring her here! Why did you drag her to our house?
Sasha, don’t yell! I understand you! I’ll take mom away now, and she won’t come back to us again! Mom, get dressed! — the son immediately told his mother.
You’re going to kick me out and do nothing to her? She raised her hand to your mother, kicked me twice, dragged me around the house by my hair, and you’re going to let her get away with it?
Mom, it’s your own fault! You promised me, back in the car! That you would behave well and not bother my wife! But you did everything your way! Why did you do that?
Thank you, son! Thank you for standing up for me! You’re just as disgusting as your whole family, and my foot will never set foot in this cursed house again! — she began to play to the gallery and simultaneously press for pity.
She got ready and left her son’s house. True, she tried several times to provoke Sasha. But the daughter-in-law simply ignored her. She was pleased with what she had done. And thought that she should have done it several years ago to live peacefully now.
Valera’s mother was offended by the whole world. When her son called her afterward, she didn’t even answer his calls. In conversations with his father, Valera found out that the mother no longer wanted to know her son.
Vera Vasilievna no longer visited her son. She did not communicate with him or the grandchildren. And Sasha was only glad about this. Because now all weekends in their house passed in a calm, friendly, and family atmosphere.
