Lida was born in a village. The village only had an elementary school. To attend higher grades, children had to go to a neighboring village. Walking there took about two hours one way.
Almost all villagers ran their own farms. There were few jobs, so many men went to the city to earn money. Few parents wanted their grown children to stay in the village. Only not everyone had the opportunity to leave.
Lida’s father was away working for months at a time. He could leave his family for half a year, come back for a month or two, and then go away again. Eventually, he found another woman and announced his departure. He didn’t have many qualms about it, proudly telling Lida before he left that he had bought her a two-room apartment in the city.
Lida’s mother grieved, but not for long. She was used to managing the household alone, as her husband was always absent. The woman was comforted by the fact that she could send her daughter to study in the city, where she would have her own housing.
Lida tried to study well, despite the village school providing a poor education. She knew she couldn’t handle university, so she enrolled in a vocational school to become a chef.
Lida studied successfully, easily passing her tests and exams. Her excellent academic performance earned her a higher scholarship. She visited her mother three or four times a year. When coming to the village, she tried to help as much as possible with the garden.
«Mom, you live alone, I have a good scholarship, why plant so much potatoes?» the daughter would say each time, tired from working on the farm.
«My dear, I’m used to having a large farm. I’ve already given up chickens, pigs, and ducks, and I grow less cabbage and zucchini,» Lida’s mother replied.
The girl looked tenderly at her mother. How she had aged over the years. It was all because of the hard labor with the land. Maybe she could persuade her mother to sell everything and move to the city?
«What are you talking about, Lidochka, I was born here, I’ll die here. City life isn’t for me. And when I’m gone, the land will go to you,» the woman replied when her daughter suggested moving in with her.
That year, her mother passed away. Lida thanked God that her mother died in her arms. The girl had come to her mother for the holidays but ended up burying her as well. And so, Lida was left all alone.
She was the sole heir to the plot of land with the house. Neighbors advised her to sell the property, but they didn’t offer much money. And Lida was reluctant to easily part with the house where her mother had lived. Leaving for the city, she promised herself to visit here, but life got so busy that she didn’t visit the village for many years.
After finishing vocational school, Lida got a job as an assistant in a restaurant. There she met Pavel, who had been working as a chef for many years. A romance developed between the young people.
Pavel was ready to propose right away. The only problem was that he lived in a dormitory and didn’t have the money for his own housing. But he had a fashionable car, which he used to take his beloved out of the city, to the sea, and just for evening rides.
«I’ll marry you when I earn enough for an apartment,» Pavel said firmly when Lida hinted that it was time for them to legalize their relationship.
«I have an apartment. A two-room one. Even if we have a little one, we can easily fit the three of us,» the girl laughed. She was ready to go to the registry office right then.
For a while, Pavel resisted because he really wanted to bring his beloved to his own home. But he too was eager to marry Lida, so after a few months, the young couple got married.
The newlywed husband put all his efforts into improving the family’s living conditions. He made excellent renovations in the apartment. But it was still important for him to buy his own home. The family’s standard of living kept increasing, and they even managed to save money.
Soon Pavel and Lida had a daughter, Lena. The birth of the child required expenses, and the young mother had to leave her job. The accumulated amount was enough to buy a one-room apartment or expand the one they already lived in.
Pasha, we’re not cramped as it is. Let’s buy a small apartment and rent it out. When Lenka grows up, she’ll have her own place,» Lida persuaded her husband.
And Pasha agreed. The times were unstable, money was losing value, and it was not worth delaying the purchase of real estate. A separate small apartment brought the family additional income.
The family lived harmoniously. Pasha earned well. He insisted that Lida not work. This arrangement completely suited her. She enjoyed managing the household. When Lena was 15, another child appeared in the family.
They named the boy Sashka. He was lively and energetic. His personality was very different from the calm, quiet Lenochka. However, it was the calm Lenochka who surprised her parents.
In her second year of university, Lena met Arkadiy and married him. Her parents urged her not to rush. But the young couple did not want to wait and secretly registered their marriage.
«Where do you plan to live? And on what?» Pavel frowned sternly, sitting his daughter and new son-in-law down in front of him.
«I’m a blogger!» Arkadiy proudly replied.
Hearing this, Pavel grabbed his head. He didn’t know whether to laugh or be angry. Of course, he wanted to say a few sweet words to this blogger. He was really angry at his son-in-law and worried about his daughter.
But despite himself, he admired the young couple. How bold, young, and beautiful they were. And it was clear they loved each other.
«Mother, when does our tenants’ lease end?» Pavel asked his wife.
«In a month,» Lida replied.
«Well then, guys, you can stay. We’ll shelter you for a month, and then you can move into your own apartment. I’ll help with money. And you, blogger, save what you earn. You need to buy a car, pamper your young wife,» Pavel said and hugged his daughter.
The young couple lived well enough. Initially, blogging did not bring Arkadiy much money, but it was enough for Lena to afford nails and hairdressing services. Saving wasn’t possible, so Pavel ended up buying them a car as well.
«You’re working yourself to death. You need a break, Pashka,» Lida scolded. She wanted to help her daughter too but was concerned that her husband had to work even during his vacation. During this period, he took a part-time job at another restaurant.
«Endure, dear, we need to help the kids,» Pavel said. He was indeed very tired. Fatigue and exhaustion prevented him from noticing serious health problems in time.
Pavel lost weight and slept poorly. Lida insisted that her husband see a doctor, but he refused, citing a lack of time. And one day, Pavel was gone.
Lida was left alone with five-year-old Sashka. The woman struggled with grief, and only the little son helped her keep her sanity. By this time, the older daughter was already living a separate life. The son-in-law started earning well, so Lena no longer needed parental support.
It took Lida several years to calm down. She had to go back to work, as there was no one else to support her. The salary wasn’t high, but it allowed her to stay afloat.
During the day, work and household chores distracted her from sad thoughts, but at night her tears choked her. Little Sashka became more and more like his father. In him, Lida found consolation and dedicated her life to him.
Motherly care was excessive. If only Lena had given her grandchildren, the woman’s attention would have been divided among them. But as it was, all the care went to the boy.
Time passed, the boy grew up, and he didn’t always unquestioningly do what his mother said. Lida was terribly upset if the boy wasn’t home in the evenings. She threw a real fit when her son declared he wanted to attend university in another city.
Lida spared nothing for her son; she was ready to sell her soul just so he wouldn’t lack anything. But letting Sashka go to another city was beyond her strength.
Heaven heard the woman’s prayers, and the son indeed didn’t go anywhere. But the reason he stayed in the city led Lida into depression.
«Mom, this is Yulia. She’s pregnant. I’m not going to university, but getting a job. We’ll live with her parents,» Sasha said one day when he came home with a dark-haired girl on his arm.
An icy hand mercilessly squeezed Lida’s heart. The thought that her son would marry and leave the parental home was unthinkable to her. Strange, since she had let Lena go easily. But the thought of Sashka leaving was unbearable.
The son had to endure many of his mother’s fits. Lida could cry for hours or silently stare out the window. Seeing that his mother was in a bad state, he decided to talk. Surprisingly, the conversation had an effect.
Lida had barely met Yulia but already felt antipathy towards her. But still, in her daughter-in-law’s hands lay the happiness of her son. And her own peace was also in the grasping hands of the young beauty. So Lida offered the young couple to live with her.
Strangely, Yulia was not against it. Her parents had a three-room apartment, but her mother, father, grandmother, and younger sister lived there. The idea of living with her mother-in-law seemed more attractive.
No miracle occurred. As much as Lida tried to love Yulia, she couldn’t. The woman was jealous of her son, and everything about her daughter-in-law irritated her. She tried to keep herself in check and not pick on her, but Yulia also didn’t try to be sweet.
Two mistresses in one kitchen categorically could not coexist. Cunning Yulia realized that she had a powerful weapon against her troublesome mother-in-law. Whenever something was not to her liking, the daughter-in-law would declare that she and Sashka were moving to her parents’. And no matter how unpleasant Lida found Yulia, the fear of losing Sashka was much heavier. And the woman reconciled.
Yulia left behind mountains of dirty dishes. While Sashka was at work, she consumed an enormous amount of food. The pregnant daughter-in-law ate everything Lida cooked and did not bother even with basic self-care.
Sashka, coming home from a hard day’s work, began to tidy up to avoid angering his mother. Lida, of course, saw what her daughter-in-law was doing. One day she couldn’t hold back.
«You’re just a slob. I understand you’re pregnant, but that’s no reason to turn my house into a barn!» the woman shouted, seeing crumbs all over the apartment and a dozen dirty plates in the kitchen.
«What a merciless woman you are! I have morning sickness, I feel awful. You just hate me!» Yulia burst into tears and threw herself into Sasha’s arms.
The bewildered young man stroked his beloved’s hair, held her close, and comforted her. He reproachfully looked at his mother.
«Mom, I’ll clean everything. Yulia is having a hard time managing the housework. You go rest too. Have a snack for now,» the son said conciliatorily, trying to appease his angry mother.
Lida laughed an unpleasant laugh and pointed at the empty pot. Yesterday she had made borscht. Today, not a drop was left.
Now, after coming home from work, Sasha also cooked. Of course, Lida felt very sorry for her son, and she continued to manage the household as best she could. But it was very upsetting that Yulia did not take care of the boy at all.
«Oh, Sanya, she doesn’t love you. She’s just keeping you around because she’s pregnant. If a woman loves, she shows care for her husband. And what about her?» Lida tried to draw her son’s attention to how his wife was behaving.
An unlawful wife, at that, since the couple had not formalized their relationship. Yulia, you see, wanted a lavish wedding, but the young couple didn’t have the money for it.
«Mom, don’t talk about her like that! I love her. And my feelings are mutual. Have you forgotten how hard it is to carry a child?» the son reproachfully said. It greatly saddened him that Yulia and his mother could not find common ground.
Such conversations usually ended with Sasha’s promise to move to Yulia’s parents. And for Lida, losing the opportunity to see her beloved son was worse than death. Therefore, she was willing to tolerate her daughter-in-law’s antics.
The situation worsened even further. Yulia’s character became increasingly unbearable. She could lock the door from the inside and leave the key in the lock. When Lida or Sasha came home, they could not enter the apartment. They could knock on the door or ring the phone for hours. Yulia would put her device on silent mode so that no one would disturb her rest.
Any attempts to talk to her led to the girl starting to cry. Sasha would take pity on her, and the situation never changed.
What Lida cooked, Yulia usually ate completely. She did not cook herself. But one day, the daughter-in-law did not like the smell of the broth, and she poured it down the toilet right in front of Lida. Oh, how Lida wanted to drag that wretch by the hair, but she had to restrain herself. The woman could still not imagine life without Sasha.
Lida dreaded what her life would turn into with the birth of the child. But when little Anyuta was born, the woman felt a new strength to live. Lida grew to love the baby very much. And since Yulia was very eager to do her own things, she willingly left the baby with her grandmother.
The little girl looked just like Sasha. And a bit like Pavel. Now Lida wanted to rush home to hold the little miracle in her arms.
However, despite her love for her granddaughter, the home atmosphere was tense. Lida could not afford to quit her job. And household chores did not do themselves. Sasha took an extra job, and Yulia still refused to cook and clean.
To receive state benefits, the young parents decided to mark a dash in Anyuta’s birth certificate. The status of a single mother did not particularly affect the amount of payments, but it guaranteed the possibility of out-of-turn enrollment of the girl in kindergarten. Yulia was eagerly awaiting this moment. She wanted to take a course in nail extension and start earning soon.
Yulia was eager to start her training, but Lida could not sit with the granddaughter during the daytime. In this too, the young mother saw the malice of her mother-in-law.
One day Lida received a call from Lena. Mother and daughter had not spoken heart-to-heart for a long time. Their communication was limited to holiday greetings and short conversations. Lena asked when it would be convenient for her mother to go to the cemetery to visit her father. They set a convenient date, but they did not say goodbye quickly, as it had always been.
Lida opened up to her daughter and complained about how hard it was for her. She cried and got angry, remembering how her daughter-in-law sometimes behaved.
«Mom! How can you tolerate such treatment? Throw that rude girl out on the street!» the daughter exclaimed.
«I can’t, my dear. She threatens that she’ll take Sasha away and that I won’t see my granddaughter anymore. I know she’ll turn my son against me, he won’t even visit me,» Lida cried.
Lena thought it over. She tried to calm her mother and said that in a few days they would go to her father’s grave, and on the way, they would talk and decide what to do next. And she advised not to fall for the threats of the cheeky daughter-in-law. Yulia was in a much more vulnerable position—no own housing, no job, and a small child in her arms.
The woman felt a bit relieved after the conversation with her daughter. However, she was met with a new surprise at home. Yulia had invited friends over in Sasha’s absence. The guests drank alcohol, listened to music loudly, and paid no attention to the fact that little Anyuta was sleeping.
Lida yelled at her daughter-in-law. She kicked out all her friends and demanded that Yulia clean up. However, the young wretch defiantly stared at her mother-in-law and said that she would not tolerate such treatment.
«Know this, Lydia Alekseevna, you’ve got what you wanted. I’m taking Yulia, calling Sasha, and we are moving to my parents’. You won’t see your son or granddaughter anymore! I’ll make sure of that!»
«Well, then roll in all four directions! If you need help with your granddaughter, you’ll come running back! And my son won’t leave me,» Lida replied and smirked.
Yulia started packing, and Lida’s confidence began to melt. When the daughter-in-law started dressing the little girl, Anyuta reached out her arms to her grandmother.
«No, darling, we’re leaving. And you won’t see your grandmother anymore! And when you grow up, I’ll tell you how this woman threw us out of her home,» Yulia whispered to the girl. Meanwhile, her words were loud enough for Lida to hear.
The woman’s heart could not take it. She cried and asked Yulia not to take her baby away.
«And you know, Lydia Alekseevna, I might have stayed. After all, this place has become home for Anyuta. Only every time something displeases you, you will throw us out onto the street. Even your beloved granddaughter!» said Yulia, with tears in her voice.
And Lida took a desperate step. She promised to transfer the apartment to her granddaughter. For some reason, at that moment, it seemed to her that this step would make the daughter-in-law feel some gratitude.
Yulia did not refuse such a generous gift. Moreover, she said that she now saw the sincere love of the grandmother for the granddaughter. And promised that the ownership right would not affect Lida’s right to live in the apartment.
«We will earn money and buy our own apartment, Lydia Alekseevna. For now, we will all live together here. We will try to maintain good family relations. After many years, when Anyuta grows up, she will already have her own housing!» Yulia spoke sensibly.
Lida felt that she had taken the right step. Her daughter-in-law’s attitude changed drastically for the better. The documents were soon drawn up for little Anyuta. At that moment, Lida could not even think that at that moment she became homeless.
Sasha found out that his mother had transferred the apartment to Anyuta and was very grateful to her. He was also happy that peace had finally come to the house.
A few days later, Lida met with her daughter. They tidied up Pavel’s grave and talked. For some reason, the woman decided not to tell Lena about transferring the apartment to her granddaughter. She felt that her daughter might not approve of this decision.
«Mom, you know what I was thinking? How about you come live with me for a while? We no longer have a one-room apartment. We’ve expanded to four rooms. There’s definitely a place for you!» Lena suggested.
Lida thought it over and agreed to the proposal. It seemed to her that the young couple could benefit from living separately. And it was time to acknowledge that Sasha was not only her son but also the husband of another woman. After all, she had another daughter!
Lida informed her son and daughter-in-law, kissed her granddaughter, and went to Lena’s. A different life began, without quarrels, nerve-wracking, and constant household chores.
Lena and Arkadiy had no children. The apartment had all the household appliances that made housework easier. Lida was shocked that even the dishes were washed by a special machine. And the daughter and son-in-law preferred to eat out or order food delivery.
Lida wanted to be useful. Coming home from work, she cleaned floors, tidied up, but there was no great need for it. Out of habit, she cooked pots full of food. Borsch, cutlets, stuffed cabbage—all this was prepared in large quantities. However, no one needed her culinary creations. To Lida’s disappointment, the food had to be thrown away.
Initially, Arkadiy was calm about his mother-in-law’s presence. But soon, Lida’s presence began to strain him. Unintentionally, the woman brought many inconveniences into their family life. She was upset about the uneaten borsch, occupied the shower at inconvenient times, and demanded company in the evenings.
Lida lived with Lena and Arkadiy for several months. During this time, she managed to shift her attention from her son to her daughter. She talked to Sasha on the phone occasionally. He was always at work and could not talk to his mother for long.
One evening, Lena hugged her mother and said they needed to talk. She asked Lida to return to her own home, preferably as soon as possible.
Mama, my dear, please don’t be upset! But if you delay any longer, Arkadiy and I’s family life will be at risk. You aren’t homeless; you have a place to return to,» said Lena, praying to the heavens that her plea wouldn’t upset her mother too much.
It was unpleasant for Lida to hear such words from her own daughter, but she didn’t take offense. She understood that she was irritating her son-in-law. A decision was made to move the next day.
The woman began packing her things when the phone rang. Oddly, Sashka never called her himself; usually, he didn’t even respond to her calls right away.
«Mom, Yulia kicked me out of the house. And you,» Lida heard these words through the phone receiver and froze.
It took her a moment to comprehend what Sasha was trying to say. After another fight, Yulia declared that the apartment belonged to her daughter. She, as Anyuta’s mother, could live with her. But Sashka was nobody to her, especially since the girl had no father listed on her documents.
Lida had to tell Lena what Yulia had done. The daughter and son-in-law were completely shocked that their mother had transferred the apartment to the audacious daughter-in-law. Yes, not to her directly, but to the granddaughter, yet in this case, it made no difference. Yulia filed a lawsuit to evict Lida and Sasha.
Arkadiy said that Lena’s mother and brother could stay with them for a few more days. He paid for a lawyer’s consultation, but the lawyer’s response disappointed everyone even more. Lida was homeless due to her own folly.
Arkadiy empathized with his wife’s relatives but made it clear that he was not willing to tolerate them for long. With a sigh, Lena told her mother that she and Sasha needed to leave their apartment.
«Daughter, where should we go? I am homeless. Give us more time,» the woman pleaded.
«Mom, it hurts me to say this, but I don’t think time will solve anything here,» the daughter replied, tears in her eyes.
That evening, Lida made a decision. There was still a place in this world from which no one could expel her. Her father’s house. In that remote village.
She told her son about her decision. He nodded, understanding that they simply had no other option. Their first trip to the village saddened them even more. The plot and house were in a dilapidated state.
However, the woman walked around the places she knew from childhood. There was the well from which they drew water. There was the old cherry tree from which her mother made aromatic jam. The house smelled musty, but the furniture stood in the same places as in her mother’s time. Touching the dusty countertop, Lida smiled.
«Mom, what are you happy about? I can’t even imagine how we will live here. Of course, I will dig up everything, fix the fence, but…» Sasha was very confused.
«You know, I think we will live quite well. I have my pension, you’ll find a job. We’re not homeless. Trust me, it’s a good start,» the mother said.
The woman smiled again. And watching her, Sasha smiled too. It had been a long time since he had seen his mother so calm, so serene. And he hadn’t seen her smile in a long time either.
This place seemed to fill them with strength. The feeling of confusion disappeared, Sasha felt a surge of energy. He wanted to restore this old house, to see how the plot would transform over time. Together with his mother, they would create a new rear, strengthen, and gain strength. And then they would build life by new rules.
