Dear, think up there—up high—about how to offend your wife. When you’ve figured it all out, let me know! I’ll let you down, – shouted a pretty woman from the cab of the crane. And dangling from the hook was a little house, the kind you’d see in every village courtyard.
When this story is recalled in the village, the women burst into laughter while the men lower their eyes shyly and blush. Everyone in the vicinity knows the legend of how Taya taught her husband a lesson. Now it’s time for you to hear this tale.
Taya, a delicate and attractive girl, had dreamed of becoming a crane operator since childhood. It is unclear exactly what drew her to this profession. While other girls played with dolls, she happily tinkered with toy cars alongside the boys and constantly pleaded with her parents to buy her a toy crane.
But her mother and father were not accustomed to indulging childish whims. Village life is harsh; there is little time for amusement. Instead, her parents kept telling her that it was time to leave childish pastimes behind and take care of the household.
Obediently, Taya followed the cows to the herd, watered endless vegetable beds, scrubbed the floors, fed the livestock, collected eggs, and carried firewood and water for the bathhouse.
At school, the girl didn’t stand out in any special way. She was an average student. There were no failing marks in her diary, and for that she was grateful. In every subject, she consistently earned average grades.
Teachers shook their heads. They advised Taya’s parents to send her to learn a trade as a seamstress or a cook. At least she would have some profession. In their opinion, she shouldn’t dream of anything greater.
But Taya dreamed. In her fantasies, she saw herself not as just anyone, but as a crane operator skillfully handling a machine on a big construction site.
She considered this work romantic and easy. To her, sitting in a cab and moving levers was a trifle—just grab the loads and move them from place to place. Beautiful!
So Taya finished school. The time had come to choose an educational institution. She understood that with her mediocre certificate, dreams of getting into an institute were out of the question, so she called technical colleges and vocational schools in neighboring towns with one question: do you have a department that trains future crane operators?
And finally, such an institution was found. They even admitted students without exams. In the admissions office, they told her that there was a shortage of students that year, and she would be accepted. Yet they still advised her to choose another field.
The teachers looked at the slender girl, as delicate as a reed, with doubt and said:
“You, little one, must have come here to look for husbands? Only boys study here! Of course we’ll take you, since you so desperately want to become a crane operator. But remember: things are strict here. If need be, we’ll expel you right away. Don’t you dare bother our boys!”
But Taya had no intention of bothering anyone’s head, much less searching for a husband. She rejoiced that her dream was coming true. She would master the profession and become a real crane operator!
Astonishingly, her studies came easily to her. She quickly absorbed the theory, learned all the rules and regulations, and passed all the tests and exams.
Perhaps she was motivated by the words of one of the instructors. He told the students:
“Anyone who does not know the theory will not be allowed to practice! Remember that. And don’t even think about taking the controls until you’ve learned everything taught in the lectures.”
And so Taya studied. Then she became fully engrossed in her training, mastered the new terminology, and answered the teachers’ questions so confidently that they had no choice but to give her solid top marks.
Her fellow male students initially laughed at the girl, but soon they fell silent. Moreover, the strict teachers began to hold her up as an example, which greatly bruised the men’s pride.
During practical classes, Taya impressed not only the teachers and fellow students, but even experienced masters marveled at her skill in operating the crane. Yet one of them said to Taya:
“You, dear, are a natural crane operator! But you’ll never work with a crane. No self-respecting foreman will take a woman to a construction site! And at such heights, no less! Your hormones will control you! You never know what’s going on in your head!”
Taya merely smiled and eagerly awaited her graduation from the school. In the city, construction of a new residential complex was just beginning. She firmly decided that she would work there.
And Taya carried out her plans. With a red diploma in hand, she went to the construction manager. He listened to her but shook his head:
“No, dear, I won’t take you, so don’t beg! If you want, take a paintbrush and go join the painters! Or serve lunches to the workers—there’s no way I’m taking you as a crane operator. It’s not a woman’s job. It’s like with sailors: a woman on a ship brings trouble. Don’t even ask!”
But Taya went to him every day. She pleaded for a chance to show her abilities. In the end, he relented. He ordered her to sit at an unused crane and move a small load. It had to be placed exactly where the spot was marked with chalk.
The clunky machine obediently followed all commands of its unusual operator. In an instant, the little box was hooked onto the crane’s hook and, after a brief pause in the air, gently lowered onto the marked spot, drawn by the foreman with chalk.
The workers, who were watching, whistled in admiration! The manager, meanwhile, rubbed his head. He already regretted allowing the girl to take the controls. But a man’s word is law, and he had promised Taya a place on the team if she succeeded with the task.
Thus, Taya became a crane operator. She felt on top of the world, like a fish in water. She was trusted with transporting the most valuable loads. Everyone knew that the petite girl could handle the job. Even fragile structures were delivered intact.
Taya began to earn well, receiving bonuses. Yet she didn’t rush to spend her money on fancy outfits or cosmetics. She had another dream: to build her own house with her own hands.
After all, Taya was from the village. She dreamed of returning there. The city felt cramped to her. But she didn’t want to be a burden on her parents. So she dreamed of having her own home.
One day, the workers noticed that the cheerful Taya had changed. She no longer joked and seemed somehow depressed.
“She’s in love,” said one of the masters. And he wasn’t wrong.
Taya indeed fell in love. She met Misha by chance as she was walking home from work. The young man almost knocked her off her feet. He was riding a bicycle and in a hurry. He immediately apologized and suggested meeting up.
From then on, the young couple started spending time together. They strolled and laughed, yet Taya couldn’t bring herself to confess that she was a crane operator. She was ashamed of her “unfeminine” profession.
But when it turned out that Mikhail was not a professor, but merely a tractor driver who had come to the city for an advanced training course, she opened up to him.
Mikhail said:
“Taya, I dream of building my own house in the village. But without a wife it will be difficult. Be my wife. And that you’re a crane operator—it doesn’t matter. A woman’s place is to cook lunch for her husband and take care of the children. Everyone has a past.”
Taya could hardly believe that this handsome man was asking her to be his wife. His words about a woman’s fate did not wound her. She gladly agreed.
Thus, Taya found herself in Mikhail’s village. At the wedding, the relatives gifted them a respectable sum, which was enough to immediately start construction. The young couple didn’t delay.
Work sprang into action in the spring. Taya’s skills came in handy. One day, while observing another crane operator, she frowned and said:
“Get out of the cab. I’ll do it myself!” From then on, she personally supervised the construction of her house. The workers obeyed her, while her husband merely clicked his tongue and said:
“That’s a wife! Truly, one who can stop a galloping horse and even enter a burning hut!” – exactly the kind of partner he had dreamed of.
The construction neared completion. The house was ready. The couple held a housewarming party and went on to live in love and plenty.
Of course, there was no mobile crane in the village. But Taya was undaunted. Her character had changed. She became obedient and gentle, allowing Mikhail to command her, after all, he was the man.
And so their married life flowed. Everything went smoothly for them. The house shone with cleanliness, the aroma of fresh baked goods filled the air, and the garden yielded a rich harvest.
Mikhail worked on the local farm. He left early in the morning and returned only at sunset. From his wife he demanded love and respect, and she tried her utmost to give it. After all, Taya truly loved her Misha.
However, over time, Mikhail began to abuse his position. He started to allow himself rudeness and sharpness. In the house, his orders were heard time and again:
“Tayka! The floors are filthy today, and the garden beds—I checked, and they’re overrun with weeds! What on earth have you been doing all day? And yesterday’s borscht you served me—how can that be?”
“Misha, I’m struggling with the household work. After all, we’re expecting a baby soon!”
The thought of impending fatherhood somewhat calmed Mikhail. He smirked smugly and patted his wife on the back:
“Give me a son! Otherwise, I won’t let you into the house! You’ll be sleeping in the chicken coop!” He was convinced that Taya would “obey” him and give birth to a boy who would be his exact replica.
But a daughter was born. Blue-eyed and fragile. Yet she cried out at night so loudly that it seemed as if a real man had taken up residence in the house. Mikhail, of course, did not send his wife to the chicken coop. But his dissatisfaction began to show more and more.
Every day in the house, his commanding voice resounded:
“Tayka, the cutlets are burnt! The bathhouse is barely warm, not properly stoked! It’s time to dig up the potatoes! What on earth have you been doing all day?”
“Mishenka, I was with Katyenka. I can’t be away from the garden for too long. She’s a very capricious little girl. She won’t let her mother go!”
Mikhail frowned in discontent and hurriedly left the house, leaving his wife alone with the noisy daughter.
Soon, his behavior became entirely inappropriate. Sometimes he would come home at dawn, other times he would get so drunk he lost consciousness, and sometimes he would hurl dishes, which, in his opinion, were not clean enough.
Taya endured. She blamed herself for having a daughter instead of a son. She tried to please her husband to avoid inciting his displeasure.
If her former classmates or former colleagues from the construction site saw her now, they would not recognize the once slender and cheerful girl in this exhausted woman. The spark in her eyes had gone out; she stopped dreaming and seemed to have completely forgotten that she was a talented specialist—a far cry from the woman her husband desired.
One day, a relative invited both Taya and Misha to a visit. She insisted that the couple must attend the feast because an important guest was expected.
Taya arranged with her neighbor to watch her daughter. The neighbor agreed. And Taya happily began to choose an outfit. She hadn’t left the house for a long time and was delighted about the occasion.
She cheerfully styled her hair, ironed her dress, and was just applying mascara when Mikhail returned home. He was in a foul mood. Taya immediately shrank under his gaze. He furrowed his brows and asked:
“Where do you think you’re going all dressed up? Where are you off to? Trying to attract men? A woman’s place is to cook her husband’s lunch and look after the children! I’ve told you a hundred times! Go and clean the toilet. I made a mess in there. It’s not a woman’s job to go about visiting people. Stay home; I’ll go alone.”
Taya couldn’t believe her ears or eyes. Her husband had turned out to be a true despot and tyrant. She obediently removed her dress, started wiping the mascara from her eyes. Meanwhile, Mikhail changed his clothes and left, smiling smugly.
As soon as he was out of sight, Taya burst into tears. She let the long-suppressed tears flow. At that moment, the neighbor arrived, as arranged, to look after the child. Seeing the distressed, crying woman, she said:
“Taya, what happened? Why are you crying? Go on, get ready to go out! I ran into Mikhail. He looked all puffed up and handsome!”
“But he forbade me, Natasha!” Taya bitterly exclaimed. “He ordered me to clean the toilet!” She began to cry even harder.
“Good grief, that scoundrel! I wasn’t going to tell you, Taya, but it seems it’s time. Your Mikhail has taken a mistress from the neighboring village. She’s an accountant, a fashionista; men flock around her, and she chose your Misha!”
He had gone out without you because he had arranged it with the relative. And she, that city beauty, will be there! Just think what you’ll do! They’ll take the man away from your family!
Suddenly, Taya composed herself. She looked at her tiny daughter, remembered how affectionate her Mikhail had been before the wedding, and asked Natasha:
“Watch my daughter, Natasha. I’ll be back before dark.”
“Of course, I’ll watch her, don’t worry! Are you going out? Give her a good talking-to so that she doesn’t run after other men and confuse them!”
But Taya was in no hurry to go out. She took a regional bus and headed out. There she found her former foreman. It’s unclear what they talked about, but Taya returned to the village in a crane.
She parked the machine in the yard, deciding that her drunken husband simply wouldn’t notice. Then she went into the house and relieved the neighbor of her duties.
Night was drawing near. It was getting dark. Taya put her daughter to bed and lay down herself. Mikhail was still not home. Finally, in the darkness, his footsteps were heard. The husband returned, cheerful and tipsy. He was humming something and dropping his belongings. It was evident he was eating in the kitchen.
Taya did not come out. She waited until her husband entered the room. Finally, he did. The woman pretended as if she had just woken up and said to her husband:
“Misha, the toilet at home is broken. I’ve shut off the water. Please go out to the yard. Otherwise, you might get confused right after waking up and head to the outdoor lavatory.”
Mikhail grumbled:
“Leave you at home! You’d mess everything up. Now you have to go out. Well, at least they haven’t disassembled the outdoor toilet! Still, I’m resourceful and clever. I sensed you’d mess everything up.”
Misha went to the toilet. As soon as he sat down to take care of his business, something inexplicable began to happen. The little house started swaying, spinning, and it seemed to hang in the air. He hesitantly opened the door and nearly lost the gift of speech.
The outdoor toilet was hanging in mid-air. And his wife’s voice echoed:
“Dear, think up there, up high, how to offend your wife. When you’ve figured it all out, let me know! I’ll let you down!”
Mikhail just sat back down. This abnormality had hoisted the wooden little house with the crane. She had gone mad! He shouted:
“Tayka! Immediately stop fooling around! Lower me to the ground. I’ll have a word with you!”
“What are you saying, dear? I can’t hear a thing. You’d better be careful! You might fall—this height is several meters. And have some shame for the neighbors! What will they think when they see you screaming without pants in the sky? They’ll report you to your dear queen! How will you ever look her in the eyes?”
Mikhail thought he must have overdrunk and was simply dreaming a terrible dream. He leaned against the side of the little house and closed his eyes. Soon the intoxication would wear off, and he would find himself in a warm bed next to his wife.
But nothing like that happened. As soon as the roosters crowed and dawn broke, he again found himself suspended in the air. His wife was no longer in the crane’s cab. Evidently, she had gone home to be with her daughter.
And the wooden little house swayed in the gusts of wind, threatening to collapse. Mikhail screamed at the top of his lungs:
“Good people, help me! Taya has suspended me! Taya, get me down from here, you know I’m afraid of heights!”
On the porch, Taya appeared, and neighbors began to gather around the house, roused by Misha’s cries.
And Taya stood on the porch and said:
“Dear, have you forgotten how you used to love me? I decided to remind you! Think about your behavior. If you want to leave the family, go ahead. I won’t hold you back! And I won’t allow you to abuse yourself anymore. And clean the toilet after yourself. I bet you made such a mess!”
“And cleaning isn’t my thing—I’ve got another talent! The foreman has invited me to work; I’m going to the city. It’s only a 15-minute bus ride. I’ll make it! And Natasha will watch the daughter. You’ll have to learn to cook lunches, do the washing, and everything!”
Mikhail realized his wife was not joking. He wailed:
“Taya, please forgive me for Christ’s sake! I’ve lost my mind! I love you. I love our daughter. I swear I won’t hurt you again! Get me down from here!”
Taya slowly walked to the machine, settled into the cab, and started the engine. The toilet swayed a little longer in the air and then gently landed back in its rightful place.
The neighboring women laughed and elbowed their husbands, threatening that they’d call Tayka if they dared to disrespect her. They say that in that village there are no more quarrels or discord. And the men now live with respect for the female half and are gentle! Don’t believe it? Come and see!
