— What do you mean you didn’t pay? What? Why? — Svetlana looked surprised from the bathroom, where she was hand-washing her daughter’s clothes.
The child needed to go to kindergarten, clean clothes had run out, and, as if on purpose, the washing machine had broken down. And there was simply no money to fix it right now.
— Well, I have nothing to pay with at the moment, nothing. You know, I lent Vitya thirty thousand at the beginning of the month for furniture. He promised to pay back, but hasn’t yet, — Sergey shrugged.
— What? The bank won’t wait! Find money, call your mother, call your sister in the city. Let them lend you something, at least for a few days until you get your debt back, — Svetlana complained.
Here we go again, what a curse! When it’s time to pay the mortgage, one problem after another pops up. Last month my husband’s salary was delayed, and then partially paid. Their crew was fined some penalties. And now her kind husband, who always tried to help everyone, hasn’t been repaid his loan. How they’re going to manage now, only God knows.
— Call your family, ask them, — Sergey answered gloomily.
— Hah, call my family? We owe them for two months already! We paid last month and the month before with their money, remember? — Svetlana said irritably. — Call your family, I say. There’s nowhere else to turn, no one will pay our mortgage for us.
Sergey reluctantly took his cellphone and dialed his older sister’s number. She lived with her family in the city.
— Galya, hi. How are you all? — Sergey started, not very cheerfully.
— Oh, little brother! Hi, hi! — unlike her brother, the sister sounded lively and cheerful. — Glad you called. I was about to call you myself, but got caught up — so much to do before the trip.
— Well, I… uh, why I’m calling — we need to pay the mortgage with Sveta, but we’re really short on money now. Could you lend us something? I’ll pay you back soon, as soon as Vitya returns my debt from work, I’ll transfer it to you.
— Oh, we’re planning to visit him, and he’s asking for a loan. Well, well! How am I supposed to understand this, little brother? What will you serve your guests if your pockets are empty? — Galya joked.
— Guests? To us? — Sergey was surprised.
— What guests? — Svetlana poked her head out from the bathroom, sweaty from the hard and unfamiliar work.
— Leave me alone, — Sergey waved irritably, annoyed by the bad news.
— Yes, guests! — shouted Galya into the phone. — Aren’t you happy? And don’t worry about money. I’ll lend whatever you need.
— Thanks, Galya, of course. But right now, we really aren’t in the mood for guests. Maybe you and your family should go to our parents? — Sergey suggested, already imagining Svetlana’s reaction.
— What? Why can’t we come to you? — Galya was surprised. — We visit our parents every month, but haven’t been to you yet. You’ve lived in your house for half a year now. You don’t invite any relatives. We want to come with Igor and the kids for a few days. See how you settled in the new place. Or are you not happy to see us? Maybe you’re sick?
— We just have no time for that now, really, Galya! It’s one thing after another. No money. The fridge is empty, the washing machine broke, the hair dryer burned out, we haven’t paid for internet and cable TV. Sveta keeps nagging me. We’re broke.
— Oh, I can’t, you’re whining. No money, and there’s a mouse hanging in the fridge. I don’t recognize you, little brother. Is that really you? All problems are solvable. The main thing is that everyone is healthy, the rest is nonsense. That’s it, case closed and not subject to appeal! You have a house, so you can host guests. And we’ll bring everything you need with us. Expect us tomorrow!
Galya hung up. A couple of minutes later, Sergey received from his sister on his account the amount needed to pay the loan.
— Oh, the money came.
— Well, pay it then, what are you waiting for? — Svetlana asked.
— Now there’s another problem. Galya and her family are coming tomorrow, — Sergey said resignedly.
— You couldn’t refuse them? Explain that since we’re borrowing, we can’t have guests. What will I serve them? — Svetlana was annoyed.
— I tried, honestly! You heard. But Galya is not easily convinced. You don’t know her, do you? She said she’ll bring everything necessary herself.
The next day, closer to evening, a crossover drove up to the small cozy Vasilyev house, and out poured Galya’s whole family onto the spacious village street.
— Well, welcome, relatives! — she cheerfully shouted opening the gate to the still not fully arranged yard.
Svetlana, Sergey, and their five-year-old daughter Verochka stood on the porch.
— Hello, Galya. Hi, Igor, — Sergey hugged his sister and brother-in-law, speaking somewhat gloomily.
— Hello, welcome, — Svetlana said without emotion.
— Why so lifeless? Come on, let’s hug properly! — Galya said to her sister-in-law. — I’m so glad to see you all! And my niece! Hello, Verochka!
Galya hugged the whole brother’s family warmly, squeezing them and infecting them with her energy. Then Igor and the nephews also hugged and kissed Sveta and little Verochka, which made them a bit shy.
After the hugs, Igor and Galya with the children took numerous bags and packages brought from the car into the yard.
— So, here we have a portable grill, the guys will assemble it soon. This container has shashlik, we marinated it last night, should be tasty. In those bags are food — fish, cheese, sausage, greens… Something else, I don’t remember. I think fruits. In that bag are sweets and everything for tea — pastries, cookies, wafers, marshmallows. By the way, we also brought tea and coffee. And didn’t forget the strong drinks, — Galya chirped cheerfully, surprising Sergey and Svetlana more and more.
— Why so much? — the housewife asked, looking at the many food bags.
— Don’t worry, we’ll eat it all. Look how many of us there are, — Galya answered briskly.
Then she took out an unbelievably beautiful doll for Verochka from a bag.
— Here, my beauty, this is for you!
— Thank you! — the girl answered, admiring the unusual toy.
At that moment, a signal sounded from a delivery truck that arrived at the house gate.
— Who’s that? — Sergey was surprised. — Must have the wrong address.
— No, no! Not wrong. It’s for you. Come on, Sergey, help me unload, — called his brother-in-law Igor.
— Sveta, — Galya started as the men carried a huge box into the yard. — It’s our first time visiting you. So we decided with my husband to give you a washing machine for your housewarming. Let this be our kind gift that will serve you in this house for many years.
— What? — the young couple were surprised. — That’s very expensive! We would have fixed our own somehow.
— Nothing expensive. As my mother says, affordable — said pleased Galya. She loved giving gifts to close people. — Now install it with Igor. Meanwhile, Sveta and I will deal with the groceries and set the table. The kids will help us.
Then the guests looked around the yard and house with interest and were very pleased with Sergey and Sveta’s new home.
— Well done, guys! You did the right thing buying a house. Now you can order a stork to bring a brother for Verochka, — Galya said smiling.
When all the relatives sat down at the big table, Sergey sincerely thanked his sister and brother-in-law for such a generous and necessary gift.
— I join my husband. You really saved us. I’ve already worn out my hands. We’re not used to washing by hand like our grandmothers, — Svetlana said.
— That’s not all! — Galya declared solemnly. — Sveta, your birthday was two weeks ago, right?
— Yes, — she answered shyly.
— Well then. Here’s a gift from me and Igor. A hairdryer of the latest model with a set of attachments. You’ll be the most beautiful in your village!
— Oh, thank you! Very timely. Mine burned out recently, — Svetlana was surprised receiving the gift from her sister-in-law.
At that moment, everyone at the table felt warmth and comfort in their hearts.
In the next two days, the guests did not sit still. They helped the owners tidy up the plot. They cut the overgrown cherry and raspberry bushes covering most of the yard, pruned dry branches on fruit trees, dug up the ground and made beds for future plantings. Besides that, Sergey and Igor repaired an old gazebo and painted it bright blue. Then they built a table and benches inside it.
— Well, next time we come, you can already sit here. And you need to build a grill in the yard. Very convenient — you can grill meat and vegetables, — Igor said.
— We’ll build it. Now that we have such helpers, we can even build the Great Wall of China, — Sergey said smiling.
Everything is good. And you should definitely keep in touch with relatives. Especially if they really want it themselves.
