Marish, how good it is that you’re already on vacation. There’s something I need to tell you…
Her husband hesitated slightly. He always acted like this when he wanted to ask his wife for something. He knew her difficult character well. So he didn’t always have the courage to explain the whole request right away. Just like now.
“What else happened? Well, speak up already, don’t keep me in suspense. And what does my vacation have to do with it?” the wife asked irritably.
“Yesterday Oksana called me. The thing is… well, she and her husband are coming to our city for a few days. They were invited to a friend of my sister’s for a jubilee. So, they want to stay with us. You’re not against it, are you?”
“Against it, of course! I know my sister-in-law. She’ll show up and just lie on the couch, and I’ll have to serve them all!” Marina reacted quickly. “I’m against it, just so you know!”
“What couch? What are you talking about? They won’t have time for that. They’re only planning to sleep over. Two or three nights, no more, that’s what my sister explained.”
“Mish, what, do you want to ruin my vacation? You know how much I’ve been waiting for it, I’m tired out like a dog from this job. And now your shameless relatives show up! Let them stay in a hotel. They can afford it.”
“Well, you’re exaggerating! Didn’t you think about what my parents will say afterward? And you? Oksana will complain to my mother right away,” Mikhail was upset. “She’ll say a bunch of nasty things about us. Describe everything in detail — how we didn’t want to host close family. And then I’ll have to listen to complaints from my parents for a year. Do I need that?”
“It’s like the Stone Age! All normal people have long since settled in hotels or rented apartments. So they don’t bother relatives who have enough of their own affairs and worries. And who, by the way, don’t live in royal palaces themselves.”
“Oh, stop it, our apartment is fine. So? You’re completely refusing? You don’t even want to see them?” the husband insisted.
“Why? We can meet with them, sit at the table for an hour or two. I understand we need to meet relatives, sit at the table. And that’s it. Tell Oksana that,” Marina strictly ordered her husband. “And let them live somewhere else. My mother promised to come over soon. And she hasn’t decided which day yet.”
“My mother-in-law is coming to us?” Mikhail was surprised and immediately brightened. “Well, it turns out you also have guests planned.”
“No, don’t compare — my mother and your sister with some complete stranger!”
“What stranger? He’s my brother-in-law.”
Whatever Mikhail said to his sister, two days later she and her husband arrived with their travel bags, which clearly indicated they intended to stay with the brother and sister-in-law.
“Hi, Marish! Glad to see you, dear! You look great as always! Listen, it’s so lucky that you’re on vacation,” Oksana chirped, hugging her sister-in-law.
“Really? And why is that so good? Especially for you?” Marina asked in surprise.
“Oh, come on! It’s one thing when the hostess is home and quite another when you have to cook something yourself in someone else’s apartment. You know, I have a principle — I never mess around in someone else’s kitchen. I don’t even go in there. I don’t have such a habit. I know no hostess likes that.”
“You’re right about that,” Marina said gloomily, setting the table. “Who would like that?”
“That’s why it’s good you’ll be home these days. You’ll cook and set the table for us yourself,” the cheeky sister-in-law said flatly, smiling broadly.
“Yeah, right! Get lost!” Marina whispered to herself.
But what happened next changed her plans somewhat.
The next day, the sister-in-law and her husband woke up close to lunchtime. Getting up, they went to the kitchen intending to have a nice breakfast — and lunch at the same time, since the timing worked out.
But the kitchen was quiet and spotless. Moreover, no one was home. Where was the hostess, who was supposed to be on vacation and waiting for guests with a welcoming smile and a set table, was unclear.
“Marish, where are you? Did you run out to the store or something?” Oksana asked, surprised, dialing her sister-in-law’s number.
“No. I have things to do. I left. You guys manage yourselves.”
Oksana, quite displeased by this fact, had to put the kettle on and find leftovers in the fridge. She and her husband had to make do with reheated food from yesterday.
That evening, there was a banquet at the restaurant, which was the reason for their visit. So Oksana was not too upset by Marina’s absence at home, knowing they would have a hearty dinner. After lying down for a couple more hours after the heavy snack, she and her husband got ready to go to their friend’s jubilee.
Meanwhile, Marina went to the market. She needed to buy some groceries for her mother’s upcoming visit. Then she stopped by to see a colleague, just to avoid hosting guests at home.
“Let them fuss around there themselves. Look at her — ‘I don’t cook in someone else’s kitchen.’ What a princess! And Marina is supposed to serve them — cook, set the table, wash up. Yeah, right! They picked the wrong person,” Marina shared her indignation with her colleague.
“Well, your sister-in-law is definitely cheeky. When my relative comes over, we cook together. And set the table together. And she always washes the dishes, telling me to sit down and rest — she’ll do it all herself. But yours is like royalty. Some kind of lady!” the colleague supported her.
Returning home, Marina found a mountain of dirty dishes in the sink and crumbs and trash on the table and kitchen floor.
“Clear. They ate everything from the fridge but their pride won’t let them wash up!” the hostess complained, looking at the mess in the kitchen.
The sister-in-law and her husband came back from the banquet late at night. Drunk and heated by the fun, they tried to continue socializing with the brother and sister-in-law, but those were already asleep. The guests loudly discussed something for a long time, seasoning their drunken talk with boisterous laughter.
“Mishanya, Marisha, come on, let’s sit, drink, sing. Why are you so boring?” slurred a tipsy Oksana. “You’ll have time to sleep!”
Finally, the rude guests somehow calmed down and fell asleep.
The next morning, Marina’s mother, Vera Leonidovna, arrived.
The guests, waking up closer to eleven, asked the hosts for breakfast.
“But normal people have breakfast in the morning. And exactly when the hosts set the table. Not closer to noon. Or whenever they feel like it. You’re not in a hotel. And it’s totally rude to behave like this!” Vera Leonidovna said strictly. “Missed breakfast — now you’re on your own. And don’t forget to wash the dishes after yourselves! I will be watching.”
After breakfast, which they prepared themselves with clear displeasure, and after washing the dishes, the sister-in-law and her husband got ready to go about their business.
“Keep in mind — if you plan to have dinner here, come early. I’ll need peeled potatoes, onions, carrots. And just little things to help me. Don’t forget to buy good meat for roasting, vegetables, and fruits. You don’t live in a hotel here to be waited on,” Vera Leonidovna said sternly. “Got it?”
Oksana made a sour face. Some strange woman bossing her around — that was the last thing she needed! And besides — they were guests. What kind of orders were these? Just insolence.
“Oh, I forgot one more thing. After dinner today, you’ll also wash the kitchen,” Vera Leonidovna added to the departing Oksana. “Marina told me you left a mess yesterday. That’s unacceptable! You can’t behave like that, friends. You came as guests — behave like people, not barbarians. It’s even embarrassing for you. All grown-ups and I have to explain things like to little children.”
Vera Leonidovna continued her speech, ignoring the displeased look on Oksana’s face. The elderly woman knew for sure — rudeness must be met with rudeness.
“Uh… We’ll think about it. Maybe we won’t come back here to sleep. The thing is, my friend invited us over last night. Most likely, we’ll accept her invitation. Vlad! Vladik, where are you? Take our bags, just in case,” Oksana ordered her husband who was leaving the apartment. “And give Mikhail our warmest regards.”
“Well then! And you said I wouldn’t handle them,” Vera Leonidovna said to her daughter. “I’ve handled worse. When I remember how many rivals I’ve knocked out of the race — oh! And your situation — it’s nothing! A trifle. You’re just too polite to tell her something, but I don’t care, I’m a stranger to her!”
“Yes, Mom, you’re great. I’m proud of you. I warned Misha right away — tell them to live somewhere else, in a hotel. But they barged in rudely and started acting brazenly,” Marina shared with her mother.
“Well then, I’m staying with you for a week. Can you stand me?”
“Mom, you’re family. Of course, we can. What are you talking about?”
“Well then, I’m going to the kitchen. Time to cook lunch,” Vera Leonidovna said cheerfully.
In the evening, as expected, the guests did not return. The arrival of Marina’s mother changed everything drastically. And the cheeky relatives did not like it at all.
