Alka froze in the bedroom doorway, watching Misha hurriedly tie the laces on his scuffed sneakers. His movements were fussy, jittery—like he was trying to run from an inevitable conversation. “So you’re going to an interview in a tracksuit?” There was no anger in her voice, only surprise. Misha didn’t look up, still fussing with […]
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Olga tapped “hang up” and stared blankly at her phone. The same thing again. Third day in a row. “Mom, hi! We’re at Grandma Galya’s! It’s awesome here! She made pies! When are you coming?” In the background there was always her mother-in-law’s voice: “Alisochka, tell Mommy we love her! That we’re taking good care […]
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— “Here’s how it’s going to be, Zoyenka.” The voice of Tamara Igorevna, sounding from the kitchen doorway, held not a drop of sentiment; it was more like an order barked at a negligent subordinate than a conversation with a daughter-in-law. Without an invitation she walked into the spacious room flooded with morning sun; her […]
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— “Knock yourself out, Vera Igorevna,” the son-in-law handed her a flat tablet box. “At least you can hang out on Odnoklassniki.” Stanislav Belozyorov smiled his signature condescending smile—the one reserved for children, dogs, and, apparently, mothers-in-law. “Either way, the real internet is off-limits to you, with your… experience.” He didn’t know that Vera Igorevna […]
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“Come in, Marina. Dinner needs to be cooked; the groceries are in a bag in the kitchen. The laundry’s in the basket. Dust the living room too—haven’t had a chance in ages,” the future mother-in-law rattled off, then casually added, “And Vanya and I will watch a movie in the living room in the meantime.” […]
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Lidia had put her daughter Elsa to bed just a couple of minutes ago. She was about to lie down herself and enjoy the quiet of the cozy apartment. But at that moment the doorbell rang. A melodious chime announced a visitor. “Well, so much for that,” the young woman said wryly and went to […]
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Marina reread the document for the third time, unable to believe her eyes. An official letter from the notary’s office lay on her kitchen table beside a half-finished cup of tea. In dry legal language, the letter stated that her brother Viktor had filed a claim to recover from her half of the amount spent […]
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— “Do you have your own car? Or are you planning to rely on Kostya’s?” Nika froze with a glass of juice halfway to her lips. At that moment, Kostya was slicing cheese at the kitchen counter; a slow flush crept over his cheeks. The woman who had just entered the apartment stood in the […]
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“Mom, hi, I urgently need your help.” Her son’s voice on the phone sounded as if he were speaking to an annoying subordinate, not to his mother. Nina Petrovna froze with the remote in her hand, never turning on the evening news. “Kiryusha, hello. Did something happen?” “No, everything’s fine,” Kirill exhaled impatiently. “It’s just […]
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I ran my finger over the cold steel of the keys in my pocket. Two brand-new, gleaming keys to an apartment Mark will never set foot in. “Should I hang another shelf above the dresser, what do you think?” he asked without looking up from his laptop. “For my awards. They’re bringing me another one […]
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