«And she spent the whole bonus? The entire amount? That much money?» Lydia Gavrilovna asked in surprise. «You said Galya would pay for our trip to the Shishkins! I’ve already promised them that we would come. What’s going on?» — «I don’t know, all of it or half. Mom, why are you starting this again?» Artem asked displeasedly. «Galya doesn’t even report to me about where she spends her money. Be thankful that she tolerates me while I’m trying to find a decent job and is paying my bills. As for your trip, I just assumed Galya would help. But whether she gives you money or not is her business.»
— «Well, this is not right. Son, you should know what your family budget is spent on. And it’s better not just to control it but to direct it. So to speak, take a leading position and decide yourself where and what your wife’s money is spent on. And helping parents is a sacred duty.» — «Easy for you to say, mom. What about the fact that I’m not bringing home even half of the money I used to? And it’s all because I was laid off from my main job, and now I’m just picking up odd jobs here and there.»
— «Nothing to worry about. It’s all temporary, your Galya should understand that. And you’re the head of the family, the leader. You should be the one to allocate all the money,» Lydia Gavrilovna argued with her son. Her son Artem was weak-willed. Not the kind she wanted to see him in family life. He and Galya had been living together for five years, and everything had been fine until the last year. Until Artem was fired from a good job where he earned as much as his wife did at her organization.
Then the troubles started — scandals between son and daughter-in-law caused by a lack of money, constant reproaches. Previously, Lydia Gavrilovna could always count on help from her daughter-in-law or Artem, but now he himself kept trying to borrow money from his mother. It was stressful. The woman tried to discuss this topic with her daughter-in-law, but she refused to discuss money in their family.
Her mother-in-law knew that Galina worked as a department head in a company that sold commercial equipment. Her daughter-in-law’s salary had always been good, and lately, it had been excellent. And while Artem also had a permanent job, Galya even periodically helped her mother-in-law with money.
Particularly the last time she helped significantly when Lydia Gavrilovna decided to take care of her health and went to an expensive sanatorium. Galina paid for half of the ticket then.
Now there could be no talk of sanatoriums. Artem’s marriage was at risk because the son could not find a decent job.
A few days ago, he gave his mother good news — he was promised a manager position at a company renowned for its high market rating. Artem was inspired and even hinted to his mother that perhaps Galina would help them with her bonus. They planned to go to the neighboring city to visit Lydia Gavrilovna’s native sister, who had recently become a grandmother and joyfully invited all her relatives.
— «Oh, son, that’s going to be a lot of money! Tickets back and forth for two, and you need to buy a nice gift for the newborn, and goodies for everyone we haven’t seen for years. Honestly, I have no idea where to get the money,» she lamented. — «No, we won’t go with your father. Where would we get the funds!»
— «But Galya will help!» Artem exclaimed joyfully, already anticipating a good position with a corresponding salary.
— «You think?» — his mother asked doubtfully.
— «Yes, I’m sure! I’ll tell her you need help with money. She just got a good bonus recently, she even boasted about it to me. I think she won’t refuse.»
— «That would be good, son! So, can we hope? Then we and your father will start getting ready.»
This conversation happened a couple of days ago. And today, a distressed Artem called and reported that the job opportunity had fallen through again. The position he was promised was given to someone else, someone with connections.
— «Well, nothing, son, don’t be upset. It means it’s not yours. Just wait. You’ll find a decent job,» Lydia Gavrilovna hurried to reassure her son.
— «I’m tired of waiting! I’m fed up with everything!» Artem couldn’t take it anymore.
— «Don’t shout. Tell me, did you talk to Galya, will she give us the money for the trip?» Lydia Gavrilovna asked.
— «Forget about it! No money at all!»
— «How so? What does that mean? Did she refuse to help us?» the mother was surprised.
— «Yes, she refused. Said she had already spent all the money,» Artem replied angrily, beginning to feel stressed by the conversation.
— «What do you mean ‘all’? You told me two days ago that Galya got a very good bonus. Was that true? And how did she manage to spend that money in such a short time? Did you even find out?» Lydia Gavrilovna insisted.
Artem hung up the phone — the conversation was useless and empty. He hadn’t forgotten that his mother and father were expecting financial help from his wife. He even mentioned it to his wife yesterday. But he received such a backlash that he was even slightly surprised.
— «Listen, who told them that I have to help? I don’t need your parents as freeloaders! Not only am I feeding my little son and practically unemployed husband, but these people decided to latch onto our family budget too! Isn’t it a bit much to expect me to support so many dependents on one salary?» Galina shouted.
— «Why are you so upset? No, then no. I’m not insisting. Just, you said that the bonus would be good this time, so I thought…»
— «You’d better think about something else — where to find a normal job with a normal salary!» Galina snapped angrily. — «And I’ll handle my bonus myself, okay? If I want to spend it, I’ll spend it, and if I want, I’ll save it. My money, I’ll do what I want with it.»
— «Still, it’s our family budget,» remembering his mother’s instructions, Artem decided to object.
— «Yes, you’re right. Only I manage it. It has historically been that way in our family, as public figures like to express. That’s it, the question is settled. Tell your mother-in-law that there will be no more money from me!»
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But Lydia Gavrilovna herself decided to find out why her daughter-in-law, having the money, refused to help them. She was not about to let this unclear situation go. There was money — she should fork it out!
— «Galya, we need to talk,» she called that same evening, not wanting to put off the problem.
— «And what about?» — knowing the subject of the conversation, nevertheless, Galina asked.
— «I thought we had a friendly family, and you always cared about what happened in it. And that was until the last moment,» the mother-in-law began from afar.
— «Specify your request, I don’t have time. I need to bathe and put my son to bed,» Galina said displeased.
— «I think you understand what I’m talking about. My husband and I need money, we are going to the Shishkins for a celebration on the occasion of their grandson’s birth, and…»
— «Well, go then!» Galina interrupted her sharply. — «Did you decide to ask my permission? Oh, no! Wait, I’ll answer myself. You decided to ask for something else. Rather, to demand. Money, right?»
— «Yes, you’re thinking correctly. But why ‘demand’? That’s rude. And why not help close people if you have the money? My son told me that you received a large bonus, Galya. So don’t be stingy, give us money for the trip,» Lydia Gavrilovna continued, ignoring her daughter-in-law’s sarcastic tone.
— «Why should I? Why the need to visit such a distance if there’s no money? Or is there, but you decided to use mine? How come — the daughter-in-law got a big bonus, but you didn’t get any. That’s not right!»
— «Don’t be cheeky. What kind of way is that to talk to a mother-in-law? What’s wrong with you? You’ve always been well-mannered and restrained. And what’s happening now? Just because Artem is temporarily not working, it’s not a reason to quarrel with his entire family!» the mother-in-law shouted into the phone. — «You should have some respect!»
— «There’s no money for you!» Galina decided to end the conversation.
— «Why not? Tell me for goodness’ sake, what did you spend such an amount on? Even your husband Artem doesn’t know! Please, tell us all! Open your eyes to where the family money is going! What needs are there that we don’t know about?»
— «Haha. Now! Why should I report to you? You forgot to ask me how to spend my money!» Galina retorted to her mother-in-law. — «I earned it, and I’ll decide what to do with it.»
Deciding no longer to be ceremonious with her mother-in-law, Galina switched to informal speech in the conversation. She wanted to show that she was not to be trifled with and that she was not going to bow down to the whims of her husband’s mother.
— «Listen to her! There’s your character showing through. A rude woman! She won’t report! You will, sweetly! Or else I’ll tell my son, he’ll dump you in a flash, and then you’ll be left alone to brood. Look at her, a princess! Look at her, a rich woman!» the mother-in-law shouted, no longer restraining her emotions.
Galina disconnected.
— «Lord, what people! No matter how much good you do, they’ll still trample you into the mud,» she said in frustration.
— «Are you talking about my mother? Don’t be offended by her. She’s not used to someone refusing her. And you’re the first one from our entire family who dared to contradict her,» Artem said.
— «I could care less about her habits! You have to behave decently, and then everyone around will treat you the same way. I don’t need her whims. By the way, you’re also very interested in where I put my money? Your mother-in-law mentioned that you’re in the dark regarding my bonus,» Galina asked her husband.
— «Yes, interesting. Did you really spend it all? And on what?»
— «No, imagine that, I didn’t spend it. This time I put it in an account with good interest rates. It’s time to start saving something. Otherwise, I might end up in debt with you,» the wife replied.
— «Really? That’s surprising. So, you decided to save? Or did you think about running away from me? Preparing a safety cushion?» Artem asked with offense and suspicion in his voice.
— «Anything can happen in life. We’re not insured against anything. So a reserve won’t hurt. Smart people worry about their children’s future in advance. And if I fulfill all the wishes and desires of your parents, then no salaries or bonuses would be enough.»
Lydia Gavrilovna, having disconnected from the unpleasant conversation, looked at her husband with a discontented glance and declared:
— «What does she allow herself? It has always been, from time immemorial, that a daughter-in-law should know her place! I remember when I married you, I gave my entire salary to my mother-in-law for the first two years.»
— «Oh, you found something to remember. We lived with parents then, we had nothing of our own, remember? And now what, is it comparable to that time! You should leave Galina alone, before trouble happens,» her husband Peter said.
— «Teach me more!»
Lydia Gavrilovna called the Shishkins, deciding to cancel her visit, citing temporary financial difficulties.
— «Just come without gifts. What are you thinking? We’re happy to see you!» her sister shouted into the phone.
— «At least throw us some money for the tickets then, and we’ll pay you back later. Once my son starts earning well, we’ll return everything,» Lydia Gavrilovna asked her sister, stubbornly unwilling to spend her own money on the trip.
— «Alright, we’ll give you the money, come visit,» the relatives agreed.
