– And what, she spent the whole bonus? Really all of it? Such a huge amount of money? – Lidiya Gavrilovna asked in surprise. – But you said that Galya would pay for our trip to the Shishkins! I already promised them that we would come. What’s going on?
– I don’t know, all or half. Mom, what are you starting again? – Artem asked discontentedly. – Galya doesn’t even report to me about where she spends her money. Say thank you that she puts up with me while I try to find a decent job and pays my bills. And about your trip, I only assumed that Galya would help. And whether to give you money or not is her business.
– Well, that’s not right. Son, you should know what your family budget is spent on. And it’s better not just to control, but to direct. So to speak, to take a leading position and decide for yourself where and what to spend your wife’s money on. And helping your parents is a sacred thing.
– It’s easy for you to reason, Mom. But does it matter that now I don’t bring home even half the money I used to? And all because I was laid off from my main job, and I work part-time here and there.
– It’s okay. This is all temporary, your Galya should understand that. And you are the master of the family, the head. You should distribute all the money expenses, – Lidiya Gavrilovna argued with her son.
Her son Artyom was weak-willed. She would not like to see him like that in family life. She and Galya had been living together for five years already, and everything was fine until the last year. Until Artyom was fired from a good job, where he earned as much as his spouse in her organization.
And then it all started – scandals between the son and daughter-in-law caused by a lack of money, constant reproaches. Previously, Lidiya Gavrilovna could always count on help from her daughter-in-law or Artyom, but now he himself was constantly trying to borrow money from his mother. This was stressful. The woman tried to talk about this with her daughter-in-law, but she refused to discuss the topic of money in their family.
The mother-in-law knew that Galina worked as a department head in a company selling commercial equipment. The daughter-in-law’s salary had always been good, and recently it had been simply excellent. And while Artyom also worked on a permanent basis, Galya even periodically helped her mother-in-law with money.
In particular, the last time she helped quite well was when Lidiya Gavrilovna decided to take care of her health and went to an expensive sanatorium. Galina paid half the cost of the trip.
There was no talk of any sanatoriums now. Artem’s marriage was under threat because his son could not find a decent job.
The other day he gave his mother some good news – he was promised a manager’s position in a company that was famous for its high rating in the sales market. Artem was inspired and even made it clear to his mother that perhaps Galina would help him and his father with her bonus. They were planning to go to a neighboring city to visit their sister Lidiya Gavrilovna, who had recently become a grandmother and was happily inviting all her relatives to her.
– Oh, son, how much money will it cost! And round-trip tickets for two, and a nice present for the newborn, and gifts for everyone we haven’t seen for several years. I honestly can’t figure out where to get the money, – she lamented. – No, my father and I won’t go. Where will we get the money?
– Yes, Galya will help! – Artem said joyfully, already looking forward to a good position with a corresponding salary.
“Do you think so?” the mother asked doubtfully.
– Yes, I’m sure! I’ll tell her that you need help with money. She got a good bonus the other day, she bragged to me about it. I don’t think she’ll refuse.
– That would be great, son! So, we can hope? Then my father and I will get ready.
This conversation took place a couple of days ago. And today, a frustrated Artem called and said that his job had fallen through again. That the position that was promised to him had been filled by someone of their own, a crony.
– Well, don’t worry, son. It means it’s not for you. You just have to wait. You’ll have a decent job too, – Lidiya Gavrilovna hastened to reassure her son.
– I’m tired of waiting! I’m sick of it all! – Artem couldn’t stand it.
– No need to shout. You better tell me, have you talked to Galya, will she give me and my father money for the trip? – Lidiya Gavrilovna asked.
– You can forget about it! That’s it, no more money!
– How so? What does this mean? Did she refuse to help us? – the mother was surprised.
– Yes, she refused. She said that she had already spent all the money, – Artem answered angrily, who was starting to get annoyed by this conversation.
– What do you mean – everything? You told me two days ago that Galya received a very good bonus. Was that true? And what did she manage to spend that money on in such a short period of time? Did you even find out? – insisted Lidiya Gavrilovna.
Artem hung up – the conversation was useless and empty. He had not forgotten that his mother and father expected financial help from their daughter-in-law. He even hinted at it to his wife yesterday. But he received such a rebuff that he was even a little surprised.
– Listen, who told them that I have to help? I don’t need your parents as hangers-on! Not only do I feed my little son and practically unemployed husband, but these guys decided to suck on our family budget! Isn’t that too many dependents on my salary alone? – Galina screamed.
– Why are you so upset? No, then no. I’m not insisting. You just said the prize 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 said angrily. – And I’ll figure out my bonus myself, okay? I’ll spend it if I want, and I’ll hide it if I want. My money, I’ll do whatever I want.
“Well, after all, this is our family budget,” Artem decided to object, remembering his mother’s instructions.
– Yes, you’re right. Only I’m the one in charge of it. It’s just the way things have historically worked out in our family, as public figures like to say. That’s it, the issue is closed. Tell your mother-in-law that I won’t give you any more money!
But Lidiya Gavrilovna herself decided to find out why her daughter-in-law, having money, refused to help them. She was not going to let the incomprehensible situation go so easily. There is money – let her fork out!
“Galya, we need to talk,” she called that same evening, so as not to put off the problem for too long.
“And what about?” Galina asked, already knowing the subject of the conversation.
“It seemed to me that we had a close-knit family, and you always cared about what was happening in it. And it was like that until the last moment,” the mother-in-law began from afar.
– Be more specific with your request, I have no time. My son needs to be bathed and put to bed, – Galina said discontentedly.
– I think you know what I mean. My father and I need money, we were going to the Shishkins’ for a celebration of their grandson’s birth, and…
– Well, go then! – Galina interrupted her sharply. – What, did you decide to ask my permission? Oh, no! Wait, I’ll answer myself. You decided to ask me something else. Or rather, demand it. Money, right?
– Yes, you think correctly. But why – demand? It’s rude. And why not help your loved ones, if you have money? My son told me that you received a big bonus, Galya. So don’t be stingy, give it to your father and me for the trip, – continued Lidiya Gavrilovna, not paying attention to her daughter-in-law’s sarcastic tone.
– What’s the joy? What’s the need to go to visit so far away if you don’t have money? Or maybe you do have money, and you decided to use mine? Of course – my daughter-in-law got a big bonus, and you didn’t get any. That’s not right!
– Don’t be rude to me. What kind of manner is this to talk to your husband’s mother? What’s wrong with you? You’ve always been well-mannered and reserved? And what happened now? So what if Artyom is temporarily unemployed, but that’s no reason to quarrel with his entire family! – the mother-in-law was already shouting into the phone. – You could have some respect!
– There is no money for you! – Galina decided to end the conversation.
– Why is that? Tell me, for pity’s sake, what did you spend that amount of money on? Your husband Artem, for example, doesn’t know either! Be so kind as to answer us all! Open your eyes, where does the family money disappear to! For what needs, of which we know nothing?
– Yeah. Right! Why should I report? I forgot to ask you what I should spend my money on! – mother-in-law Galina retorted. – I earned it, and I’ll decide what to do with it myself.
Having decided not to stand on ceremony with her mother-in-law any longer, Galina switched to the informal “you” in conversation. She wanted to show that she was no pushover either and that she had no intention of bowing her head to the whims of her husband’s mother.
– No, listen to her! Your character is all on display here. A boor! She won’t report! Of course she will, like a sweetheart! Otherwise, I’ll tell my son, she’ll leave you in a flash, and then you’ll be left alone. Look at her, what a princess! Look at her, a rich woman! – the mother-in-law shouted, no longer embarrassed in expressing her emotions.
Galina passed out.
“Oh, my God, what kind of people are these! No matter how much good you do, you’ll still end up getting trampled into the dirt,” she said angrily.
– Are you talking about your mother? Don’t be offended by her. She’s not used to anyone refusing her. And you’re the first one in our family who dared to contradict her, – said Artem.
– I don’t give a damn about her habits! You have to behave like a human being, and then everyone around you will treat you the same way. And I don’t need her whims. By the way, you are also very interested in where I put my money? My mother-in-law also mentioned you there, that you are in the dark about my bonus, – Galina asked her husband.
– Yes, interesting. Did you really spend it all? And on what?
– No, imagine, I didn’t spend it. This time I put it in an account with good interest. It’s time to put something aside. Otherwise, with you, I could end up in a debt hole, – his wife answered him.
– Yes? That’s surprising. So, you decided to save up? And aren’t you thinking about leaving me later? Are you preparing a safety cushion? – Artem asked with resentment and suspicion in his voice.
– Anything can happen in life. You and I are not insured against anything. So a reserve would not hurt. Smart people worry about their children’s future in advance. And if you fulfill all the wishes and desires of your parents, then no salaries and bonuses will be enough.
And Lidiya Gavrilovna, having disconnected from the unpleasant conversation, looked at her husband with a displeased look and said:
– What does she allow herself to do? It has always been like this, since 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, I found something to remember. We lived together with our parents then, we had nothing of our own, have you forgotten? And what about now, how can we compare it to that time! You should have left Galina alone before something bad happened, – Pyotr said to his wife.
– Teach me some more!
Lidiya Gavrilovna called the Shishkins, deciding to cancel her visit, citing temporary financial difficulties.
– Come without gifts. What have you come up with? We are already glad to see you! – the sister shouted into the phone.
– Well, at least throw some money at Petya and me for tickets, and we’ll pay it back somehow later. When our son starts earning well, we’ll pay him back, – asked her sister Lidiya Gavrilovna, who stubbornly didn’t want to spend her hard-earned money on the trip.
“Okay, we’ll give you money, come,” the relatives agreed.
