Patience, dear, her mother warned. Youre now part of another family, so you have to respect their customs. You got married, you didnt just come as a guest.
What customs, Mom? Theyre all nonsense here, especially the motherinlaw! She hates me, thats obvious.
Have you ever heard of a kind motherinlaw?
Whos out partying again? shouted Svіtlana Petrovna from the middle of the kitchen, her face flushed with rage and her eyes blazing. If a man runs around, the woman is to blame. Do you expect me to keep explaining everything to you?
The motherinlaw was in a frenzy, screaming at her daughterinlaw Liza as if she were possessed. The cause was Lizas suspicion that her husband, her son Borys, was cheating.
Liza, a young, delicate girl with large, innocent eyes, pressed herself against a wall, trying to calm the angry woman.
Svіtlana Petrovna, thats absurd. He already has a family, children Liza attempted to defend herself, but the motherinlaw cut her off with a flick of her hand, as if swatting away a bothersome fly.
Is that your family? Or the child who wont let us and Grandpa into his home? the motherinlaw sneered. Your upbringing, by the way!
What upbringing, Svіtlana? Ivan is only a year old. Hes still a baby, Liza whispered.
Baby? the woman retorted, frowning. Yegors grandson is even smaller, yet he can already grasp things, unlike this yours, she gestured toward the childrens room.
Actually, hes your grandson, Liza answered, her voice trembling. Children sense bad people. Maybe thats why he stays away from you.
Are we the bad ones? What a painted goat you are! the motherinlaw shrieked. And whose house are you living in for free? Whose food do you eat? Whose money do you spend? Ungrateful!
Liza no longer wanted to argue with her quarrelsome motherinlaw. She had repeatedly told Borys she wanted to live apart from his parents, but Boryspampered as his mothers sonsaw no need for change.
He liked staying with his parents, feeling safe as if cradled by Christ. He went to work calmly, while the elderly handled laundry, cleaning, and cooking. It was more a fairy tale than a life.
Meanwhile, the poisonous motherinlaw kept probing Liza with endless questions. At first, Liza tried everything to win her favor: helping around the house, supporting her, even listening to endless complaints about neighbors. Over time, she realized her efforts were futile.
No matter how kind and dutiful Liza tried to be, the motherinlaw despised her and made no attempt to hide it.
Brought this clumsy one into the house, as if decent girls didnt exist, Svіtlana told a neighbor while Liza gathered the toys Borys had scattered, hearing everything from the corner of the yard.
They even drove from another village for her! Theres a reason! Our grandmothers are betterhardworking and smart.
Exactly! echoed the gossiping neighbor, old Mrs. Manya, who had already spread village rumors.
I know you cant do anything right. You said yourself, Petrovna, your hands just arent made for work. Nothing can be fixed.
You have no idea how terrible she is! You cant trust her with anythingshell lose it or break it. And that child of hers not right.
Yegors grandson is a different storyquiet, sensible. This one keeps rehearsing, whining. Clearly the genes arent right.
When life became unbearable, Liza called her mother in the neighboring village, complained, and sobbed. Her mother replied:
Patience, daughter. Youre now in another family; you must respect their ways. You married, you didnt just visit.
What ways, Mother? Everything here is nonsense, especially the motherinlaw! She hates me, its clear!
Have you ever heard of a kind motherinlaw? We all went through this, and youll have to too. The main thing is not to show youre struggling. Be patient.
Realizing she couldnt reason with her timid, indecisive mother, Liza threatened to call her father.
Dont hurt your father! her mother warned, trembling. You know his conditional sentence. One misstep and theyll lock your dad up!
Liza understood. Her father loved his only daughter deeply. He had received a conditional term for a fight he started after someone insulted Liza in the local shop. She also knew he wouldnt stay silent if he learned how his beloved daughter was being tormented in another family; he was a hotblooded man.
Fine, I wont tell father, Liza said, but if they keep treating me like this, I dont know what Ill do.
Everything will work out, dear, her mother repeated, trying to soothe her. In a few weeks youll forget this conversation.
Liza hoped she could forget, but her relationship with the motherinlaw only worsened. Svіtlana seemed to grow more resentful, blaming Liza for all her woes. Even her husband, Ivan Stepanovich, an elderly, weary man, could no longer stand it.
Why are you constantly yelling at the girl? he asked one morning as the scandal peaked, attempting to intervene. Shell leave us! That would be right!
Ill take her away! Svіtlana snapped, directing all her fury at Ivan. Ill sue, get every penny weve earned back, and take her child so she wont raise it in such a worthless family!
Liza knew the motherinlaws accusations were nonsense, yet she remained frightened, especially because she still loved her husband Borys.
Rumors that Borys was secretly seeing his exgirlfriend Oksana turned out to be nothing more than village gossip, spread by women like Svіtlana.
Its unclear how long the motherinlaws harassment would have lasted if not for her loquacious tongue. One day, in a good mood after another victory over Liza, she boasted about her feats to her best friend, Grandma Manya, embellishing the story further, then passed it on to another friend, her husband, and so on. The tale of the dimwitted daughterinlaw and her harsh motherinlaw, laden with village conjecture, finally reached Lizas father.
Lizas father, a stern man over two meters tall with broad shoulders, decided quickly. He grabbed his axestill warm from chopping wooddidnt even remove his work jacket, mounted his old Ural motorcycle, and without a word to his wife, rode to the neighboring village to rescue his daughter from the humiliating captivity.
Meanwhile, a real scandal erupted in Svіtlanas house. The young mother briefly left baby Vanya on a brandnew bright orange sofa to fetch a fresh diaper. Upon returning, she found a small brown stain on the child. In Svіtlanas eyes, that spot swelled to a monstrous size.
Its like a black hole ready to swallow the whole apartment! she roared, storming toward Liza. You ruined my favorite sofa! Do you know how much it cost? Ill tear your arms off and stitch them back wherever I please!
Ill fix it, Ill clean everything, Liza whispered, trembling as she grabbed a cloth.
What will you clean? Its new! How would you know? You never buy anything yourself! the motherinlaw barked.
Do you think youre better than her? Liza snapped, finally daring to criticize the woman who had spent her life leaning on her husbands support.
Svіtlanas face flushed crimson. Now wipe that stain, then march out with your son! Youll stay in my house and rot until you learn proper behavior!
Liza, tears streaming, tried to rub the brown mark away. The stubborn stain clung to the bright orange upholstery, mocking her helplessness. Little Vanya, sensing his mothers distress, shouted at the top of his lungs, his cries amplifying the tense atmosphere.
Svіtlana hovered over Liza, showering her with a torrent of curses. She didnt notice a stranger appear in the doorwayLizas father, Mykola, standing like a monument, his hand gripping the axes wooden handle.
For a brief instant, Svіtlana sensed a presence, turned, and saw the weapon. She knew Mykolas temper, his past, his conditional sentence, and fear seized her.
Realizing the inlaw had heard enough and the situation was turning serious, Svіtlana tried to save face, her voice trembling.
Oh, hello, Mykola! Im just raising your Liza
I heard how youve been raising her, Mykola growled, entering the room barefoot. He lifted the axe above his head, causing Svіtlana to instinctively flinch. Instead of striking, he rested the axe on his shoulder and extended a hand to his daughter.
Come on, Liza, you have nothing to do here, he said, leading her toward the exit.
Wait, fatherinlaw! Svіtlana, recovering from the shock, tried to regain control. What will I say to my son?
Let your son come to me on his own, with his wife. Ill talk to him like a man should. Mykola gave her a cold, brief glance that said more than words.
He took Liza and little Vanya away. Borys hesitated long before approaching his wife and son, fearing a clash with his fatherinlaw, but eventually mustered the courage.
Mykola talked calmly yet firmly with his son, the axe resting on the table lending weight to his words. He promised that Borys would live separately with Liza, that his mother would no longer interfere, and that he would protect his daughter and grandchild.
When Mykola shook Boryss hand firmly, the younger man realized any jokes with this man were dangerous, and he had to honor the promises.
From that day on, Svіtlana avoided Liza and her grandson, no longer greeting them on the street. Borys and Liza lived apart, finding harmony and understanding. Whether it was the fatherinlaws advice or genuine love, they finally enjoyed peace.
