Walton Merritt

Our mum ended up homeless with three kids! Our dad took all the money from selling our flat and just

After Speaking with the Adopted Girl, I Realised Not Everything Was as It Seemed Beside me on a park bench sat a five-year-old girl, swinging her legs as she told me about her life: “I’ve never seen my dad because he left me and Mum when I was very little. Mum died a year ago. The grown-ups told me she’d passed away. The girl looked at me and continued her story: “After the funeral, Auntie Liz—Mum’s sister—came to live with us. They said she was doing the right thing not sending me to a children’s home. They explained that now Auntie Liz was my guardian and I’d live with her. The girl fell silent, stared under the bench, then continued: “After I moved in, Auntie Liz started tidying the house: she put all my mum’s belongings in a corner and wanted to throw them away. I started crying and begged her not to, so she let me keep them. Now I sleep in that corner. At night I lie on top of Mum’s things and feel warm there—it’s like she’s with me. Every morning, Auntie gives me something to eat. She’s not the best cook—Mum was better—but she always asks me to finish everything on my plate. I don’t want to upset her, so I eat it all. I know she’s made an effort to cook. It’s not her fault if she can’t cook like Mum. Then she sends me out to play, and I’m not allowed back until it starts to get dark. Auntie Liz is very, very nice! She loves to boast about me to her friends. I don’t know these friends but they visit our house often. Auntie sits with them over tea, tells funny stories, says nice things about me, and treats us both to sweets. After these words, the girl sighed and went on: “I can’t just eat sweets all the time. Auntie’s never scolded me for anything. She’s always kind. Once she even gave me a doll—of course, the doll is a bit poorly, her leg is bad and one of her eyes squints a lot. My mum never gave me a poorly doll. The little girl jumped off the bench and started hopping on one foot: “I have to go because Auntie told me her friends are coming today, and I have to dress nicely before they arrive. She promised me a delicious cake afterwards. Goodbye! The girl hopped off the bench and hurried away to do her errands. I sat for a long time thinking, my thoughts circling around “kind” Auntie Liz. I wondered: what was really going on with this well-meaning aunt? Why did she want everyone to believe she was so noble? How could anyone turn a blind eye to a child sleeping on the floor, wrapped in her late mother’s clothes…

After speaking with the adopted girl, I realise not everything is as clear as it seemed. Next to me on

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Our Relatives Came to Visit with Gifts, Then Promptly Demanded We Put Them Out on the Table

Our relatives drifted into our flat on a peculiar Sunday, their arms a jumble of boxes and baskets, as

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Last Year, My Mum Asked Us to Pay for Vegetables from Her Garden—Even Though We Paid for the Greenhouse, Water, and Upgrades, and Never Wanted to Dig the Soil Ourselves

Last year, my mum did something I never expectedshe decided she would sell us vegetables from her own garden.

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I Got Married at 50 Thinking I’d Finally Found Happiness, But I Had No Idea What Surprises Were in Store for Me… A British Woman’s Unexpected Journey Through Late-Life Marriage, Family Drama, and Lessons in Love

Married at fiftyI thought I’d finally found happiness, but I never imagined what was in store for

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A Family Divided: When Mum Split My Inheritance Three Ways but Kept Their Grandmother’s for My Brothers Alone

Injustice Mum, Sarah asked, sounding almost baffled, why did I only get three hundred and thirty thousand?

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Every Tuesday Liana hurried through the London Underground, clutching an empty plastic bag in her hand—a symbol of today’s failed mission: two hours wasted wandering through shopping centres and still no clue what to gift her goddaughter, her best friend’s ten-year-old daughter, Sophie, who’d outgrown unicorns and discovered a love for astronomy. Finding a proper telescope for a sensible price turned out to be a cosmic challenge. Evening had fallen, and the fatigue of the day pressed heavily in the tunnels. Skipping past the crowd pouring out of the carriage, Liana squeezed toward the escalator. Just then, a clear, emotionally charged snatch of conversation broke through the familiar Underground din. “…I never thought I’d see him again, honestly,” came a young, slightly trembling voice from behind. “Now, every Tuesday, he’s the one picking her up from nursery. Driving over in his own car, taking her to that same park with the old-fashioned merry-go-round…” Liana stilled on the downward-moving escalator. She glanced back, catching a flash of bright red coat, an animated face, sparkling, excited eyes. And a friend, nodding, listening attentively. “Every Tuesday.” She too had once had a day like that. Three years ago. Not the Monday with its heavy start, not the promise of a Friday. Tuesday. The day her world revolved around. Every Tuesday at precisely five, she’d dash out of the secondary school where she taught English Literature and sprint across the city to the old brick music academy on Baker Street. She’d pick up Oliver—her seven-year-old nephew with a violin nearly as tall as he was. Not her child, but her late brother’s son. Her brother Daniel, who died in a terrible accident three years before. Those early Tuesdays had been survival rituals. For Oliver, newly silent and withdrawn. For his mother, Laura, who barely managed to get out of bed. For Liana herself, striving to piece together the broken fragments of their shared life, becoming anchor and guide in their tragedy. She remembered every detail: Oliver emerging from class, head down. The way she’d take his heavy violin case wordlessly. The walk to the station, where she’d share stories—about a funny slip-up in an essay, about a raven who swiped a schoolboy’s sandwich. One rainy November, Oliver asked: “Auntie Liana, did Dad hate the rain too?” Heart clenching, she whispered: “He did. He’d always dash for cover.” Then he grasped her hand in his, holding not for guidance, but to clutch hold of a vanishing memory. In that squeeze, all his longing and the aching truth that his dad—his real dad—had once rushed through the rain, existing not just in memories, but right there, in the misty November air. For three years, her life had been divided into ‘before’ and ‘after.’ And Tuesday was the pulse of her real living. She prepared for it: bought apple juice Oliver loved, downloaded silly cartoons for the tube, planned their conversations. Then, gradually, Laura recovered—found a new job, even new love, and decided to start fresh in another city. Liana helped them pack, zipped Oliver’s violin into its case, and hugged him hard at the platform. “Call, message anytime. I’m always here.” At first, he rang every Tuesday at six. For a few minutes, she got to be Auntie Liana again, squeezing all her questions into a brief, precious quarter hour. Later, calls turned fortnightly. There was schoolwork, new friends, video games. “Sorry, Auntie, missed last Tuesday—had an exam,” the texts would say. Now her Tuesdays were marked by waiting for the next ping, the next message. Sometimes none would come—so she’d send one herself. Then calls came only on special occasions—birthdays, Christmas. His voice had deepened. He spoke not of himself, but with broad brushstrokes: “I’m good.” “All fine.” “Just revising.” His stepdad, Simon, was a gentle, steady presence who didn’t try to replace Daniel, but just quietly cared. That was enough. A baby sister, Alice, recently joined their family. In photos, Oliver held the bundle with awkward, touching tenderness. Life, cruel and kind, moved on—layering over wounds with routines, caring for the baby, school, new futures. In this new life, Liana remained just “the aunt from before”—her role still precious, but smaller now. Now, amid the rush and rumble of the Underground, those chance words—“every Tuesday”—sounded not as a reproach, but as a quiet echo. A greeting from the Liana she once was: carrying immense, burning responsibility and love—her greatest wound, her greatest gift. She had known then that she was vital—a lifeline, a lighthouse, the linchpin in a little boy’s week. She was needed. The lady in red had her own story, her own hard compromise between past and present. Yet this rhythm, this ritual of “every Tuesday,” was its own language—the language of reliable presence: “I am here. You can count on me. You matter to me, right here, right now.” It was a language Liana once spoke fluently, now almost forgotten. The train moved off. Liana straightened her back, gazing at her reflection in the dark window. At her stop, she stepped onto the platform, already knowing what she’d do tomorrow—order two identical telescopes, affordable but decent. One for Sophie. One for Oliver, shipped to his new home. When it arrived, she’d write: “Ollie, this is so we can study the same stars, even from different cities. Next Tuesday, six o’clock, if the sky’s clear, shall we both look for the Great Bear? Let’s synchronise our watches. Love, Auntie Liana.” Up the escalator she went, towards the cold, crisp evening of the city. The coming Tuesday was no longer empty—it had been appointed again. Not a duty, but a gentle pact between two people bound by memory, gratitude, and the unbreakable thread of family. Life continued. And in her calendar, there were still days not only to be lived, but to be set aside—days appointed for quiet miracles, for looking at the same sky across hundreds of miles, for memories that warm instead of hurt, for love that has learned the language of distance, and only grown quieter, wiser, and stronger.

Every Tuesday Lucy rushed through the tube station, clutching an empty plastic bag in her hand.

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Nan Always Favoured One Grandchild — And what about me, Nan? — Katya would quietly ask. — You, Katya, are just fine as you are. Look at those rosy cheeks! Walnuts are for the brain, Dima needs to study, he’s a man, the family’s rock. You, off you go, dust the shelves. A girl needs to get used to work. — Kat, are you serious? She’s on her way out. The doctors say a couple of days, maybe hours… Dima stood in the kitchen doorway, nervously fumbling his car keys. He looked a total wreck. —I’m absolutely serious, Dima. Cup of tea? — Katya didn’t even turn, methodically slicing an apple for her daughter. — Sit down, I’ll make a fresh pot. —Tea? Now? Kat? — Her brother strode further in. — She’s there with all the tubes, wheezing… She called for you this morning. ‘Katyenka,’ she said, ‘where’s my Katyenka?’ My heart nearly stopped. Won’t you go? It’s Nan. Your last chance to say goodbye, don’t you get it? Katya laid the apple slices on a plate before finally meeting her brother’s gaze. — For you, she’s Nan. For her, you’re Dima, her golden boy, her only hope and heir. But I… I never truly existed for her. Do you honestly think I need this ‘farewell’? What are we meant to talk about, Dima? What am I supposed to forgive her for? Or she me? — Stop it with this schoolyard sulk! — Dima slammed his keys on the table. — So she loved me more. So what? She’s old, stuck in her ways. She’s dying! You can’t be this… cruel. —I’m not cruel, Dima. I just feel nothing for her. Go yourself. Sit with her, hold her hand—the only presence she wanted was yours. You’re her sunshine, her life. So be her light to the very end! Dima shot his sister a dark look, turned, and left, slamming the door behind him. Katya sighed, picked up the plate of apple, and went to her daughter’s room. *** In their family, everything had always been neatly divided. No, their parents loved them both equally—Katya and Dima. Their home was always warm, noisy, full of the smell of baking and endless family outings. But their gran, Gladys, was a different sort altogether. —Dima darling, my star — Gladys would croon as they visited each weekend — Look what I’ve saved just for you! Fresh walnuts, hand-cracked! And some Penguin bars, your favourite! Seven-year-old Katya would stand by, watching her nan produce that precious paper bag from the old dresser. —What about me, Nan? — she’d ask quietly. Gladys would give her a brisk, prickly glance. —You, Katya, are healthy enough. Just look at those cheeks! Walnuts are for brainy boys—Dima must study, he’s the man, the family’s future. Off you go, dust the shelves. Girls must learn to work. Dima, blushing, would slink away with his treats, while Katya got on with the dusting. She didn’t feel hard done by. Oddly enough, young Katya accepted it like the weather: Rain falls… and Nan loves Dima best. That’s just how things went. Normally, her brother would be waiting for her in the hall: —Here, — he’d whisper, breaking his haul in two: half the chocolate, a handful of walnuts — But don’t eat in front of Nan, she’ll only nag again. —You need them more—she’d smile. — For your big brain. —Oh, stuff that, — Dima would grin. — She’s bonkers. Quick, munch! They’d sit on the stairs to the attic, chomp through their forbidden spoils, sharing everything. Even when Nan secretly slipped Dima some “ice cream money”, he’d run straight to Katya: —Look, enough for two Mr. Whippys and a packet of stickers. Fancy a treat? Her brother was always her ally. His affection more than made up for Gran’s coldness, and Katya hardly noticed what she was missing. The years went by. Gladys grew older. When Dima turned eighteen, she solemnly announced she’d be leaving her second, centrally located flat to him in her will. —The family’s backbone needs a place to call his own, — she declared at a family meeting — so he can bring home a bride, not traipse from garret to garret. Mum just sighed. She knew her mother’s iron will and held her tongue, but later, when the fuss was over, she came to Katya. —Sweetheart, don’t fret… Dad and I see everything. Here’s the plan—what we’ve saved for a car and a bigger place, we’ll give to you as a flat deposit. To keep things fair. —Mum, it’s fine, — Katya hugged her — Dima needs the flat more, he’s marrying Irina. I’ll manage in my digs. —No, Katya. That’s not right. Nan has her quirks, but we’re your parents. We can’t favour one and leave the other out. So take it, no arguments. Katya never took it. Dima moved into his wedding-gift flat, giving the family home a sense of space. Katya spread her own books and easel in Dima’s old room, revelling, for the first time, in a family where love wasn’t measured out in teaspoons. Inheritance never soured things between the siblings; if anything, Dima felt almost guilty. —Come round ours, Katya, — he’d invite. — Irina’s baked pies. Nan rang yesterday, asking whether I’d blown “her” money on your whims. —What did you say? —Told her I’d spent the lot on arcade machines and posh gin, — he smirked. — She snorted down the phone, then muttered, “That Katya’s led you astray!” —Naturally, — Katya grinned. — Who else would it be? *** When Katya married Oleg and a baby arrived, the housing question loomed. Mum pulled off a diplomatic coup. —Listen, kids, — she said. — This place is huge for just your dad and me. Dima, you have your own flat. Katya, you’re stuck renting. Let’s split ours into a one-bed and a two-bed. Dad and I move to the one-bed; Katya and Oleg get the two-bed. —Mum, — Dima objected. — I’ll give up my share, straight away. Gran gave me a place—I’m set for life. Let Katya have the lot. She and her family need it. —Dima, are you sure? — Oleg was gobsmacked. — That’s a fortune. You’re sure? —Sure. Katya and I always shared. She lost out because of Nan anyway. Don’t argue. It’s settled. Katya wept—not for bricks and mortar, but for having the best brother in the world. They exchanged the old family flat, everyone was content. Mum babysat every week, and Dima’s family spent weekends round theirs. Gladys, meanwhile, lived alone. Dima brought shopping, did DIY, listened to endless gripes about her health and “that ungrateful Katya”. —Has she ever rung once? Has she even once asked after my blood pressure? —Nan, you never wanted to know her, — Dima tried to be gentle. — Not a kind word in twenty years. Why would she ring? —I was trying to bring her up! — Gladys declared, chin high. — A woman should know her place! Her… she grabbed a flat, bullied her mum out. Dima could only sigh. Explaining was pointless. *** Katya, sat in the quiet kitchen, haunted by half-forgotten images: Nan slapping her hand from the jam jar. Praising Dima’s clumsy drawing but passing by her own certificate without so much as a nod. Nan sitting like a queen at Dima’s wedding, but skipping Katya’s altogether—“Too ill,” she’d said. —Mum, why aren’t we seeing Granny Gladys? — Her daughter peeked round the door. — Uncle Dima says she’s really poorly. —Because Granny Gladys only wants to see Uncle Dima, sweetheart, — Katya stroked her hair — It makes her happy that way. —Is she mean? — her little girl squinted. —No, — Katya paused — She just couldn’t love everyone at once. Some people only have room in their heart for one. That happens. That evening, Dima rang again. —It’s over, Katya. An hour ago. —My condolences, Dima. You must be heartbroken. —She waited for you till the end, — he lied kindly. Katya recognised the fib for what it was—a bid for peace, at least at this ending. — She said, ‘May all go well for Katya.’ —Thank you, Dima… Come over tomorrow. We’ll sit together, I’ll bake a pie. —I’ll come… Aren’t you sorry you didn’t go see her? Katya didn’t lie. —No, Dima. I’m not. Why be a hypocrite? Neither of us ever wanted it… Her brother paused. —Maybe you’re right, — he said softly. — You always were the sensible one. See you tomorrow. The funeral was simple. Katya attended for her mother and brother. She stood to one side, in her black coat, staring up at that cemetery sky that’s always so bleak during farewells. When the coffin was lowered, she didn’t cry. Dima came to her side, put an arm around her shoulders. —You alright? —I’m okay, Dima. Really. —You know, — he hesitated — I was clearing out her flat… found a box. Old photos. Yours too. Loads. She’d carefully cut you out of all the family snapshots and kept you separate. Katya raised her eyebrows. —Why would she do that? —No idea. Maybe she did feel something, just didn’t know how to show it. Afraid that if she admitted loving you, it’d mean less for me. Old people… they’re odd sometimes. —Maybe so, — Katya shrugged. — Doesn’t really matter now. They walked to the gates under one umbrella—tall, solid Dima and slim, gentle Katya. —Listen, — he said at the cars — I’ve been thinking… I’ll sell that flat. Get a nice place for myself, set up savings for the kids, and the rest… shall we start a fund? Or donate to a children’s hospital? Let Nan’s money bring joy to someone for once… Katya looked at her brother and, for the first time in days, smiled warmly. —You know, Dima… that’s the best kind of revenge we could give Gladys. The kindest revenge in the world. —Deal? —Deal. They drove off in different directions. Katya put on music and, for the first time, felt total peace settle within her. Maybe Dima was right. Let part of Nan’s money help some child get well. That would be justice.

Granny Favoured One Grandchild And what about me, Gran? she would ask softly. You, Emily, youre already

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Gone and Good Riddance “What do you mean ‘the number you have called is not available’? I just spoke to him five minutes ago!” Natasha stood in the hallway, phone pressed tightly to her ear. She glanced over at the chest of drawers. The jewellery box was still there—but something looked off. The lid wasn’t quite shut. “Rom?” She called deeper into the flat. “Are you in the bathroom?” Natasha slowly made her way to the dresser. As soon as her hand touched the polished wood, a chill ran down her spine—the jewellery box was completely empty. Even the receipt she’d used as a bookmark was gone. Her jewellery, her money—everything had disappeared. Though, she reminded herself bitterly, she’d handed over the cash herself… “Oh God…” she whispered, sinking to the floor. “How could this happen? We just argued about wallpaper yesterday… You promised we’d go to Cornwall in August…” But it had all started so ordinarily. Last June, Natasha’s little runabout seized up with a broken piston. The mechanic quoted a price she couldn’t stomach, so, frustrated, she posted on her county’s “Auto-Help” Facebook group. “Guys, does anyone know if it’s possible to free up a stuck brake piston yourself? Adding a photo of my filthy wheel.” Comments poured in. Some told her not to mess with it, others advised buying a new part altogether. Then came a message from a Roman85: “Don’t listen to them, love. Get a can of WD-40 and a £3 repair kit. Take the wheel off, gently press the piston out with the brake pedal—but don’t push it too far. Clean everything with brake fluid, grease it up. If the cylinder’s smooth inside, it’ll run sweet as a nut.” Natasha took note—his advice was clear and unpretentious. “What if the cylinder’s pitted?” she asked. “Then you’ll need a replacement. But from your photo, looks a well-kept motor. If you get stuck, message me—happy to help.” And that’s how it started. Roman proved to be a whiz with cars. Within a week he’d walked her through changing the oil, picking spark plugs, even which coolant to avoid. She caught herself looking forward to his messages. “You’re a lifesaver, Rom,” she wrote by the end of July. “Listen, maybe we could meet up? Coffee on me. Or something stronger, with what you’ve saved me!” The reply didn’t come straight away. After about three hours, her phone finally lit up. “I’d love to, Natasha. Truly. But I’m… away with work. Overseas. For quite a while.” “Really?” she replied. “Whereabouts?” “Further than you can imagine. Look—I’ll be honest. I’m not on a business trip. I’m serving a sentence. HMP Dartmoor, if you know it.” Natasha dropped her phone onto the sofa, her heart pounding. An inmate? She, a respectable accountant at a large firm, had been chatting to a convict for weeks? “What for?” she typed, her fingers trembling. “Fraud. Fancied myself a clever clogs, got stitched up, played along. Less than a year left. If you want to stop messaging, I’ll understand.” Natasha didn’t reply. She blocked him and wandered in a daze for three days. Her colleagues asked if she was unwell. Why? she kept wondering. Why did someone so smart, so good with his hands, end up in prison? A week later, she found a new message in her inbox. Roman had once asked for her email—she’d never deleted the contact, only closed the chat. “Natasha,” he wrote. “No hard feelings, honestly. I always knew it would end like this. You’re a bright soul. Guys like me don’t belong in your world. Just wanted to say thanks for talking to me. That was the best fortnight I’ve had in years. Be happy. Goodbye.” She read it at the kitchen table and burst into tears. She felt sorry for him, for herself, for this unfair life. Why does luck always pass me by? she thought. Married men, mummy’s boys, and now the only normal bloke is behind bars. But she never replied again… *** She tried dating but it was hopeless. One date spent half the night going on about his stamp collection, another showed up with dirty fingernails and asked to split the bill. In March, on her thirty-fifth birthday, Natasha felt more alone than ever. That morning, a message popped up. “Happy birthday, Natasha! I know I shouldn’t reach out, but I couldn’t stop myself. Wishing you the very best. You deserve to be cherished. Made you something out of bread and wire… If I could, I’d give it to you. Just know that somewhere out in Birmingham, someone is drinking a really terrible cup of tea to your health today.” “Thank you, Rom,” she replied, giving in. “That means a lot.” “You answered! How are you? How’s the little car? Did it survive those frosty nights?” And things picked up where they left off. Now they talked every day. Rom would ring her whenever he could—his voice deep, a little hoarse. He told her about growing up with his brother, how his nephew needed raising now, how all he wanted was a fresh start. “I won’t go back to my old town, Natasha—too many old mates who’ll pull me down again. I want to move somewhere no one knows me. I’ve got hands, I can work construction or fix cars, always work to be found.” “Where do you want to go?” she asked breathlessly. “I’d come to you, if you’ll have me. Get a room or a cheap flat. Just to know you’re in the same city, breathing the same air. But no pressure, of course…” By May, Natasha was hopelessly in love. She knew his inspection schedule, when he had “washroom duty”, when he was working in the shop. She sent him care packages: tea, sweets, warm socks, little parts for his handiwork. “Romka, just keep your head down and behave, please—no getting into scraps for my sake.” “For you, love, I’ll be as good as gold,” he laughed. “I’m free in April!” “I’ll be waiting.” *** In April, Natasha drove up to the prison gates. She brought him new clothes: jacket, jeans, trainers. Her heart hammered—she thought it might burst out of her chest. When he came out—short, stocky, close-cropped greying hair—she froze at first. He looked different from his photo. But when he smiled and said, “Hello, boss,” she flung her arms round his neck. “Oh, thank God you’re here,” she murmured into his prickly cheek. “Where else would I be?” he pulled her close. “You smell amazing. What sort of flowery perfume is that?” They went back to hers. The first week was a dream. Roman got stuck in straight away: fixed a leaky tap, sorted a door lock that had jammed for months. Every evening they sat together in the kitchen, drinking sweet rosé, swapping stories—he laughed about his “old life”, skipping over the darker bits. “Listen, Rom,” she said on day ten, “you know you said about getting your own place… maybe you don’t have to? There’s room here. It’d be more fun with two. Besides, you’ll save for tools and getting yourself set up.” “Natasha, it feels wrong,” he frowned, stirring sugar into his mug. “I’m a man, I should provide a home. I’m already living off you—eating your food…” “Oh, stop it!” she covered his hand with hers. “We’re not strangers. Once you’re on your feet and working, it’ll all be fine.” “My brother called yesterday,” he said, looking away. “My nephew’s really poorly—needs an operation, private one. He’s asked me for a loan, but you see the state I’m in—flat broke. I feel so ashamed, Natasha. Ashamed for my family.” “How much does he need?” she asked gently. “A lot… Five grand. But he says they’ve already raised part.” “I could go up to London on a site, earn good money quickly…” he mused aloud. Natasha hesitated. That five grand had taken three years to save. She’d scrimped and saved, planning to redo the bathroom, replace the old tiles, finally install a proper shower… “I’ve got the money,” she said quietly. Roman’s head jerked up. “Don’t be daft! That’s yours. I couldn’t take it.” “Rom, it’s your family. Like you said, that’s sacred. Take it—you can pay me back later. We’re in this together now.” He protested for two days, brooding and chain-smoking on the balcony, even though he’d promised to give up. In the end, Natasha got the cash out and set it on the table herself. “Here. Take it. Go to your brother, give it to him—or transfer it if you’d rather.” “I’ll deliver it myself,” he said, hugging her. “Maybe see if there’s work where he lives. Better options, you know? I’ll just be gone two days. There and back. Promise…” *** Natasha sat slumped on the hallway floor for an hour. Her legs were numb, but she barely felt it. She replayed the night before. They’d watched some daft comedy, he’d laughed, hugged her, and she’d felt like the luckiest woman alive. “I’ll probably leave early, day after tomorrow,” he’d said before bed. But he left a day sooner. She’d slept through it—never even heard him getting dressed. She thought the front door had banged in her dream, but assumed it was the neighbours. At two in the afternoon, she nervously dialled his brother’s number—the one he’d once given her “in case of emergency”. “Hello?” came a rough man’s voice. “Who’s this?” “Hi… It’s Natasha. Roman’s friend. Did he make it to you today?” A pause. Then a long, heavy sigh. “Miss, what Roman? My brother’s got a different name, and he’s not out of prison till October. Roman… Roman’s my ex-cellmate. He got out two months ago. He nicked my phone when I was still inside and copied all my contacts. You’re not the first ‘pen-pal’ he’s spun a story to. Tongue like Teflon, degree in engineering—the lot.” Natasha lowered the phone, stunned. She remembered how he’d coached her fitting new spark plugs. “Careful not to overtighten,” he’d warned. “You’ll strip the thread, and that’s that.” “I stripped it,” Natasha whispered. “Stripped the lot… set myself up for this.” And she realised she truly knew nothing about him—never even saw his passport or prison release papers. Was his name even Roman at all? *** Naturally, Natasha went to the police and filed a report. She showed them a photo, and learned a lot more about her houseguest. His name really was Roman—about the only true thing he’d told her. He’d gone down for a serious offence, spent half his life inside—met Natasha while serving his third sentence. Natasha crossed herself, changed all the locks, and figured in the end she’d got off lightly—compared to some of his previous women…

Gone for Good What do you mean the number youve dialed has not been recognised? But he was speaking to

La vida

The Daytime Cuckoo Outstayed Her Welcome — “She has got to be joking!” Sasha erupted. “Yura, get in here! Now!” Her husband, who’d just kicked off his trainers in the hallway, popped his head into the doorway, loosening his shirt collar. “Sash, what is it this time? I’ve literally just finished work and my head is splitting…” “What is it?!” Sasha pointed at the edge of the bath. “Take a good look. Where’s my shampoo? Where’s my hair mask—the one I bought yesterday?” Yura squinted at the neat row of bottles. There stood a massive bottle of tar shampoo, an oversized “Nettle & Burdock” conditioner, and a heavy glass jar of some thick brown cream. “Uh… Mum brought her own toiletries. Maybe it’s easier for her to have everything at hand?” he mumbled, avoiding her glare. “Easier? Yura, she doesn’t even live here! Now look down.” Sasha crouched and pulled a plastic basin from under the bath. In it lay her expensive French products, her loofah, and her razor. “What is this, Yura? She dumped all my things into this grotty old basin and lined up her stuff on display!” She’s decided my things belong next to the mop while her precious ‘Burdock’ gets pride of place!” Yura heaved a sigh. “Sash, don’t start. Mum’s having a rough time, you know that. Look, I’ll put your things back and then we can have dinner—Mum’s made stuffed cabbage, by the way.” “I’m not having her stuffed cabbage,” Sasha snapped. “Why is she always hanging about here, Yura?! Why does she act like she owns my house?!” I feel like a lodger, lucky for toilet access. Sasha shoved past him and stormed off, while Yura quietly nudged her basin back under the bath with his foot. The housing headache that’s ruined the lives of millions never touched Yura and Sasha. Yura’s spacious modern one-bed flat, inherited from his grandfather; Sasha’s comfy little place from her grandmother. After their wedding, they moved into his place—for the fresh decor and the air conditioning—and rented Sasha’s out to a nice family. Relations with Yura’s parents were maintained in a state of polite neutrality, occasionally drifting into gentle fondness. Svetlana and her reserved husband Victor lived clear across town. Once a week: tea, obligatory questions about work and health, swapped smiles. “Oh, Sasha darling, you’ve lost even more weight,” Svetlana would remark, handing her a too-large slice of Battenberg. “Yura! Aren’t you feeding your wife?” “Mum, we just go to the gym,” Yura would shrug. That was that. No surprise visits, no household advice. Sasha even bragged to friends: “I lucked out with my mother-in-law. She’s pure gold—never interferes, never nags, never fusses at Yura.” Everything changed on a rain-soaked Tuesday when Victor, after thirty-two years with Svetlana, packed his bag, left a note—“Gone to the coast, don’t look for me!”—blocked her everywhere and vanished. Turns out “midlife crisis” wasn’t just an expression, but a forty-something health-spa manager in Brighton where they’d holidayed for three summers. Svetlana’s world collapsed. The weeping started, along with late-night calls and endless nitpicking: “How could he? Why? Sasha darling, how could this happen?!” At first, Sasha sympathised. She fetched calming teas, listened to the same tales, and nodded politely as Svetlana damned her “roving old fool.” But her patience wore thin as the “poor me” chorus grated on her nerves. “Yura, your mum’s called five times—before lunch,” Sasha sighed at breakfast. “She asked you to go fit a lightbulb. In her corridor. When will this end?” His face fell. “She’s lonely, Sash. You know she lived her whole life depending on Dad, and now…” “Look, she could just call someone in—or do it herself. But it has to be you. Or me. Why should I care?” Sleepovers followed—Yura started staying at his mum’s. “Sash, Mum’s scared to sleep alone,” he’d mutter, stuffing a bag. “The quiet gets to her. I’ll be back in a few days, okay?” “A few days?” Sasha frowned. “Yura, we’ve only just married and you’re already moving out half the week. I don’t want to sleep alone.” “Babe, it’s only for a bit. She’ll get through it…” ‘Only’ lasted a month. Svetlana insisted—her son must camp at her place four nights a week. There were faked dizzy spells, panics, even self-made blocked sinks. Sasha watched her husband drain himself running between two homes—and made the mistake that would haunt her daily. *** She decided to clear the air with her mother-in-law. “Listen, Svetlana,” she ventured during Sunday lunch, “If it’s so hard for you alone in your flat, why not come here during the day?” Yura would be at work; Sasha often worked from home. She’d have the city centre, parks; Sasha expected a couple visits a week, arriving around noon, leaving before Yura. But Svetlana had her own plan—she showed up at exactly 7am. “Who’s that?” muttered Yura, sleepily at the doorbell. He answered it. “It’s me!” came Svetlana’s cheery voice. “Brought you some lovely fresh cottage cheese!” Sasha pulled the duvet over her head. “For heaven’s sake…” she hissed. “Yura, it’s seven a.m.! Where does she even get ‘fresh’ cottage cheese at this hour?” “Mum’s an early riser,” Yura muttered, pulling on trousers. “Go back to sleep. I’ll let her in.” From then on, life became hell. Svetlana didn’t just drop by—she colonised the flat for a full eight hours. Sasha tried working at her laptop, but the running commentary never stopped: “Sash, how haven’t you dusted the telly? I found a cloth—let’s just sort that.” “Svetlana, I’m working—I have a call in five minutes!” “Oh, you and your ‘calls,’ just watching videos. By the way, darling, you’re ironing Yura’s shirts all wrong. The creases should be razor-sharp.” Let me show you, while you wait for your so-called ‘clients.’ Everything was criticised. How she sliced veg: “Yura likes them in matchsticks, not cubes like school dinners.” How she made the bed: “The bedspread should touch the floor, not hover midway.” The bathroom’s aroma: “Should be fresh and sweet, not damp and musty.” “Sash, don’t take it personally,” came Svetlana’s voice over her shoulder at the hob. “Your soup’s too salty. Yura’s stomach is sensitive, you know.” Sasha was close to exploding by lunchtime—she’d leave for a café just to avoid the constant criticism, then return home even more upset. First, a garish mug—“Best Mum Ever”—appeared in the kitchen. Next, her spare mac hung in the hallway; then, a whole shelf in the wardrobe for “change of clothes” and a couple old lady dressing gowns. “Why do you need dressing gowns here?” Sasha asked, discovering the fluffy pink monstrosity in with her silks. “Well, my dear, I’m here all day—I get tired, want to change into something comfy. We’re family now—why are you so cross?” To every complaint, Yura replied the same way: “Sash, be kind. She’s had it tough. Just let her feel at home. Does it really hurt to sacrifice a shelf?” “It’s not the shelf, Yura—your mum is edging me out of my own home!” “You’re exaggerating. She helps—cooks, cleans; you always said you hated ironing.” “I’d rather look crumpled than wear anything she’s ironed!” Sasha barked. But her husband just wouldn’t listen. *** The bottles in the bath tipped her over the edge. “Yura, come eat—your food’s going cold!” Svetlana called from the kitchen. “Sasha, love, I left the hot sauce off yours—knew you wouldn’t want it.” Sasha stormed to the kitchen. “Svetlana, why did you move my things under the bath?” Svetlana didn’t even blink. She set a fork beside Yura’s plate and smiled. “Oh those old bottles? They were nearly empty, taking up space. And the smell—knocked me sick. I put out my tried and tested ones. Yours are fine down there until you need them—keeps things neat.” “I mind,” said Sasha. “This is my bathroom. My things. My home!” “Oh, don’t be silly, love—this is Yura’s flat. Of course you’re the woman of the house, but still… a little respect for your husband’s mother wouldn’t hurt.” Yura, hovering in the doorway, paled. “Mum, come on… Sasha’s got a flat too—we just live here…” “What, that old granny-flat?” Svetlana scoffed. “Yura, eat up. See, your wife’s in a mood—probably just hungry.” Sasha looked at her husband, waiting: Waiting for him to say: “Mum, enough. You’ve crossed a line. Pack up and go home.” Yura hesitated, glanced between them both—and just sat down. “Sash, come eat. Let’s just talk it over. Mum, you shouldn’t have moved Sasha’s things…” “See!” Svetlana cried triumphantly. “My son gets it. You’re just being selfish, Sasha. Family means sharing everything.” Sasha’s last thread of patience snapped. “Everything shared?” she repeated coldly. “Fine.” She turned and walked out. Yura called after her but she ignored him, packing her bags in under twenty minutes, leaving Svetlana’s “tried and tested” products in place. She left to the soundtrack of her husband’s pleading and her mother-in-law’s not-so-subtle jibes. *** Sasha had no intention of returning to her husband; she filed for divorce almost immediately after her “escape.” Her soon-to-be-ex rings her daily, begging her to come home, while his mother quietly ferries more of her things into his flat. And Sasha is certain—that’s all her mother-in-law ever wanted.

The Daytime Cuckoo Out-Cuckooed Us All For heavens sake, shes having a laugh! Lucy huffed. James!