This family was known to many; it stood out among all the others in the small town. A solid two-story house where each of the five children had his own room – not the main thing that attracted the attention of their countrymen, the main thing – this wonderful atmosphere in the family, the atmosphere of caring for each other, respect, desire to help.
They were engaged in farming, leasing shares of land. A troublesome farming business gave a good profit, but it also provided work for everyone. It is clear that work was divided according to age and also into women’s and men’s jobs, but children were accustomed to labor from an early age.
Despite their attachment to the land, their parents did not object to their children’s aspirations to study in the city. Gradually, the children left the country, and the parents were left alone.
The youngest, Alex, was finishing college in a nearby regional center. His arrival with his girlfriend came as a big surprise for his parents. Alex introduced Alina, and his mother first of all inquired:
– And when are you expecting a new addition?
Young people were not embarrassed in the slightest, and Alina even laughed:
– Why, already noticeable? In six months you’ll be grandparents!
Both father and mother were not delighted with such a surprise, all the other children had families, all played traditional weddings, communicated with matchmakers, and here – a completely different situation. In the evening, having consulted, we decided not to interfere with Alex and Alina to build their lives, and the next morning, they met for breakfast and blessed them.
It seemed that neither Alex, nor, moreover, Alina did not really need their blessing, but the material support of wealthy parents was needed more than ever. In addition, Alina stunned them with an unceremonious statement:
– And we will live with you, and help with the child, and we have nowhere else, not in the dormitory to squat!
The parents looked at each other, and the son added:
– Everyone is already separated, there is enough space, let’s share the territory, not to interfere with each other, and you know how, when two families next to each other …
The father frowned:
– Not too early you began to take over my house, son? And daughter-in-law over there, I see, so active …
Alina laughed again, behind the laughter she seemed to hide either her insecurity, or too much pressure:
– Don’t be offended, it was Alex blurted it out!
Every day Alina was taking more and more power in her own hands. She did it quietly, but confidently and deliberately, especially after the birth of a child. Her phrases “this is your youngest grandson, your favorite,” began to be heard constantly, and in the background of them constantly flowed from the parents’ budget to Alex and Alina.
Alex, having graduated from college, did not get a job anywhere, did not want to return to agriculture, to his father’s questions about work he answered evasively, making up stories about some global Internet projects.
My brothers and sisters noticed the changes in my parents’ life. When they came to visit them, they tried to improve the situation, but they only held their hands up:
– He’s the youngest, you have to help…
If it came to helping others, they looked away embarrassed or helped in a purely symbolic way. All this could not but affect the relations of the once close-knit family. Alex and Alina began to be viewed not as relatives, but as slackers, and they gradually stopped talking to them. They communicated with their parents less and less frequently…
They met unexpectedly, and on an unhappy occasion. My father died in hospital after a heart attack, my heart could not withstand the strain of work, but no longer could not withstand the tense atmosphere that reigned in the family.
Again, as in the old years, in the house gathered all the children, grandchildren, there was not only the one who created this house … The departure of the father had a strong impact on Alex and Alina. They found the strength to ask forgiveness from everyone and offer to try to restore what was between them before. Sincere words could not help but melt the ice of alienation, and gradually the relationship between the children began to improve, they surrounded the aging mother with care, and the family began to resemble the family that everyone knew before…
