-Susan? -Hello, daughter-in-law! Well, how are you? – Barbara said businesslike into the phone.
-Hello, Barbara! Good, even great … You can congratulate me, and I congratulate you – finally your dream begins to come true. Your Carl and I are getting a divorce. On Monday we’ll go to write a statement!
-What?! What do you mean “divorcing”?! What happened? And you talk about it so calmly? Put Carl on the phone!
Barbara didn’t understand what was happening.
-I can’t. He’s at home, call him yourself. I was called to work. I’m sorry, I can’t talk.
The daughter-in-law hung up, and Barbara quickly began to look for her son’s number in the list.
Then suddenly she changed her mind.
-No, I need to talk to my son face to face, not on the phone. What happened there?” she thought.
The son opened the door. He was very surprised to see his mother. She quickly took off her jacket and entered the room. She looked at her son carefully so that he felt somehow uncomfortable.
-Mom, what are you doing? What happened?
-So you tell me what happened? That’s what I came to ask you: “What happened”?! Tell me what you did, why your wife is going to divorce you?
-Oh, that’s what you mean… You’ve already complained… Okay, Mom, don’t worry, we’ll figure it out.
-Yes, you will… -Tell me what happened.
-Yes, as usual, we quarreled over nonsense… So, I went for a walk with Scott yesterday after work. I forgot she asked me to pick her up. I came home, and she started arguing. She had to run away from work, and she had some urgent negotiations there. Well, problems at work because of that. And she couldn’t call me. I turned off the phone, thinking that I would let her sit quietly with Scott before the day off, because she usually starts calling, asking everything… And I came home with a beer, and she started to quarrel. She asked me to go to the store with her after I picked up Olivia. She gave me a whole list of things to buy. Well, I didn’t take it. I forgot. It doesn’t matter if there’s no food at home. You have a full fridge. I’ll go and buy some today. It’s the weekend.
-God… What kind of person are you? When will you start thinking not only about yourself? You really don’t know what you’re doing? Your wife deserves a monument for her life! I wonder how she puts up with you.
-Don’t you start! I’m your son, not her.
-What else? Tell me everything!
-Nothing! We fought all night. She told me everything, blamed me, cried. And I also said that she herself is far from perfect. Well, she knows three languages, she’s a translator. But as a wife – zero! And she can not cook, and she is a bad housewife… Well, I was emotional… I’m wrong, I know… I just wanted to say something too
And she immediately says, “Why did you marry such a worthless woman? Well, you could have found yourself another, perfect one. And I said that I had been thinking about it for a long time. She asked, “Do you want to divorce? Do you already have someone in mind? And I said that it was high time to divorce. Anything is better than living like this… She started for that… That’s it, she says. On Monday we’ll go and file for divorce. I, she says, am also tired of this life… And I said that I would love to, I’ve been thinking about it for a long time… Well, I said all sorts of things…
-Sure, you’ll get so worked up you’ll end up without a family. You’ll be just like your Scott, always partying. He left his family and you want to do that?!
Mother went to the kitchen, opened the fridge.
-So your wife can’t cook? How could you say that? She’s a hundred times better than me! Sit down and eat!
-I’m not hungry. I’ve already eaten…
-Well, did you like it?
-Stop it! You know it.
-Of course I know! I’ve often been unfair to Susan myself. My mother-in-law was very strict with me, so I sometimes resembled her. She would unfairly reproach her with something, make unnecessary remarks, sometimes just pick on her. She was not always fair with her. I realize that… But I will talk to her myself, I will apologize for sure. The main thing is to understand and be able to correct your mistakes in time! I will correct – and you correct!
After all, I have always been grateful to her. For you, I am grateful, for my granddaughter! Because I really love her very much, she is very good. And I myself have learned a lot from her, although she is younger than I. She is such a hostess! She cooks better than in the most expensive restaurant, she can make a delicacy out of nothing. Her house is always in order, every thing is in its place.
Both you and your granddaughter are always well fed and dressed. Everything is always clean, elegant. Everyone is well-groomed. And what a smart girl she is! At work she is appreciated, respected, but at home she sees neither love nor respect.
Just look – the door of the locker is actually holding on. The shelves are all loose. Are you a man or what? When was the last time you picked up a screwdriver? Or does your wife do everything for you again? Do you help her at home in any way? Or do you have more important things to do, you need to sit on the computer?
Mother went into the bedroom. She opened the closet.
-Carla, come here!
-Now what?
Mother was sorting through her clothes.
-Look here! -Here! See? Your clothes are hanging there. How many shirts do you have here? All new, beautiful. Pants, a whole collection. And that’s not counting the drawers in the closet. Look at that! There’s enough clothes for ten men!
And now look here! Two modest dresses, a couple of skirts, three blouses, a summer suit and one warm trouser suit. A business suit for work. A pair of jeans. Everything is not new, it has been worn for years… Everything! Although no – a bunch of home rags – bathrobes and sweatpants.
Doesn’t that tell you anything?! How can you? She is a young and beautiful woman. She has been saving all her life to buy you and your daughter something… Ashamed of you… I’m not asking about gifts, have you ever given your wife ordinary flowers? I’m silent about theaters and museums – did you ever invite her to the cinema?
Carl was silent, lowering his head. He suddenly felt very ashamed. And it was also very unpleasant that his wife would really divorce him.
-Mom, you’re right… I’m really sorry to Susan.
-All right, if you understand, that’s good. Such a wife should be carried in your arms, cherished, loved, respected, appreciated… Oh you…
Well, talking won’t do anything. You need to get your head on straight. While your wife is at work, you clean the house. When your daughter comes home, feed her, tell her to clean up after herself. Let her learn to work too. Vacuum. And get the tools, remember that you are a man. Fix at home what has long been asking for a man’s hand. Do something nice for your wife.
Mother reached into her purse.
-Here, take this. – The mother handed the money to her son.
-No, Mom, why? -Don’t.
-Take it! And from now on, spend it not only on your friends, but also on flowers for your wife! And with this money, take your wife shopping, buy her something fashionable and beautiful. You have a beautiful wife. So make her happy. I was saving this money for you anyway. Take it, don’t be shy. You don’t have to give it back. Just don’t take anything for yourself or your daughter. Susan will try to choose something for you. Don’t let her. Choose only for her!
But do not forget that this is not the main thing. The main thing is your attitude and care. You love her. So do not hide your love from her. And tell her about it, and show your love in practice. You have a beautiful girl. Love and cherish her. Do not miss your happiness and make her happy with you too. Yes, don’t tell her I came. You’d better all come over tomorrow. I baked a cake. Susan and Olivia love it. Well, son, I’m going. My husband is probably looking for me.
She left, and Carl smiled and happily ran to repair the shelves…
