My sister Victoria and her four-year-old son live with our parents. It didn’t work out with her husband, and no one had time to get a place of their own at that time – they all lived in rented apartments. Her ex-boyfriend was still paying alimony and occasionally went out with the child, but he didn’t want to help her in any way. And she dreamed of quickly moving away from my parents and envied me – I could afford to pay for an apartment in the center, with a great view and ten minutes from the subway. She was jealous in a good way, as it seemed to me. So when my friends and I went on vacation abroad, when I asked Victoria if she and her nephew could live there, I said they could.
The apartment would be empty anyway, so someone would clean it, water the flowers, empty the fridge. It was good for me.
For two and a half weeks I was living in a resort paradise, and Victoria was enjoying life without her parents. She was supposed to be gone before I returned, but in the end, when she arrived home, my sister and her nephew greeted me with a welcome dinner. Then they stayed late for dinner, too.
I waited for them to move in with the new week, hinting to Victoria that thanks to her, of course, but it was time for them to go home, but my sister pretended not to understand. She did her best to clean the house and cook for me, and the little one didn’t even bother me to rest after work. It was like that for two more days, until Wednesday, when I told Victoria outright that she had to leave.
– Can we stay with you a little longer? I swear, we won’t bother you. We tiptoe, we don’t make any noise. You won’t even know we’re here,” she said in a pleading voice. – I just don’t want to go to Mom and Dad’s yet. They’re always nagging that I’m out of work, that I’m not teaching my son right… And I can give you part of the alimony for the rent.
So what do I say to that? I’ve given Victoria the okay for now– one week. But I’m sure she’ll ask to stay longer afterwards. With or without the money, I don’t really want to live with my sister and the baby. I’m already having a hard time with my personal life, and this way I won’t have one at all.
I feel sorry for my sister, I want the best for her, but not in my apartment. If she could find something cheaper for them, I’d even help a little with the money. We’re just old enough not to live together.
