Since childhood, I have had a dream of going to France. I adore their capital and have been saving money for a trip there for a long time. I moved out of my parents’ house a long time ago, I rent an apartment and work two jobs.
Besides me, my parents have a son, my older brother. He and his family live with my parents. They have been saving up for the initial deposit on an apartment for a long time, but they are not succeeding. And the thing is that my brother has a bad habit.
When their savings reach a certain point, he goes into the back rooms, wails and comes back with an apology – and so on every time. That’s why my mother and I don’t like my daughter-in-law, because she always apologizes to him. She’s too soft, that’s why my brother got so cocky. So, about two years ago, my brother seemed to come to his senses, and everything fell into place. Now they’ve saved up a lot of money for a place to live. They will soon have their own place,” my mother told me.
I was happy for them too. Still, everyone needs their own place.
– “And what about your dream, dear? Are you going to realize it soon?” she asked when we spoke on the phone recently. “Yes, mom. A couple more months and it will be done.” At the time, I didn’t even think it was a secret. Soon my brother and his wife came to visit me. They brought me a gift, for no reason. It was a poster with photos of Paris.
– Now Paris will always be near,” said my brother, and my wife smiled.
I liked the gift. I treated them to tea and cakes. As we talked, it turned out that they had come to me not just for the sake of it, but to ask me for my savings, saying that they did not have enough for the down payment. I did not refuse my brother’s help, but I had one condition. They had to sign a notarized receipt stating how much and when they would pay me back.
– Do you think I won’t return your money? You’re asking your own brother for a receipt?” my brother was indignant. Everyone was on his side: his mother and relatives.
– “You are shameless. How can you say such things? He is your brother, you have to help him. Stop your antics and come and get some money,” my mother said. And when my grandmother learned about this situation, she decided to sign over her apartment to him and offered to move there. I instantly became everyone’s worst relative. But it was okay. My brother got what he wanted – an apartment. And I will soon forget about this incident, because I will enjoy the beauty of Paris.
