No More “Shoulds”: When Anton Walked Through the Door and Discovered Three Dried-Up Plates of Pasta on the Kitchen Table, an Upside-Down Yoghurt Pot, an Open Maths Notebook, Kostya’s Backpack Tossed in the Hallway, Vera Lost in Her Phone on the Sofa—He Realised He Was Too Tired to Lecture About Dishes and Homework. Instead, He Gathered His Children Around the Kitchen Table, Not to Talk About Chores or School, But to Finally Speak Honestly: About Being Tired, About Not Always Coping, About Worries No One Says Out Loud, and Why Sometimes the Most Important Family Conversation Is the One Where No One Pretends Everything’s Fine.

Author Wanda MirandaReading 9 minViews 1

No Musts

Richard opened the front door and was greeted by three plates with dried-up spaghetti on the kitchen table, an upturned yoghurt pot, and an open squared notebook. Freddies school bag was flopped in the middle of the hallway. Sophie was sprawled on the sofa, eyes glued to her phone.

He dropped his own bag by the door and kicked off his shoes. The words about the mess were on the tip of his tongue, but exhaustion tightened in his chest, so he simply went over, picked up a plate, and took it to the sink.

Ill wash them in a minute, Dad, Sophie said without looking up.

Mmm.

He turned on the tap and watched as the spaghetti softened and swirled pitifully down the drain. He switched off the water, stared at the wet crockery.

Soph, wheres Freddie?

In his room. Doing maths.

And you?

Ive finished everything.

He dried his hands on the tea towel and wandered to Freddies room. His son was lying on the rug, head resting on a fist, about one and a half maths problems scribbled in his notebook.

Hi, Richard said.

Hi.

Alright?

Yeah.

Homework?

Getting it done.

Richard sat down on the edge of the bed. Freddie glanced over, then went back to staring at his notebook.

Dad, is something wrong?

I dont know, Richard replied. Probably just tired.

And honestly, he didnt know. That morning his mother had rung, insisting he come by to help her reorganise her wardrobe. Then there was a meeting at work that somehow lasted until six, then the Undergroundpacked like sardines, jammed against the door. Now he was sitting in Freddies room, realising he didnt want to mention dishes or homework or tidiness. He just didnt want to be a human checklist, clocking in for Dad Duty.

Listen, how about we gather in the kitchen? he said. All of us.

Why? Freddie frowned.

Just for a chat.

Freddie looked suspicious. Is this about my last test in English?

No. Just want to talk.

Dad, I havent finished my homework.

You can finish it after. Five minutes, tops.

He got up, called for Sophie. She looked up, sighed in that special way teenagers do.

Really?

Really.

She tossed her phone onto the sofa and followed. Freddie shuffled in, loitering by the kitchen door as if the floor might swallow him whole.

Richard took a seat, slid the notebook aside. Sophie sat opposite, arms folded. Freddie perched nervously on the edge of a chair.

Whats up? Sophie asked.

Nothings up.

Then whats this for?

Richard glanced from one to the other. Freddies eyes were wide with worry, expecting some awful announcement.

I just want to talk, Richard said. Properly. Without all the you must do your homework, you must wash upall that.

So Freddie asked cautiously, does that mean we dont have to do dishes right now?

Well wash up after. This is different.

Sophie crossed her arms tighter. Youre acting weird today.

Weird, he agreed. Maybe Im tired of pretending everythings blissfully normal.

They sat in silence. He searched for words, but his mind was just blank.

I dont really know how to say this, he started, but it feels like were all pretending. I walk in, you pretend everythings fine, and I pretend I believe it. We talk about school, about dinner, but its not really talking, is it?

Dad, youre laying it on a bit, Sophie said softly. Why?

Honestly? Because Im scared I cant manage, and Im terrified you cant either, and I havent even noticed whats going wrong.

Freddie frowned. Im managing.

Are you? Richard looked hard at him. Then why have you been falling asleep after midnight these last couple of weeks?

Freddie fell silent, gazing at the table.

I hear you tossing and turning, Richard said. And you get up looking like youve been up all night.

Just not sleepy, Freddie muttered.

Freddie.

What?

Tell me the real reason.

Freddie shrugged, looked away.

Schools fine. I do my work. What else do you want?

Im not asking about schoolwork.

Sophie cut in, Dad, please stop grilling him.

Im not. I just want to understand.

He doesnt want to talk. Thats his right.

Richard turned to her. Alright, then how are you?

Sophie let out a half-laugh. Me? Wonderful. School, mates, doing what Im supposed to.

Soph

She fell quiet, looked down.

What?

You havent left the house much this month. Your friends invited you out twiceyou didnt go.

So what? Didnt feel like it.

Why?

She pressed her lips together.

Im just fed up. Bored of their endless chat about silly boys and pointless stuff. Happy?

Fine, he said. It just seems like youre a bit down.

She flicked her head as if shaking off invisible cobwebs. Im not down.

Alright.

Silence again. The only sound was the hum of the fridge.

Look, Richard said quietly, I dont want to be a parent right now. And I dont want you to feel like you have to make me feel better, either. Ill just be honest: Im scared. Every single day. I worry about money, I worry about Gran getting ill and not telling anyone, I worry about layoffs at work. I worry youre both struggling and Im too wrapped up in myself to notice. And frankly, Im tired of pretending its all under control.

Sophie blinked, looked at him properly.

But youre a grown-up, she murmured. You have to cope.

I know. But sometimes I dont.

Freddie looked up. What happens if you cant?

I dont know, Richard said truthfully. Maybe Ill have to ask for help.

From who?

From you lot, for starters.

Freddie frowned. But were just kids.

You are. But youre part of this familyand sometimes I need you to tell me the truth. Not just its fine, but whats really going on.

Sophie traced imaginary crumbs on the table.

Whats the point? Why do you want to know?

So Im not on my own with it all.

She glanced back, and Richard saw something that looked a lot like understanding.

Im frightened of school, Freddie burst out suddenly. Theres this boyhe calls me stupid. Every day. And everyone laughs.

Richard felt his heart clutch.

Whats his name?

Not telling. You’ll wade in and make it worse.

I promise I wont interfere. Really.

Freddie studied him for a long moment.

Really?

Really. But I need you to know youre not alone.

Freddie nodded, dropped his gaze. Im not. Theres Jamiehe’s alright. We sit together.

Good.

Sophie sighed. I dont want to go to uni, she said, almost whispering. Everyones asking which one, but I dont know. Not a clue. Im certain Ill end up nowhere, because I just dont get anything.

Soph, youre fourteen.

So? Everyone else already knows what theyre doing. I dont.

Not everyone.

Everyone I know.

He was quiet for a moment.

At your age, I wanted to be a geologist. Then I changed my mind. Then changed it again. Now I do something completely different.

And is that alright?

Sometimes. Sometimes not. Thats lifeits not meant to be all mapped out.

She nodded, hesitantly.

Justeveryone says you MUST decide.

They do, he said, but thats them talking. Not you.

She looked at him, almost smiling.

Youre definitely different today.

Im tired of being right all the time.

Freddie grinned. Can I ask you something?

Go on.

Are you really scared?

Definitely.

So what do you do when youre scared?

Richard thought for a moment. I get up in the morning and do something. Even if Im not sure its right. I just do it.

Freddie nodded, thinking it over.

They all sat, quiet. Richard looked at his two, knowing he hadnt fixed anything, hadnt given answers, hadnt chased away the worries. But something had shifted: they could see he was more than a collection of responsibilities. He was just there with them, as himself. And that was new.

Alright, said Sophie, getting up, lets do the dishes.

Ill help, Freddie added.

Me too, Richard said.

They stood, Sophie turned on the tap, Freddie fetched the sponge, Richard grabbed the tea towel. They worked in silence, but it was a different sort of silencefull, not empty.

When the last plate was on the rack, Sophie dried her hands and looked at Richard.

Dad, can we have a chat like this again? You know, sometime?

Anytime, he said. Whenever you want.

She nodded and went off to her room. Freddie stuck around, shuffling his feet.

Thanks for not marching into school about that boy, he mumbled.

But if it gets really bad, youll tell me?

I will.

Come on, lets finish your maths.

They headed back to Freddies room and sat together on the rug. Richard picked up the notebook, scanned the problems. Freddie scooted closer, and they got down to work, not rushing, almost in their old routine. But now Richard understood that behind the equations was a boy who was scaredand that he, Richard, was allowed to be scared too, and show up in the morning anyway.

It wasnt muchbut it was a beginning.

The Syndrome of a Life Forever Postponed… Confessions of a 60-Year-Old Woman Helen: This year I turned 60, and not a single family member even rang me to say happy birthday. I have a daughter and a son, a grandson and a granddaughter, and an ex-husband who’s still around. My daughter’s 40, my son’s 35. Both live in London, both graduated from prestigious London universities. Bright, successful, the lot. My daughter’s married to a high-ranking government official, my son to the daughter of a prominent London businessman. Both have thriving careers and own plenty of property; on top of civil service, each has their own business. Everything’s stable. My ex-husband left as soon as our son finished university, saying he was tired of living life at such a pace. Though, to be honest, he worked quietly at one job, spent weekends with friends or slouched on the sofa, and every summer took himself off to his relatives in Cornwall for a whole month. I never took a holiday, working three jobs at the same time—engineer at a factory, cleaner in the admin offices there, and weekends packing shelves at a local supermarket from 8am till 8pm, plus cleaning the stockrooms. All my earnings went to my kids—London’s not cheap, and going to a top university means needing good clothes, decent food, and the odd night out. I learned to wear hand-me-downs and mend shoes, always neat and tidy. That was enough for me. My entertainment was dreaming—sometimes at night I saw myself happy, young, laughing. After he left, my husband immediately upgraded his car, bought something fancy—clearly he’d put aside enough. Our life together was strange: all expenses fell on me, except for the rent, which he paid as his sole contribution. I educated our children… The flat we lived in came from my grandmother. Solid, well-kept, a classic Victorian with high ceilings, two bedrooms converted to three. There was a storeroom with a window, which I renovated; fit a bed, desk, wardrobe, and shelves. My daughter had that room. I shared a room with my son, though I only came home to sleep. My husband had the “front room”. Once my daughter moved to London, I took the storeroom, son kept the bedroom. The relationship with my ex ended without drama, division of property, or blame. He wanted to truly LIVE, and I was so exhausted, I felt relief… No more cooking dinner with dessert and a fruit salad, no more laundry or ironing or organizing his wardrobe—I could finally use my time to just rest. By then, my health was shot—back, joints, diabetes, thyroid, nerves all in tatters. For the first time, I took a proper holiday from my main job and focused on getting better. Still, I kept my weekend jobs, but at least I recovered a bit. I hired a terrific builder—he and his mate did a fantastic job renovating my bathroom in two weeks. Honestly, I was over the moon! My own slice of happiness! All those years, I sent my well-to-do children money for birthdays, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, then for the grandchildren too. So, I couldn’t give up the extra jobs. Never spent money on myself. Rarely got a card in return, mostly only when I sent mine first. No gifts. The worst of all was that I wasn’t invited to either wedding—son’s or daughter’s. My daughter said bluntly: “Well, Mum, you just wouldn’t fit in at the party. There’ll be people from the government there.” I only learned about my son’s wedding from my daughter after it was all over… At least they didn’t ask me for money toward the weddings… Neither child visits me, though I always invite them round. My daughter says there’s nothing for her in our “backwater” city (a regional centre with a million people). My son always says, “I’m too busy, Mum!” Flights to London are seven times a day—two hours, that’s all it takes… How would I name that period of my life? Maybe, a life of suppressed emotions… I lived like Scarlett O’Hara: “I’ll think about it tomorrow…” Choked back tears, pain—all my feelings from confusion to despair. Like a robot programmed to work. Eventually our factory was sold to London investors and reorganized. They laid off all of us near retirement, and I lost two jobs, but it meant I could take early retirement. My pension’s only £700… Try living on that. Ended up lucky—a cleaning job opened up in our five-storey block… I clean stairs—another £700. Kept the weekend supermarket shifts too, they pay well—£100 per shift. Hard part is being on my feet all day. Started a slow kitchen renovation. Did most of it myself, ordered the cabinets from my neighbour—they were affordable and he did a great job. Again, started saving up. Wanted to refresh the bedrooms, replace some furniture. Plans, but none that included just me!!! What did I spend on myself? Just basic food—and I never was a big eater. And medicine, which cost a lot. Rent went up every year. My ex kept saying, “Why don’t you sell this flat? It’s a good area, you’ll get a great price. Buy yourself a studio.” But I couldn’t. It’s special to me—grandmother memories. I don’t remember my parents; she raised me. The flat’s my entire life. My ex and I kept things friendly. We chat sometimes, like old acquaintances. He’s doing fine. Never talks about his love life. Once a month, he brings groceries—potatoes, veggies, grains, bottled water. Heavy stuff. Refuses money, says if I use delivery services, it’ll be rotten. I just agree. Now it feels as if something inside me is locked up—just a ball of emotions. I live, just live. Work hard. No dreams. Don’t want anything for myself. I see my daughter and grandkids only in her Instagram. My son’s life flashes on my daughter-in-law’s Instagram. I’m genuinely glad they’re well—healthy, happy, traveling, fine dining. Maybe I didn’t give them enough love. That’s why I get none in return. My daughter sometimes asks how I am—I always say, “I’m fine!” Never complain. My son sends WhatsApp voice notes, “Hi Mum, hope you’re well.” Once, my son said he didn’t want to hear about our family problems; negativity was bad for him. So, I stopped, and just reply, “Yes, son, everything’s fine.” I’d love to hug my grandchildren, but suspect they don’t even know they have a living grandma—the pensioner cleaner. Likely the official story is, their grandma’s long gone… Can’t remember treating myself to anything, except the occasional bargain pants or socks. Never had a manicure or pedicure in a salon… Once a month I pop next door for a trim at the hairdressers. Dye my own hair. Only nice thing is I still wear the same clothes size as a young woman—no need to update my wardrobe. I’m terrified that one morning I won’t be able to get out of bed—my back pain is constant and crippling. I’m petrified of becoming bedridden. Maybe I should have lived differently—not always working, postponing everything, never taking a break, never finding those little joys. Where is that “later”? There’s no such thing now… My soul feels empty… my heart is numb… And the world around me feels empty too… I don’t blame anyone. But I can’t blame myself either. I worked my whole life, even now, and am building a small financial cushion, just in case I can’t work anymore. It’s not much, but it’s something… But honestly? I know, if I ever become bedridden, I won’t want to stay alive… don’t want to be a burden. You know the saddest part? No one, ever, has given me flowers… NEVER… Wouldn’t it be a laugh if someone finally brought me a bouquet—just for my grave? Really, you’d have to laugh…

The Bench in the Courtyard Victor Stevens stepped outside just after one. His temples throbbed—he’d finished the last of the salads yesterday, and this morning he’d packed away the Christmas tree and boxed up its ornaments. The flat was far too quiet. He pulled on a wool hat, slipped his phone into his pocket, and headed downstairs, one hand on the banister as usual. On a crisp January afternoon, the courtyard felt like a stage set: swept paths, untouched snowdrifts, not a soul in sight. Victor brushed off the bench near the second entrance; snow fell away in soft chunks. It was a good place to think, especially when no one else was around—five minutes here, then home again. “Mind if I join you?” came a man’s voice. Victor turned his head. A tall chap in a navy parka, about fifty-five, his face faintly familiar. “Have a seat, there’s plenty of room,” Victor replied, shifting over. “Which flat are you in?” “Twenty-three, second floor. Just moved in three weeks ago. Michael.” “Victor Stevens.” He shook the offered hand automatically. “Welcome to our quiet little corner.” Michael took out a packet of cigarettes. “Do you mind?” “Smoke away.” Victor hadn’t smoked in a decade, but the scent of tobacco unexpectedly brought back the old newspaper office where he’d spent most of his working life. He found himself wanting to breathe in the smoke, then quickly shook off the thought. “How long have you lived here?” Michael asked. “Since ’87. The whole block was just built.” “I used to work round the corner, at the Community Hall. Sound engineer.” Victor perked up. “With Mr. Harding?” “That’s right! How do you—?” “Wrote a piece on him once. In ’89, for the anniversary concert. Remember when ‘August’ played?” “I could retell that concert moment for moment!” Michael smiled. “We dragged that huge speaker in, power was shorting…” The conversation began to flow. Names surfaced, stories—some funny, some bittersweet. Victor caught himself thinking he really ought to head home, but the stories kept coming: musicians, kit, backstage mishaps. He’d long since got out of the habit of long chats. For the last few years at the paper he’d written only at deadline, and after retirement he’d withdrawn even more. He told himself it brought peace—no ties, no dependencies. Yet now, something inside his chest felt like it was thawing. “You know,” Michael stubbed out a third cigarette, “I’ve still got the whole archive at home. Posters, photos. Even the concert tapes—I recorded them myself. If you’re interested…” Why bother? Victor thought. It would mean calling round, making small talk. What if Michael wanted to strike up a neighbourly friendship? His routine would be thrown. And what could he possibly see that was new? “Could have a look,” he said. “When’s convenient?” “Tomorrow’s fine. Five-ish? I’ll be in from work.” “Let’s do it,” Victor got out his phone and opened contacts. “Take my number. If anything changes, just call.” That evening he couldn’t sleep. He replayed their conversation, recalled old details. He reached for his phone twice to cancel, invent an excuse. But he didn’t. In the morning, the phone rang. The screen lit up: “Michael, neighbour”. “Still up for it?” Michael’s voice sounded a bit tentative. “I am,” Victor replied. “I’ll be over by five.”

The Last Summer at Home Vladimir arrived on a Wednesday, just as the midday sun began to warm the roof until the slates crackled. The garden gate had fallen off its hinges three years ago; he stepped over it and paused on the porch. Three steps led up—one completely rotten. Testing his weight, he climbed the second step and went inside. The house smelled of stale air and mice. Dust lay thick on the sills; a web stretched from the beam to the old sideboard. With effort, Vladimir opened a window, flooding the room with the scent of sun-warmed nettles and dry grass from the yard. He walked through all four rooms, building a mental list: wash the floors, check the stove, fix the plumbing in the summer kitchen, throw out everything rotten. Then call Andrew, Mum, the nephews. Say: come for August; let’s spend a month here, just like old times. “Old times” were twenty-five years ago, when their father was alive and every summer the whole family gathered. Vladimir remembered making jam in a copper basin, he and his brothers hauling water from the well, and their mother reading aloud on the veranda at night. Later, their father died, Mum moved to the city with their youngest brother, and the house was boarded up. Once a year, Vladimir checked it hadn’t been looted, then left. But this spring, something shifted within him: try to bring it back, just once. The first week he worked alone. Cleared the chimney, replaced two porch planks, scrubbed the windows. Paint and cement from the county town, arranging an electrician for the wiring. The parish council chairman met him at the shop, shaking his head. “Why pour money into this old heap, Vlad? You’ll sell it anyway.” “I’m not selling before autumn,” Vladimir replied, and walked on. Andrew arrived first, Saturday evening, with wife and two kids. He climbed out, surveying the yard with a frown. “You’re serious about a whole month here?” “Three weeks,” Vladimir corrected him. “Fresh air for the kids—and for you.” “There’s not even a shower.” “There’s the old sauna. I’ll heat it tonight.” The children, a boy of eleven and a girl of eight, trudged off to the swings Vladimir had hung from the ancient oak. Andrew’s wife, Sarah, hauled groceries into the house in silence. Vladimir helped unload. His brother still scowled but said nothing. Mum came Monday; the neighbour drove her over. She entered the house, paused in the lounge and sighed. “Everything seems so small,” she whispered, “I remembered it bigger.” “You haven’t been here for thirty years, Mum.” “Thirty-two.” She wandered into the kitchen, hand on the worn countertop. “It was always cold in here. Your dad promised central heating, but never got round to it.” He heard not nostalgia, but tiredness. He poured her tea, settled her on the veranda. Mum stared at the garden, talking about hauling water, aching backs after washing, neighbours gossiping. Vladimir realised: for her, this house wasn’t a nest—it was an old wound. That evening, after she went to bed, he and Andrew sat at a fire in the yard. The kids slept; Sarah read by candlelight—electricity ran to just half the house. “Why do all this?” Andrew asked, looking into the flames. “I wanted us all together.” “We already see each other—holidays and such.” “It’s not the same.” Andrew smirked. “Vlad, you old romantic. Think living here for three weeks will make us close?” “I don’t know,” Vladimir confessed. “I wanted to try.” Andrew fell silent, then said gently, “I’m glad you did. Truly. But don’t expect miracles.” Vladimir wasn’t. But he hoped. Days passed in a whirl. Vladimir fixed fences, Andrew helped reroof the shed. The boy, Tom, soon discovered old fishing rods in the barn and took to the river; Emma, the girl, weeded the new veg patch with her gran. One afternoon, painting the veranda together, Sarah suddenly laughed. “We’re like a commune, aren’t we?” “Communes at least had plans,” Andrew grumbled—but he smiled. Vladimir saw the tension easing. Nights, they ate at the long veranda table—Mum made soup, Sarah baked pies with cottage cheese from the village. Chats covered little things: where to get mosquito nets, whether to mow the grass near the windows, if the pump was fixed. Then one evening after the kids slept, Mum said: “Your father wanted to sell this house. The year before he died.” Vladimir froze, mug halfway to his lips. Andrew frowned. “Why?” “Tired. Said the house was an anchor. He wanted a city flat—close to the hospital. I objected. I thought this was ours, a family place. We fought. He never sold, and then he died.” Vladimir set down his mug. “Do you blame yourself?” “I don’t know. I just… got worn out by this place. I insisted, and he never got to rest.” Andrew leaned back. “Mum, you never told us.” “No one asked.” Vladimir looked at her—she sat hunched, hands work-worn; now he saw—the house wasn’t a treasure to her, but a burden. “Maybe you should have sold up,” he murmured. “Maybe.” She nodded. “But you grew up here. That’s something.” “What exactly?” She met his gaze. “That you remember who you were. Before life scattered everyone.” He didn’t believe her at first. But next day, at the river, when Andrew hugged Tom, who’d caught his first perch, and laughed—genuinely, not tiredly—he understood. That night, Mum told Emma how she’d taught their dad to read here on this very veranda. Vladimir heard in her voice not hurt—something else. Maybe peace. They set Sunday for departure. The night before, Vladimir fired up the sauna; afterwards they all drank tea on the porch. “Will we come back next year?” Tom asked. Andrew looked to Vladimir, but said nothing. Next morning, Vladimir loaded the car. Mum hugged him goodbye. “Thank you for inviting me.” “I hoped for better.” “It was good. In its own way.” Andrew clapped his shoulder. “Sell it if you want, no hard feelings.” “We’ll see.” The car disappeared in a cloud of dust. Vladimir tidied the remaining dishes, gathered rubbish, locked up. He found an old, heavy padlock from the barn and hung it on the gate. He stood at the gate. The roof straight, porch solid, windows gleaming. The house looked alive—but Vladimir knew better. A house is alive while people are in it. For three weeks, it breathed. Maybe that was enough. He drove away, glancing back at the roof in the rearview mirror before the trees closed in. He thought, come autumn, he might call an estate agent. But for now—he would remember them all at the table, the way Mum laughed at Andrew’s joke, Tom showing off his fish. The house had done its work. It brought them together. And maybe that was enough to let it go in peace.

Leonard Refused to Believe Ira Was His Daughter—His Wife Vera Worked at the Local Shop, Where Rumors Swirled of Her Secret Meetings with Other Men. So Leonard Never Accepted That Small, Delicate Ira Was His Own, and He Resented the Child. Only Her Granddad Supported Ira and Left Her the Family Home. Little Ira Only Had Her Grandfather’s Love As a child, Ira was often ill—frail and petite. “There’s no one so tiny in either of our families,” Leonard insisted. “She’s no child of mine!” Over time, her father’s coldness rubbed off on her mother. But Ira’s grandfather, Old Matthew, truly cherished her. His cottage stood on the very edge of the village, near the woods. Matthew had always worked as a woodsman and, even in retirement, visited the forest daily to gather berries and healing herbs, and fed the animals in winter. Locals found him odd—sometimes his predictions came true! But many sought his remedies and herb brews. Matthew’s wife had passed years ago; only the forest and his granddaughter brought him comfort. When Ira started school, she spent more time with her granddad than at home. He taught her about herbs and roots, and Ira dreamed of becoming a healer. Mum objected, claiming she had no money for Ira’s studies. But Matthew promised help—even if it meant selling his cow. Granddad Left His Home and a Promise of Happiness Ira’s mother Vera rarely visited her father, but one day she appeared, desperate for money after her son lost at cards in the city and was beaten, now demanding cash. “So you remember me when you need something?” Matthew scolded sternly and refused to pay her son’s debts. “My priority is Ira’s future.” Furious, Vera stormed out: “You’re no longer my father, and Ira’s no longer my daughter!” When Ira got into nursing school, her parents offered nothing—not even a penny. Only Matthew helped, along with Ira’s scholarship. As Ira neared graduation, Matthew fell ill. Knowing his time was near, he told Ira that the house was hers. He urged her to work in town but not to abandon the cottage—“A home lives as long as it has a human soul in it. In winter, keep the fire lit. Don’t fear staying here alone; this is where your happiness will find you,” Matthew promised, as if he knew something. Matthew’s Prediction Came True Matthew passed away in autumn. Ira took work as a nurse at the county hospital. On weekends, she visited her granddad’s cottage, lighting the stove against the cold. The wood Matthew had stocked lasted for ages. One snowy weekend, Ira arrived just as a storm buried the road. A knock startled her—it was a stranger, his car stranded outside. “Excuse me, could I borrow a shovel? My car’s stuck.” “There’s one by the porch. Need a hand?” Tiny Ira offered. The tall young man laughed off her help lest she get lost in the snow. After a while, stuck again, he accepted her invitation to wait out the blizzard inside. Over hot tea, he asked, “Don’t you find it scary, staying alone by the woods?” Ira explained she only visited on weekends; she worked in the city, unsure how she’d return if buses were cancelled. The stranger—Stan—said he’d be heading to town, too, and offered her a lift. Later, as Ira walked home after work, Stan unexpectedly appeared beside her, joking, “Your herbal tea must be magic—I couldn’t wait to see you again. Maybe you’ll even pour me another cup?” They never had a big wedding—Ira didn’t want one, and Stan finally agreed. But theirs was true love. Ira discovered that men really do carry their wives—at least Stan did! When their first child was born, everyone marvelled how a tiny woman could have such a robust son. When asked his name, Ira replied, “He’ll be Matthew, after a very good man.”

The Last Summer at Home Vladimir arrived on Wednesday, just as the midday sun warmed the roof so much that the slates began to crackle. The garden gate had dropped off its hinges three years ago; he stepped over it and paused at the porch. Three steps—bottom one completely rotted. He tested his weight on the second, then continued inside. The air smelled stale, with a hint of mice. A thick layer of dust coated the sills; a cobweb stretched from the beam to the old sideboard. Vladimir pushed open a stiff window—sun-baked nettle and dry grass from the yard flooded in. He made the rounds of all four rooms, mentally listing jobs: mop the floors, check the fireplace, fix the summerhouse plumbing, throw out everything that’s rotted. Then call Andrew, Mum, the nephews. Tell them: come in August, spend a month here like we used to. Back then—twenty-five years ago—Dad was alive, and every summer the whole family gathered here. Vladimir remembered boiling jam in a copper pan, brothers hauling buckets from the well, Mum reading aloud on the veranda at sunset. After Dad died, Mum moved to the city with the youngest. The house was boarded up. Vladimir came by once a year to check it hadn’t been looted, then left again. But this spring, something clicked: he wanted to try and bring it back. Just once. The first week he worked alone: swept the chimney, replaced two porch boards, cleaned the windows. Drove to the nearby town for paint and cement, arranged for a local electrician to see the wiring. The Parish Council chairman, bumping into him outside the shop, shook his head. “Why bother, Vlad? You’ll end up selling it anyway.” “I’m not selling this autumn,” Vladimir answered, and moved on. Andrew was first to arrive, Saturday evening, kids in tow. He stared at the yard, wrinkling his nose. “Seriously? A whole month here?” “Three weeks,” Vladimir corrected. “The kids need fresh air. So do you.” “We’ve not even got a shower.” “There’s a bathhouse. I’ll heat it tonight.” The kids, a boy aged eleven and a girl of eight, trudged to the old swing Vladimir had strung from an oak the day before. Andrew’s wife, Sylvia, hauled a bag of groceries inside without a word. Vladimir helped unload. Andrew still scowled but said nothing. Mum came Monday, driven by the neighbour. She stepped into the house, paused in the front room and sighed. “Everything’s so small,” she whispered. “I remember it bigger.” “You’ve not set foot here in thirty years, Mum.” “Thirty-two.” She ran a palm over the kitchen worktop. “It was always chilly here. Dad promised to put in heating, but never got round to it.” Vladimir heard tiredness, not nostalgia, in her voice. He poured her tea, sat her on the veranda. She looked out at the garden and spoke of hauling water, of back pain after laundry days, gossiping neighbours. Vladimir listened and realised—for her, this wasn’t a nest, but an old wound. When she went to bed, he and Andrew sat around a fire in the yard. The children slept, Sylvia read by candlelight—power connected only to half the house. “Why all this effort?” Andrew asked, staring into the flames. “I wanted us all together.” “We see each other at Christmas.” “It’s not the same.” Andrew snorted. “Bit of a romantic, Vlad. Think we’ll be closer after three weeks here?” “I don’t know. I had to try.” Andrew was silent, then spoke softer: “Glad you did. But don’t expect a miracle.” Vladimir didn’t. But he hoped. The next days were busy. Vladimir fixed the fence; Andrew helped re-roof the shed. The boy, Archie, sulked at first, then found old rods in the shed and spent days on the riverbank. The girl, Sophie, weeded the new vegetable patch with Grandma. One afternoon, painting the veranda together, Sylvia laughed: “We look like some old commune.” “At least communes had a plan,” Andrew grumbled, but he smiled. The tension eased. Evenings saw them dining at a makeshift long table on the veranda. Mum made soup, Sylvia baked cottage cheese pies from the village shop. Chatter was all about small things: where to get mosquito netting, whether to mow the grass, if the pump had been fixed. But one night, with the kids in bed, Mum said, “Your father wanted to sell this place—a year before he died.” Vladimir froze, mug in hand. Andrew frowned. “Why?” “He was tired. Called the place an anchor. Wanted a flat near the hospital in town. I was against it—thought it was our inheritance. We fought. He never sold, then he died.” Vladimir set his mug down. “Do you blame yourself?” “I don’t know. I just… grew tired of this house. It’s a reminder I pushed for my way, and he never got his peace.” Andrew leant back. “You never said.” “You never asked.” Vladimir looked at her—bent, old, hands worn—and now he saw the house wasn’t a treasure, but a weight. “Maybe we should have sold,” he murmured. “Maybe,” Mum agreed. “But you grew up here. That counts.” “Counts for what?” She met his gaze. “So you remember who you were, before life pulled you all apart.” He didn’t believe straight away. But next day, taking Andrew and Archie to fish, and watching his brother laugh for real as Archie showed off their first catch, Vladimir understood a little. And in the evening, hearing Mum teach Sophie to read where she once taught Dad—her voice didn’t sound pained anymore. Something else: maybe peace. Departure was set for Sunday. The night before, Vladimir fired up the old sauna; they all bathed, then drank tea on the veranda. Archie asked if they’d come again next year. Andrew glanced at Vladimir, but said nothing. In the morning, Vladimir helped pack up. Mum embraced him at the gate. “Thank you for inviting us.” “I thought it would be better.” “It was good. In its way.” Andrew clapped him on the shoulder. “Sell it, if you want. I’m fine with it.” “We’ll see.” The car left; dust settled on the lane. Vladimir went back inside, tidied dishes, took out the rubbish. Closed windows, locked up. Fished a rusty barn lock from his pocket, looped it on the gate. Heavy, rusted, but strong. He stood at the gate, looking at the house—roof straight, porch solid, windows shining. The house looked alive. But Vladimir knew better. A house is alive when people are in it. For three weeks, this one had been alive. Maybe that was enough. He got in the car. In the mirror, the roof flashed once, then the trees hid it. Vladimir drove slowly on the rough lane, thinking of calling an estate agent in autumn. But for now—all he wanted was to remember them all, laughing, eating together, as Archie proudly displayed his fish. The house had done its job. It brought them together. And maybe that was enough to finally let it go without regret. The Last Summer at Home