Well have to stay with you for a bitwe cant afford to rent our own place! Thats what my old friend told me.
Its been over six years since I last saw my son. I remember the conversation like it was yesterday, with
Mum, Please Smile
Arina never liked it when the neighbours came round and asked her mum to sing.
“Go on, Ann, sing us a song – you’ve such a beautiful voice, and you’re such a good dancer too!” her mum would start singing, the neighbours would join in, and sometimes everyone would be dancing together out in the yard.
At the time, Arina lived with her parents and her younger brother Anthony (Antoshka) in their own home in a quiet English village. Her mother was cheerful and friendly, and when the neighbours said goodbye, she’d always say, “Come round again, we had such a lovely time,” and they promised they would.
But Arina felt uncomfortable when her mother sang and danced – it embarrassed her, though she couldn’t quite say why, even to herself. She was in Year 6 then, and one day she blurted out: “Mum, please don’t sing or dance… I feel embarrassed.” She didn’t even really understand why.
Even now, as an adult and a mum herself, she still couldn’t explain it. But Ann had only smiled and said, “Arina, you shouldn’t be embarrassed when I sing. Be happy! I won’t always be young enough to sing and dance like this…”
At the time, Arina didn’t understand. She didn’t realise that not all of life would be full of laughter.
The next year, when Arina was in Year 7 and her brother in Year 3, their dad left for good. He packed up and walked out with no explanation. Arina didn’t know why, and when she was a bit older she finally asked her mum, “Mum, why did Dad leave?” Ann could only reply, “You’ll understand when you’re older.”
Ann just couldn’t bring herself to tell her daughter that she’d found her husband at home with another woman, Vera, who lived nearby. Arina and Anthony were at school when, running home to fetch her purse, Ann unexpectedly walked in on them. Her husband and Vera just looked at her, surprised and grinning, as if to say, “What are you doing here?”
That evening, when her husband returned from work, there was a scene – the children were playing outside and heard nothing. “Pack your things, I’ve already put them in a bag, and go. I’ll never forgive you for betraying me,” Ann told him. Ivan tried to talk his way out, but she wouldn’t listen. He left, and Ann, watching from behind the corner of the house, swore she’d never forgive him.
She told herself, “We’ll get by, just me and the children.” But she never smiled again.
Raising two children alone was harder than she ever imagined. Ann worked two jobs: cleaning floors by day, baking bread at night. She hardly slept, and the smile faded from her face.
Though the children still saw their father – after all, he and Vera lived just a few doors down – they always came home for meals, because Vera never welcomed or fed them. Still, sometimes Vera’s son, Anthony’s classmate, would come home with them, and Ann would feed all the children. She never held a grudge against her husband’s stepson.
But Arina never saw her mother smile again. Ann was kind and caring, but so withdrawn.
Sometimes Arina would come home from school desperate for her mum’s attention, telling her stories about her day: “Mum, you’ll never believe it! Genny brought a kitten to school and it meowed all through lessons!” But Ann would only reply, “Oh, I see…” Nothing seemed to lift her spirits, and at night Arina would hear her crying by the window, lost in thought. Only years later did Arina understand.
“Mum must have been exhausted, working two jobs and never sleeping. And she must have been lacking in vitamins too. But she did everything she could for me and Anthony. We were always well dressed, our clothes ironed and clean.” The daughter would recall.
Back then, little Arina just longed for one thing: “Mum, please smile. It’s been such a long time since I saw you happy…”
Ann loved her children deeply, though sometimes she showed it in quiet ways – she rarely hugged them, but praised them for doing well at school and never causing trouble. She cooked wonderful meals, the house was always neat and tidy.
Arina felt her mother’s love most when she braided her hair. Sitting in silence, Ann would gently stroke her daughter’s head, shoulders slumping with sadness. Her teeth fell out early, and she never had them replaced.
After finishing school, Arina never considered going to university – she couldn’t leave her mum alone, knowing they had no money for studies. So she took a job at a nearby shop to help at home, especially as Anthony needed new clothes and shoes as he grew.
One day, Mikhail came into the shop. He was from another village, nine years older, and quickly fell for Arina.
“What’s your name, beautiful? Are you new here? I haven’t seen you before when I stopped by.”
“I’m Arina – I haven’t seen you before, either.”
“I’m Mikhail – from the next village over, about five miles away.”
They started seeing each other; he picked her up after work, brought her home to meet his mum, and they soon talked about marriage. After all, he had a big house and needed help caring for his ailing mother. Arina agreed – it meant good food and a kind man – and so she said yes.
After the wedding, Arina moved in with Mikhail. She felt ready for a new start. Anthony had grown up and was off at college, coming home for weekends and holidays.
Time passed, and Arina truly found happiness with Mikhail. They raised two boys, one after the other, and she kept busy at home with the boys and the house (Mikhail’s mother passed away after two years). Mikhail worked hard and forbade her from lifting anything heavy – he took care of the heavy work himself, wanting only for her to take care of the animals and children.
Every now and then, Mikhail would load up the car with meat, cream, and milk to bring to Arina’s mum, Ann, who still lived alone in their old village home. Ann accepted the gifts with gratitude, but never smiled. Even around her grandchildren, she remained solemn and thoughtful, and Arina’s heart ached for her mum, wishing she could bring her back to life.
Once, prompted by Mikhail, Arina asked the vicar at the village church for help. “Pray to God,” he urged, “that your mum will meet someone kind.” And Arina prayed for just that.
One day, Ann called needing to borrow money to fix her teeth. Overjoyed, Arina gave her the money gladly, but Ann insisted it was a loan and promised to repay her.
Not long after, when Arina wasn’t able to visit for a while, Mikhail came home and said, “It looks like Uncle Nick wants to remarry! I overheard him on the phone – who do you think with?”
Sure enough, soon Uncle Nick invited them both round. “I’ve found my first love – we went to school together. She’s moving in tomorrow – come for dinner the next day!”
The next day, Arina and Mikhail arrived with gifts – and Arina nearly fainted with shock. Before her stood her mum, Ann, looking radiant, smiling at last. Ann blushed when she saw her daughter, but her smile never faded.
“Mum! I’m so happy… but why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to say anything in case it didn’t work out.”
“Uncle Nick, why didn’t you say anything?”
“I was afraid Ann would change her mind. But now we’re both happy!”
Arina and Mikhail were overjoyed to see Ann’s happiness. From that day on, Ann glowed with contentment – and smiled all the time.
Thank you for reading, subscribing, and all your support. Wishing you happiness always. Mum, Smile Lucy never felt comfortable when their neighbours popped over to ask her mum to sing a song.
The last time I saw my son was over six years ago. How long has it been since your son spoke to you?
My ex-husbands son from his second marriage fell ill, and my ex asked me for financial help.
Many years ago, Mother and Father purchased a small two-bedroom flat for my sister and me. They always
The first wife of my husband once asked us to mind their grandchildren, and I gave her a proper answer. “
The first wife of my husband once asked us to mind their grandchildren, and I gave her a proper answer. “
Shes just manipulating my husband, fumed Victoria. Victoria stared at her phone, feeling that familiar
I’m fifty years old, and about a year ago my wife walked out of our home and took the children with her.
