The woman felt very lonely. Today is her 75th birthday, but instead of celebrating it with her family, she sits on a bench in the park and cries. Neither son nor daughter congratulated the mother. At least the neighbor from the ward did not forget and even gave her a scarf, and the nurse treated her with apples in honor of her birthday. The woman was in a good boarding house, but the staff there was completely indifferent to her. Her son brought her here. She was living in her apartment, when her son asked her to rewrite the apartment to him; he said that nothing would really change, she would continue to live there. When the documents were ready, the son moved to his mother with his wife, and the daughter-in-law was always dissatisfied with everything the woman did. The son stood up for his mother, and then became completely indifferent to these clashes. Then she began to notice how her son and daughter-in-law often whispered. Later she was told to pack her things to a boarding house – to improve her health, to rest. The mother, looking him in the eyes, asked bitterly. The son said that it was only for a month, but later he never came.
Two whole years passed – neither the son nor the daughter visited the mother. And the worst thing is that for the sake of such a son she insulted her daughter. The woman was from the village, married, lived poorly, but had food from the garden. And then a neighbor from the city came to visit her parents and began to tell her husband how good life is in the city. And the salary is good and housing is immediately given. The man then persuaded his wife; they sold the house and bought an apartment. The husband died in an accident, and the woman was left alone with two small children in her arms. She worked day and night – washed the floor, cleaned to save a penny. She thought that she would put the children on their feet, and they would help her. But everything happened completely differently. The mother’s son did not give her peace of mind, either to pay off debts for him, or something else. And the daughter got married and tried to save up for her own housing with her husband. Then the mother gave all the money to her son, did not help her daughter at all, and because of this they often quarreled, saying, “If you do not give me, do not give him, save for your old age. Subsequently, the son was diagnosed and needed money for treatment. At that moment, the daughter had already collected the necessary amount for housing, but asked for a little more. The woman did not know what to do: her son’s illness was not terrible, but still health is more important, and she gave him the money.
The daughter was offended, but did not say anything, she took a loan with her husband. Later the son also got married and decided to buy a house. The daughter found out about it and said that she was not her mother anymore, and when it would be difficult, she should not contact her. And for twenty years they have not communicated. If she could turn back the time, she would still give to both of them, would teach her son to be independent; she is so ashamed of her daughter, because she just married her, and completely began to deal with her son. She thought about it, and then suddenly she heard: “Mom!” Her heart was pounding. She slowly turned around. The daughter. Her legs buckled, she almost fell, but her daughter ran up and picked her up. “Oh, how long I’ve been looking for you, my brother did not confess for a long time, but I threatened that I would sue the apartment, and he split. With these words they went into the building and sat down in the hall. They talked for a long time. And by that time the woman already had two grandchildren, and she gratefully helps her daughter now. They all live together in a three-room apartment, the husband does not mind. He and his wife are at work all day, so the children are not so bored at home. The woman is now grateful for every day in the family, where she feels that someone needs her, and she forgot the days of the boarding house as a terrible dream.
