Anyone who is a conscientious six-day worker will understand my emotions best when, on the morning of my only day off, an annoying doorbell rings.
Before I was completely awake, for some reason the first thing I thought was a plumbing problem, and I ran to the faucets to check for leaks. The bathroom and kitchen were as dry as a powder cellar, so it was not the lower neighbors, whom I flooded six months ago, who called.
The doorbell did not stop ringing, I obediently walked to the lock, and when I opened it, first I saw several suitcases in front of the door, and then some people behind them.
– Oh, I never would have recognized you on the street!
The dubious compliment from an elderly woman sounded unexpected. I try to remember who would not recognize me.
– How big he was, it is true what my father said – a giant!
Now I look attentively at the woman’s companion, who smiles at me happily and holds out his hand.
Behind them looms a guy’s head, he, thank God, does not add to my “puzzles” with his replica. But the woman sounds again:
– Well, what are you keeping us on the doorstep, let’s go inside!
– Excuse me, what do you mean “let’s go”?
– Oh, didn’t you recognize your uncle? I used to babysit you like this! Well, him (gesture towards the guy) you do not remember, it’s your third cousin, went to study in your city, and there is no place to live. So we decided – to stay with you. We’ll buy him a cot later, so everything will be fine. We brought some presents for you! Didn’t your father call?
– No, he didn’t call…
– Oh well, he probably forgot, we’ll sort it out without him, we’re not strangers!
– What do you mean, “deal with it”? Are you trying to move a student in with me?
– Well, why move him in, you’ll just look after him, you know how it is in a strange city when you’re not used to it!
– I will not look after anyone, and squat in a ten-meter cot too, especially since my fiancée comes here all the time, how do you imagine we communicate with her next to her third cousin on a cot?
– You’ll have to make some kind of arrangement…
– I don’t want an “somehow.” There are dorms for students, I went through it myself, letting the guy get settled there. And around town I’ll tell him what he needs.
– No, well, that’s not an option!
The relatives were clearly beginning to get nervous, trying to move the suitcases into the apartment, but bumped into me. I realized that if the suitcases crossed the “boundary” of my apartment it would be much harder to push them back. I asked my relatives to wait for five minutes to escort them to the dormitory of the institute where my brother was admitted.
In response came accusations of callousness and selfishness, the smiles disappeared, and a minute later the relatives and their suitcases disappeared too.
Calling my parents, I asked what it was? My mother simply replied, “Auntie, have you seen them off yet?”
After hearing about our conversation, my mom got upset, and also reproached me for “not being a family man.
I may repent (very deeply in my heart), but I am relieved to realize that now there will be no creaking cot springs and my third cousin’s sniffling in my apartment at night for five years.
