She was a very beautiful woman. She was in a supervisory position and didn’t need anything. And her husband spoiled her. Her only son was bathed in his parents’ love and never knew denial. Mom and Dad got him everything he wanted.
She was friends with her neighbor Maria, but she curled her lips when she went to her house. Single mother of many children. Pulling her own kids. The kids were grimy, fiddling around in the yard, and often hit their knees.
– You’ve got some bad boys, don’t you? My Richard’s different. Clean, obedient, clever. Always washes his hands before a meal, – she complained.
– They are children. Is it difficult for me to wash clothes? Let them play,” the neighbor answered.
Helena told everyone what a good Richard she had. Her hope and support. She even clung to a childless neighbor, called her a wastrel.
The years passed. Aunt Maria’s boys grew up. They got ordinary professions and went to work. The older son took his daughter-in-law to his mother’s house. Now the woman had a granddaughter.
– Oh, how do you all live here? You’re always short of money. Why are you so happy? – Helena was indignant.
Richard at the time was studying at a prestigious institute – wanted to become an important director. But his husband died before he had a chance to see what an important man his son grew up to be. She used to visit her neighbor and whispered:
– And your children are ordinary workers, what is there to be proud of? I have Richard well. He will reach such heights. He’ll be a leader.
– What was I supposed to teach them for? I’m the only one who raises them. They’re good guys, and their professions are normal. They all have golden hands. We all do not have enough money, but we do not grieve – we cooked buckwheat porridge and are full, – Aunt Maria defended herself.
– Oh, no. We don’t eat such things. We like red caviar and fish sandwiches. And you dip bread in lard. Yuck! – Helena grimaced.
Aunt Maria did not even think of envying her friend, she was happy as it was. Happy with her grandchildren and never alone, unlike Helena. Even during her illness her children carried her in their arms to the old “Zhigulenok” and did not leave her hospital bed until her mother recovered.
One day Richard ran into Aunt Maria’s son in the stairwell. He was carrying bags home.
– Aren’t you tired of messing around with the old woman? – Richard asked.
– Are you talking about my mother? She put the four of us on our feet. As a child she washed and cleaned and cured us, and now I should be bored? – my son’s frowning.
– Oh, well, yes. You have always lived badly. Yes, and you do not compare the old woman with the children. She stinks.
After these words the man wanted to hit Richard, but he held back. After a while, Helena became ill as well. Her son came to her and said:
– “Mom, I wanted to tell you something. You have become quite useless. Our Robert wants to get married, he needs an apartment. We’ll take you to a place. The conditions there are excellent, the medical staff is always there. It’s like a resort. Robert’s picking you up tomorrow, we’ve got renovations to do.
– What place? Son, I don’t want to. Let me move in with you then. I don’t want to live alone, – Helena cried.
– Mom, why are you acting like a little girl? The children need to live separately. Come on, hurry up and get ready.
His mother’s tears did not stop Richard. When Helena went outside, she saw Aunt Maria and the children going to the cottage. They were joking and talking merrily.
When Helena’s grandson, took the old lady away, Maria’s son asked Richard:
– Where did your mother go?
– In the woods to pick mushrooms! She’s going to live in a nursing home now. You have empty pockets, you fiddled with mom. And I’m not going to, – he laughed.
– It’s your mama… She bore you. Why don’t we take her to our place? She’s friends with my mom.
– No way! My mom won’t be cramped, I paid for her full board! And she won’t eat buckwheat porridge with lard.
Helena died two months later – a heart attack. Richard never visited his mother during that time.
