I christened my brother’s child. He is his youngest son. My brother and I are almost the same age, but I don’t have a family of my own, and my brother married early and had two sons. So they made me godmother to my younger son.
I am not particularly religious. So I did not take my brother’s offer very seriously. My mother was the only one who could talk me into it. I didn’t think anything special would happen, so I didn’t resist for a long time. I just had to figure out what my duties would be. I was going to be a godmother-that meant something.
So I wouldn’t have to do anything much. But if my brother and his wife are gone, then you will have the responsibility of raising the godchild. That’s what godparents are for. – my mother explained to me.
Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s no big deal. After all, it’s clear that if my brother is gone, I will not abandon his children. I will become responsible. After all, they are part of my family.
We decided to have the boy baptized at the age of three. Together with his older sister. I bought a gift, stood in the service and after that I made no attempts to get close. Sometimes I called my brother, found out about the boy’s health, gave him presents, and congratulated him on his birthday. It was just like everyone else.
When the New Year came around, I gave my godson a constructor. I chose an elegant dress for my niece. I took some sweets with me. I went to visit. When my brother’s wife saw the gifts, she became very displeased. Only I did not accentuate it. She has a peculiar character. So God is her judge. Only my brother somehow got distant too. Well, that’s all right. My business is small. They gave me some tea and I went home.
When the holidays came, I went to the store to get a robot and a T-shirt. Because of my illness, I decided to pass the gifts through my mother. In March I was away, so I didn’t go to my in-laws. It was my godson’s birthday in April, so I needed to look out for something really interesting and memorable for him. Suddenly the phone rang – it was my brother.
– My son’s birthday is coming up, remember? – He says.
– Of course, just sitting here and choose a gift. What should I get him?
– I think I’ll make it easy for you. We need a laptop. – My brother tells me. I was shocked. – Why are you silent? You gave some small gifts on previous holidays, so you can at least for the birthday to splurge. After all, you’re the godmother. So you have to try and earn money for an expensive gift.
To be honest, no one warned me about this. First of all. And secondly, what for the child at 5 years old laptop? What will he do with it?
So no one says that now greatly he needs it. But after a couple of years, he will go to school, will be in the computer toys to play. In the meantime, we’ll turn on cartoons.
I told him that the young child does not need such expensive gifts. So I’m not going to do it. If my brother thinks otherwise, then let him make his own wishes come true, rather than trying to get away at my expense.
– Well, after that, how do you call you godmother? – his wife yelled right into the phone. – Is it normal to save on the godson!
I did not want to put up with this attitude. So I hung up. Then I decided to call my mother, told her about what happened, so that when my brother thought to complain to her, my mother knew the truth. And that’s exactly what will happen.
Mom was on my side. She was surprised by such pragmatism. Marveled at their insolence.
I was surprised then that they were in such a hurry to baptize children. If before they were not particularly devout, they did not always celebrate major church festivals, and here they decided to have a baptism. His wife probably put him up to it. I didn’t go to my godson’s birthday party. No one invited me. Still, I decided to give a small gift through my mother. Not as expensive, of course, as they hoped.
– Keep your handouts,” I heard later from my brother’s wife. – Forget about your nephew.
