Six months ago a great misfortune happened in our family: my father died. And then, six months later, my father’s brother, Uncle Igor, came to visit us. He came to visit us very rarely. He had very little contact with my father, too. They didn’t quarrel, but they never really got along. Relations between them were always very cool. Each of them lived his own life.
– How was your trip? – I asked.
– And why do you call me “you”? Because I’m your favorite uncle! – Uncle Igor said, smiling sweetly, as if he really was my favorite uncle.
Uncle didn’t tell me he was coming, and we didn’t prepare for his arrival. In fact, we hadn’t spoken to him since my father’s funeral. He hadn’t even called once. And then all of a sudden he came.
When we sat down to tea, my uncle asked:
– How shall we divide the inheritance? The three of us? Will there be no one else?
– What inheritance? – Mom said in surprise when she came to her senses.
There really was an inheritance. We had a nice apartment, a big, beautiful country house, and two cars. Mom tried to convince me to sell the house and buy me an apartment in the city where I was studying. But so far we were not going to do it: we decided not to rush things.
– What kind of inheritance? Well, the property my brother left behind! – Uncle Igor answered.
-Well, you know that if there was no Masha and I, then you would have received the inheritance. And so you’re not entitled to anything!
– But I’m my brother! I’m entitled to an inheritance!
– No, you’re not! The law is on our side!
– And what if it’s in good conscience?
Uncle Igor is very clever: he knew perfectly well that under the law he is not entitled to anything, so he decided to press his conscience. But we saw absolutely no logic in his words and actions. My father and Uncle Igor had never been friends, and therefore he had nothing to do with my father’s property.
When my father began to fall ill, he immediately told us that all we have, should go only to me and my mother. No one else. Dad was not going to share our property with anyone.
– And in good conscience, Igor, neither! And you know that very well! You were never close to your brother!
– That’s how it is! It’s like a bad movie! A man gets married and his wife takes everything. And parents, brothers, sisters, nephews get nothing at all!
Uncle Igor started pushing the guilt. He was forcing us to agree to divide the property among the three of us.
– Goodbye! We are not going to discuss this with you! – said my mother.
When Uncle Igor left, my mother and I closed the house and went to our city apartment. We knew my father’s brother very well, we knew that he wouldn’t just give up and we would have to sue him. After all, there was a lot of money on the eve: a third of a luxury mansion, a third of a nice apartment in the city center, and a third of two cars. That’s a pretty decent amount of money.
That’s what my uncle decided, too, and he actually sued us. He’s hoping he’ll win. But the law is on our side. What’s he hoping for, anyway?
