It seemed strange to me at first that Barbara invited me to visit. She used to get mad if I asked to come with my son not to interfere with my husband from home to work, and she did not want me to go to her place on holidays.
– The apartment is very small, there’s no room,” she said as she paced around the three spacious rooms she had inherited from her mother-in-law after her divorce from her negligent son.
The neighborhood where Barbara and her two children lived was a bedroom community, quiet and comfortable. The house overlooked the school, there was a swimming pool nearby, a nice park and a small forest, and any kind of transportation was available. In general, can not complain, not that we live in a one-room apartment with a five-year-old child.
– Barbara was glowing with happiness as she sat at the kitchen table with me and her mother. – I’ve finally decided to make some repairs here. I want to re-paper, replace these horrible wooden floors, and change some furniture. It sounds so easy and simple, but it actually takes a lot of time and money. I can still make up for the time by hiring a crew, but I’m a little short on money. You’re my kin, can’t you help me? But then we can get together at my place at any time, at least it would not be ashamed to invite guests.
I immediately took the request with skepticism. Repair is not on fire, she has not started anything, and you could gradually do. This month to buy wallpaper and glue for one room, the furniture, too, in time to finish, and not to ask us.
– Sorry, we don’t have enough on our own,” I said, hoping that the question would be over.
– I know how much your husband earns,” Barbara said incredulously. You help his family all the time, and I don’t feel sorry for them?
To my surprise, my mother supported my sister. She said she would talk to my father, and they will give Barbara part of the savings, and then she started encouraging me.
– Help your sister. You know that I am not easy for her alone with the kids, at this rate she will never get the apartment in order. If we don’t help, the sofas will fall to dust.
– How much do you want us to lend you?
Barbara’s eyes widened in amazement.
– Borrowed? – She asked again. – I can’t give it back to you. I’m just asking you to give it to me. Whatever you can spare. So that we can celebrate the holidays here. And you’ll be able to come and visit more often with the little one.
I’ve already seen how I could come here, how willingly I was welcomed here.
– I’ll think about it,” I said evasively.
I told my husband this story at home, and he was also surprised by Barbara’s insolence. We are not a charity to give her large sums of money for nothing. And for what? For repairs.
We have decided not to give anything, and now we are thinking about how to tell Barbara about it unobtrusively. So as not to offend, and to get her off my back once and for all with her money.
