Anya simply could not comprehend why they required this man in their home.
She had always wished for her mother to marry and find happiness, but absolutely not with him.
The young girl sat upon the couch, feigning an interest in reading a book,
while simultaneously half-listening to Arthur.
He had only recently awakened and now, moving slowly and paying no attention to Anya, was pacing throughout the house.
Arthur remained constantly engaged on his phone.
And, as she understood, his conversations were definitely not with a man.
Apparently, he believed she was very young, because he did not even bother to conceal his activities.
“Sweetheart, what are you saying? My wedding is in two weeks, and you wish to seduce an almost-married man?”
He listened intently to the words spoken to him, then laughed, and spoke once more.
Anya felt an overwhelming sense of disgust.
Disgusted because she overheard all of this, and disgusted because this man, whom her mother loved so deeply, was betraying her.
Anya sharply placed the book down.
Arthur turned, observed her attentively, and then proceeded to the bedroom, firmly closing the door behind him.
Anya decided to seek counsel from her best friend.
She slipped out onto the street and hurried along the road toward the barracks, which were not far away.
They were merely hidden from view behind tall thuja trees, planted as a type of fence, separating the elite neighborhood from the ordinary city slums.
If Alla Olegovna had known that her daughter frequented that place, her heart would likely have given out.
Anya surveyed her surroundings; no one else was nearby.
She placed two fingers to her lips and emitted a sharp whistle.
Immediately, a shaggy-haired boy’s head appeared from the barrack window.
“Anya, come inside, the relatives went to grandma’s.”
She effortlessly jumped over the windowsill—doors were, in her opinion, for weaklings—and inquired:
“Why didn’t you go?”
Petka, Anya’s friend, scratched his head thoughtfully:
“I received a failing grade in English, so I’m currently cramming, otherwise Dad promised to give me a beating.”
Anya smiled.
Petka’s dad was a large man, with a beard, and terribly kind-hearted.
All the children in the yard adored him, but he did periodically promise to spank Petka, though he never actually did so.
“Anya, why are you here? We agreed to meet only tomorrow evening.”
“Petka, I need to speak with you.”
Petka was two years her senior.
Anya had just celebrated her twelfth birthday, and Petka was already fourteen, making him a true authority figure for her.
They had been friends for a long time, ever since the moment Petka helped her get home after she fell off her bicycle.
She was eight years old back then.
“Yeah?” Petka closed his textbook.
He was aware that changes were imminent within Anya’s family and immediately understood the reason for her visit.
Anya recounted Arthur’s behavior and mentioned that her mother remained completely oblivious to it all.
“Petka, I don’t know how to tell her so she’ll believe me.”
“I don’t understand why you’re afraid. You have a good relationship with your mom.
Just sit down and tell her everything. She’ll definitely listen or at the very least hear you out.”
Anya considered this.
It was true.
She and her mother had always maintained a close bond, though no longer to the extent of embracing, watching movies, or engaging in deep discussions.
Now her mother embraced Arthur and discussed everything with him.
“All right, I’ll do that. Thanks, Petka.”
The boy blushed slightly:
“No, thank you?”
“Well, for being here.”
In the evening, Arthur was preparing to go somewhere.
Alla, who had just returned home from work, looked at him with surprise.
“Where are you going?”
He kissed her and responded, “Oh, just to the bar with a friend for a little while. I’m about to become a married man—no more going out—and we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Don’t worry, I won’t be long.”
Alla smiled:
“Go ahead, I’m always surrounded by people at work, and you’re alone at home. Don’t rush, relax and spend some time with your friend.”
“Thanks, darling, you’re truly the best.”
Arthur hesitated, and Alla slapped her forehead:
“Oh, I didn’t even consider it. Here, take this.”
She quickly handed him some money.
Arthur kissed her again and then departed.
Alla watched him leave for a while, then turned to Anya as if suddenly remembering her existence:
“Well, how about a girls’ night tonight?”
“Let’s do it, Mom.”
They prepared dinner together.
Anya had almost forgotten when they had last done that.
They ate, they laughed, and after washing the dishes, Anya sat down directly in front of her mother:
“I wish to speak with you.”
Alla sighed:
“Anya, I know you don’t like Arthur. I know, or rather remember, that he’s younger than me, but don’t you want Mom to be happy?”
“He cannot make you happy. While you’re at work, he communicates with other women, and now I am certain he took someone else to the bar with your money, not a friend.”
Alla slammed her hand forcefully on the table:
“That is quite enough. It deeply pains me to realize I raised such a selfish girl. I do not wish to hear anything further. And you are far too young to discuss such matters. Go to your room immediately.”
Anya huffed in offense and promptly left.
It was utterly futile.
Mom simply refused to hear her.
It seemed Anya would have to accept that Arthur was merely exploiting her mother and her financial resources.
At night she awakened to the sound of loud voices.
She glanced at the clock: half past three.
Arthur had just returned, apparently not in a very good state.
Mom was scolding him, then he shouted:
“Listen, Alla, why are you behaving like a grandmother with her grandson? Stop admonishing me.”
The bedroom door slammed shut.
Then again.
Anya heard her mother’s apologetic voice.
She felt such profound disgust that she pulled a pillow over her ear.
The next day Anya and Petka sat on a vacant lot.
“Yes, something must be done about this.”
Anya sighed:
“Petka, what can one possibly do? You understand, Mom only listens to him, notices absolutely nothing.”
“When is the wedding scheduled?”
“Petka, the tenth.”
Petka smiled:
“Listen, I have a plan. I don’t know if you’ll approve of it, but it seems there’s no other viable way to make Mom genuinely hear and comprehend you.”
Anya’s eyes immediately lit up with anticipation:
“Tell me, Petka!”
When Petka finished explaining, Anya shook her head doubtfully:
“Petka, how will we accomplish this? You understand, we’re in school, and this requires…”
“Wait, I’ve meticulously thought it all through…”
The tenth day was swiftly approaching.
Arthur even ceased arguing with Mom.
Yes, he still went out almost every evening, but Alla remained silent.
Apparently, she remembered the scandal when Arthur had compared her to a grandmother.
Anya knew Arthur was ten years younger than Mom.
She wouldn’t have minded, if not for one crucial “but.”
She was convinced Arthur did not love Mom, and her and Petka’s recent investigations only served to confirm this suspicion.
Anya was in her room when she overheard Arthur’s phone conversation:
“Sweetheart, I made arrangements with Kolya, you’ll attend as his girlfriend. Don’t be afraid, nobody knows you, of course. Just envision the life that now awaits us. Oh, don’t grumble, I’ll only kiss her because it’s obligatory. But you, be careful, don’t get intoxicated—I know your tendencies.”
Anya clenched her fists tightly.
“What a despicable man, utterly brazen.”
In the evening at the dinner table Arthur casually remarked:
“Alla, I just remembered my friend. I’d like him and his girlfriend to come to the wedding. You’ll contact the restaurant, won’t you?”
“Of course, who is this friend?”
“You haven’t met him yet. Kolya, we were childhood friends, then he moved away somewhere, and now he’s returned and called me.”
“Well, that’s wonderful, so many of your friends at the wedding, it’ll be a joyous occasion.”
Anya stood up and departed silently.
She simply could not bear to listen to all of this or observe how utterly foolish her mother appeared.
Of course, her mother believed Arthur loved her, but Anya understood he never did.
Arthur comprehended everything as well, but only Mom remained completely unaware.
Such a vast sum of money was expended on the wedding that it would likely sustain a normal person for an entire lifetime.
But Alla spared absolutely nothing for her beloved.
And in any case, she believed it was marvelous to arrange such a grand celebration when a genuine family was being formed, when such profound love existed.
Only her daughter was not happy.
Every time Alla promised herself she would speak with Anya, dedicating more attention to her, attention which Arthur had monopolized, but a little later, after the wedding.
Alla recalled their evenings together and thought she absolutely must re-establish them.
Only now they would watch movies not just the two of them, but the three of them.
The grand celebration was held in the most luxurious restaurant available.
Anya found herself unable to concentrate on greeting everyone or responding to congratulations.
She did not even notice the stunning beauty of the hall.
She was terribly nervous.
She did not know what the outcome would be after her congratulations.
What if their meticulously crafted plan failed?
What if Mom became enraged with her, and that was the irreversible end?
Anya did not wish to cause her mother pain, but…
The girl attempted to speak with her mother again, but her mother sharply cut her off:
“Anya, stop, alright? You are no longer a child to behave in this manner. After all, it’s quite low. Do not spoil my mood before the most significant day of my entire life.”
Anya recoiled slightly.
She could not even articulate that her own birthday had once been considered the most important day.
“Now, congratulations from Anna, the bride’s daughter. Anya, please come forward.”
The host’s voice made her jump in surprise.
All the boys from Petka’s yard participated in the preparation of the congratulations.
Anya straightened herself and walked onto the stage:
“Mommy, before you witness what I intend to show you, I want you to know that I love you very, very much. And more than anything else in the world, I desire for you to be truly happy.”
Then the host activated a video recording Anya had provided him with just prior to the wedding.
On the large screen, Arthur was shown passionately kissing a girl who was now sitting nearby.
Then Arthur was depicted at a bar, once again with this girl, who was dressed in lingerie.
Nobody looked at the screen anymore; everyone’s gaze was fixed on the bewildered newlyweds.
The girl disappeared immediately, and Arthur quietly slipped under the table.
Anya saw her mother’s eyes.
“Mommy, please forgive me, but you refused to hear me, and he, he simply does not love you.”
Alla said nothing in response.
Anya felt that at that precise moment her mother truly hated her.
The girl thrust the microphone back into the host’s hands and ran out of the restaurant.
Petka was waiting for her outside.
Anya said nothing, merely ran past him.
Petka caught her near the river:
“Hey, wait, you crazy girl!”
Anya turned to him, buried her face in his chest, and began to cry:
“Petka, what have I done?”
“Nothing, you did the absolutely correct thing. Well, of course, it’s not very polite, but you undeniably defended your mom.”
They sat by the river, throwing stones into the water’s surface.
Both remained silent.
Finally, Petka inquired:
“Are we planning to sit here until morning?”
Anya shrugged her shoulders:
“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s transpiring at home or how I can possibly return.”
They were silent once more.
Petka spoke:
“Let’s go to my place. You know your mom—she’ll feed you and put you to bed.”
“I can’t. Mom will be worried.”
Anya’s words sounded uncertain.
“No, Mom will be worried, of course, but probably not in the same way as before.”
“Anya!”
The girl jumped in surprise.
They both stood up.
Alla stood nearby:
“Hello, Petka. May I sit with you both? I am quite tired after searching for you.”
Petka grumbled softly:
“Of course. Sit on my jacket.”
He spread his jacket out on the ground, and Alla smiled:
“Thank you.”
She sat down and gently hugged Anya.
“Forgive me, daughter!”
“No, Mom, it is you who should forgive me. You shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t think you’d see it, not only you but all the guests.”
Alla smiled:
“I don’t care at all. You know, Anuta, it’s as if handcuffs were suddenly removed from me. I fabricated happiness for myself and pranced around with it like an absolute idiot.”
“Mom, you’re not an idiot, you’re intelligent, beautiful, the very best.”
Petka sat down nearby.
Alla embraced him with her other arm:
“So, you’re the legendary Peter I’ve heard so much about but never had the pleasure of meeting. Why have you never come to visit us?”
Petka chuckled shyly:
“Well, probably because I don’t reside in your specific neighborhood.”
Alla looked at him worriedly:
“Where? Is it far away?”
“No, not truly, in the barracks. But please don’t believe I teach Anya anything improper.”
“I do not believe that in the slightest.”
“Wait, so you thought I would perceive you differently because you don’t…”
Petka nodded shyly.
“Wow. Anya, you know me—how could you possibly think that? You know what? Let’s have a party tomorrow. Invite Petka’s parents, your friends, I’ll invite some of mine, and we’ll have a ‘hangout’ like you typically do. We have an entire restaurant’s worth of food and a paid host already arranged.”
Anya laughed:
“Mom, what shall we name the party?”
Alla pondered for a moment, then took out her phone:
“Let’s see… Tomorrow? Here it is! Tomorrow is Cat Day. Anya, do you have any objections to cats?”
Anya shook her head and snuggled closely against her mother:
“I am so profoundly glad you’re back. And we will absolutely meet a good man, you’ll see!”
Alla kissed her daughter on the crown of her head:
“All right, everyone, let’s head home. I am expecting everyone at the party tomorrow.”
“Petka, bring your parents too!”
