For the fifth day in a row, Herman’s parents walked into Lyuba’s home as if it were their personal restaurant.
“Oh, Lyubonka, why cook at home when you always have something delicious ready?” the mother-in-law cooed, smiling her syrupy smile.
Lyuba finally snapped.
“Unbelievable. Again? Do you see a café sign on my door? No? Then why do you keep coming here like we’re feeding the homeless for free?”
Sofya staggered theatrically.
“Fedor, hold me! Such rudeness!”
When Herman came home later, his parents rushed to complain, but Lyuba spoke first:
“I’m done being your cook, dishwasher, and free catering service. Your parents have been here every day. They work, they get a pension — why am I feeding them?”
Herman muttered something about them wanting to be close to the grandchildren. Lyuba cut him off:
“So close that you gave them all our savings for their new apartment? The money I earned so our kids could have a summer vacation? And now I’m feeding them fresh trout, farm chicken, lamb for homemade dumplings — all from my salary?”
His parents protested loudly.
“We economize on everything to repay you!”
“And you still made us return the money! Why not give it to us as a gift, to your own parents?”
Lyuba laughed sharply.
“You never gave us a single ruble without demanding it back. But now you expect charity from me?”
The mother-in-law grabbed her coat dramatically.
“That’s it! We’re leaving. We’ll never set foot here again!”
“Perfect,” Lyuba replied. “I’m done carrying all of you on my shoulders.”
And she meant it.
From that day forward, the uninvited visits stopped.
Herman was forced to look for a real, better-paying job — Lyuba gave him an ultimatum.
And she calmly reminded her in-laws that their IOU was still valid.
This time, she would pay for the summer vacation in advance.
This time, no one would touch her money.
From now on, things would be done her way — and only her way.
