Yuri was very focused on eating his dinner and didn’t immediately notice how his wife, Evgenia, was engaged in a long and interested phone conversation with someone. “I wonder who has captivated my wife so much that she forgot about her unfinished dinner,” he thought, starting to get irritated by her prolonged absence. Evgenia was so engrossed that she lost track of time. She was supposed to make a shopping list for the New Year’s table today, but instead, she had been chatting on the phone for half an hour. “Imagine,” Evgenia began excitedly, “my parents invited us to their place for New Year’s!”
Evgenia’s parents live in a country house in a village not far from the city, just an hour’s drive away. But lately, her father had been seriously ill, and they hadn’t visited often, only occasionally to help with medications. Yuri wiped his mouth, frowned, and stared at his wife, waiting for an explanation. But she, seemingly oblivious to his gaze, continued to beam with joy.
“Shall we go?” the wife began conspiratorially, “Dad has set up a slide for Petya. We could buy fireworks and set them off in the yard. It would be so beautiful…” “Darling, but you know,” finally spoke the husband, “my mom always comes to us for New Year’s. It’s become a tradition.”
“They have been coming to us for ten years in a row. But I so want to relax on New Year’s Eve, not cater to everyone. I don’t mind cooking delicacies and all that, but they don’t come for a couple of days, they stay for the entire holidays. In the end, instead of relaxing, I’m terribly tired,” complained Evgenia.
Routine, endless care, fatigue, and irritation. She was tired of this New Year’s tradition and the guests who came to the festive table on the eve of the holiday. After all, they didn’t come for a couple of days, but for the entire holidays. But this time, Evgenia simply couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Dear, you’re exaggerating. We always have a good time together. And by the way, mom called yesterday. I confirmed that everything is on, and we’re expecting them.”
“Did you ask me?” Evgenia stared at her husband.
“And what’s there to ask? It’s all clear,” and Yuri continued his meal.
“Clear, you say? Fine. But we will be celebrating New Year’s at my parents’ house. If you change your mind, join us,” she said quietly.
But Yuri wasn’t listening to his wife anymore, turning up the TV and completely surrendering to the broadcast.
That same evening, Evgenia decided to consult with her son. The boy was already ten years old, and he too had a right to choose where to celebrate New Year’s.
“Son, today Grandpa Vanya called, inviting us to celebrate the New Year with them. What do you think, do you want to go?” she asked.
“Mom, what about Grandma Galya and Aunt Ira?” the boy inquired.
“We can stay here if you want. And meet the New Year’s night, as always, with them.”
“No, I want to go to the village to grandpa. I miss him so much,” the boy’s eyes sparkled with impatience.
Petya was utterly tired of babysitting his cousins. Aunt Ira came every time and left him to take care of her twins. Supposedly let them play together. Only there was a five-year age difference between them.
“Mom, actually I heard everything,” the son confessed, “Dad won’t go… But can we go together?”
“How clever you are!” she nodded and laughed, “On the evening of the 30th we’ll go. We need to help with the holiday preparations.”
And Yuri, anticipating the holiday, didn’t take his wife’s words seriously. She wouldn’t change her mind for the first time. And what’s the fuss about anyway. Relatives don’t come every day. He relaxed and didn’t bring up the topic again.
On December 29th, Yuri came home from work a bit earlier than usual and found his wife preening in front of the mirror in a brand-new gorgeous dress.
“Why are you so pleased?”
“We’re going to Grandpa Vanya and Grandma Sveta’s. Are you coming with us?” Petya tore himself away from the laptop and hung on his father’s neck.
Yuri spun his son around the room and then set him back on the floor.
“Zhena, what’s this? Guests are coming to us, and it’s not up for discussion,” Yuri cast a reproachful glance at his wife, “Where did you get these ideas, and why are you dragging our son into this?”
“So, you’re staying?” Evgenia cautiously clarified.
“Of course. I thought we had discussed everything last time,” the husband even frowned.
Not wanting to continue the conversation, he headed to the bathroom. If he hadn’t been in such a hurry, he would have definitely noticed the sly smirk on his wife’s face.
The evening of December 30th. Yuri rushes home, as there are still groceries to buy before New Year’s.
“Zhena, let’s go to the store after dinner. I left work early to make it in time,” he flung open the door and shouted loudly.
But instead of a response, he got silence. The man quickly dialed his wife’s number and began to shout into the phone.
“Where the hell are you? I came home, and there’s no one here! How did you leave? What about the guests?” he definitely didn’t expect that from his wife.
“Yes, husband, I also thought we understood each other. But this New Year’s, find yourself another servant. I intend to relax, like all normal people, not stand at the kitchen table all the time,” Evgenia hung up the phone and even turned it off.
Yuri quickly called his mother, his voice sounding anxious, “Mom! Come over earlier tomorrow. We’ll need to prepare and set the festive table. Tell me what to buy.”
There was a long pause on the other end.
“Yurochka, dear, what are you talking about?” asked Galina Andreevna in confusion, “What about Zhena?”
“She went to her parents’. We’ll have to manage somehow,” the son confessed, bewildered.
“How did she leave?” the mother exclaimed, “Actually, we planned to come and have a good rest, not hop around the stove and table. We do that every day at home anyway.”
“But Zhena does it every year,” Yuri felt offended on behalf of his wife.
“She’s the daughter-in-law, that’s her direct duty!” responded Galina Andreevna.
When Yuri tried to order ready-made food from a restaurant, he got a firm refusal from his mother.
“Well, I didn’t expect this from you, son,” and the mother hung up the phone.
But as soon as she did, the phone rang again. This time it was Yuri’s sister.
“What’s going on? The boys are already waiting for the fun, and here’s such a letdown.”
“Come over, we’ll celebrate somehow ourselves,” the man was already irritated by the situation.
“Of course. I can stand by the stove at home. We better go to mom,” short beeps sounded in the receiver, and the conversation ended.
Now Yuri finally understood what Zhena had been complaining about all this time and how hard it had been for her. He felt guilty for not noticing it earlier. And the next morning, the man arrived at his wife’s parents’ house.
Besides the parents, there was also Zhena’s sister with her husband and children. The women were conjuring in the kitchen together, giggling about something. The men helped decorate the house with garlands and a tree outside. The children frolicked together. Only now did the man realize what a New Year’s meeting could be like: fun, friendly, and warm.
Just before the chime of the bells, Yura quietly leaned over to Zhena’s ear and whispered, “Thank you for pulling us out. I’m very grateful to you for this New Year’s.” The wife just smiled and nodded in response.
On the way back, Yuri’s phone rang. It was Galina Andreevna.
“Son, when are you coming back?” the mother spoke with a caring and tender voice.
“Something happened?” Yuri asked in surprise.
“No, just that we decided to visit you after all, since there are still five whole days off.”
“I’m afraid that won’t work, mom. We decided to go to a recreation base nearby with Zhena’s parents. We’ll ride on tubes, breathe fresh air. I want my wife to take a break from household chores and have some fun,” Yuri answered matter-of-factly.
“Oh, what a fine lady, she’s tired. Aren’t you ashamed to refuse your own mother?”
“Mom, don’t twist it. We just have our own plans,” the man grimaced. He was amused by such blatant blackmail, and how he hadn’t noticed it before, “But if you really want to come to us, you can visit and stay. The spare keys are with the neighbors.”
“Oh, maybe we’ll join you at the base?” the mother’s voice suddenly sounded overly sweet.
“Unfortunately, our cottage is only for three people. I doubt there will be places available on the eve of the holiday, but you can call and check. Shall I send you the base’s number?”
Yuri didn’t manage to say anything more, because his mother, unable to bear such impudence from her son, hung up the phone. Thus, a new tradition appeared in their family—to celebrate New Year’s comfortably for all family members.