All clear, I get it, Victor sighed, the weight of it all settling on his shoulders. Theyre kicking us out of our own house.
Victor, Mum and I are on our way to yours! Natalie shouted into the phone at three in the morning.
No need to come, Victor muttered sleepily, were still in bed!
Victor, this isnt a joke! Get a proper doublebed for Mum and find a pullout couch for me! Natalie complained, irritation clear in her voice.
We dont have any pullout couches, and every bedroom is already taken! he replied, yawning contagiously.
Are you kidding me? his sister snapped into the receiver.
Sister, what do you want from me? And why show up at midnight? Youve got your own flat, go spend the night there! Victor asked, genuinely puzzled.
Victor! Natalie snapped, cutting him off. You have to let us in for the night! Weve got nowhere else to go!
Whats happened? Victor asked innocently, nudging his wife aside.
Covering the handset with his hand, he announced, Annabelle, Mum and Poppy are at the door! Theyre bursting in for a visit!
Couldnt you pick a better time? Annabelle asked, halfasleep.
Im glad were on the same page! Victor grinned.
All the while Natalie was jabbering on, punctuating her speech with sighs, groans and occasional shrieks.
Lets make this short and clear! Victor demanded.
Victor! Our front door is jammed!
Really? he asked.
First the lock got stuck, then the hinges warped and refused to close, and when I tried to push it back into place it seized completely! Natalie wailed, on the verge of tears. And were in our housemates bathrobes! Were heading to the neighbours, but you know how troublesome they are!
Fascinating! Victor smiled broadly. The payback doors have finally caught up with you!
His wife, who had been listening, shook her head theatrically, covering her mouth to stifle a yawn. She wanted to laugh out loud, but didnt want to interrupt him.
Victor, well have to wait until morning and then call a locksmith! So get a taxi and pay by card we have cash in the flat! Natalie urged.
So are you staying or waiting? Victor asked for clarification.
Dont be daft! Natalie shouted. Were stuck here like two chickens on a balcony under these cursed doors!
In the early days, parents love their children equally and give them everything they can. But as the kids grow up, favourites appear some get more, some get less. The same goes for care: the cherished get the bulk, the rest get whatevers left.
When Victor was getting ready to marry, his younger sister Natalie immediately raised the issue of them not sharing the flat with his new wife.
Victor, shes your wife, Im just the aunt! And I have my own house! I want to be able to come and go as I please! Natalie declared, her voice echoing the internet wisdom shed read.
Why not? Victor was taken aback. Whats the problem?
Just the fact that another adult lives with us makes me uncomfortable! Natalie said, quoting some online blog.
Uncomfortable how? Victor frowned. Annabelle and I are at work during the day! In the mornings you and Mum are still asleep, and at night were home, eating dinner and retreating to our room!
Exactly! Natalie huffed. And you wont even use the toilet, youll be busy with your own affairs! Meanwhile I might be doing yoga in the hallway!
Trust me, theres nothing interesting for us here! Victor replied. Who would even watch you?
Victor! Natalie shouted, then added her mother to the call. Tell him! Why do we need a stranger in the house?
Natalie, said Nina, Victors mum, shes Victors wife, and youre our daughterinlaw! Its practically family.
Thats distant village kin, legally a stranger! Mum, I dont want to live like were in a council flat! Natalie snapped back.
Nina, of course, favoured her daughter because her son reminded her of a husband whod once walked out on her and the kids. She sided with Natalie, albeit gently:
Victor, we love you, but we barely know Annabelle. Well meet her, but starting with her moving in feels wrong, especially since youre a man! You cant be living on mums lap forever. Youll have kids, and Natalie is still young! Maybe youll host friends at night, and the kids will cause a ruckus. Youre family, after all!
All clear, I understand, Victor sighed again. Theyre evicting us from our own home!
Victor, no ones evicting you, his mother said. We just want to avoid trouble where we can.
You can live without a wife, Natalie said, but with one, you both go your own ways!
Annabelle soon sensed something was off between Victor, his mum and sister, because the plan after the wedding was to save up for a deposit on a flat together. Yet three weeks before the wedding Victor moved his belongings into a rented flat and brought Annabelle there.
She understood, but didnt intervene. She wasnt thrilled about sharing a house with Victors relatives, but for his sake she was willing to endure whatever was needed.
It didnt work out, and thats fine, she told her friend. Victor looks miserable now.
Annabelle, stay out of it! her mate Katie warned. The less you think about it, the healthier youll be!
Ill be fine, but Victors really struggling! Katie added. Thats what a wife is for, right? Youre practically his family now, and the rest are just relatives!
Victor might have been forgiving, but he quickly let go of any grudge when his own familys issues piled up. He needed to sort out his own life, and then Annabelle gave birth to a son.
Theres nowhere else to go, he said sadly. Well never be able to save much more. Well just scrape by.
I think the same, Annabelle agreed. When the mortgage payment comes, youll have to pay whether you like it or not!
They took out a thirtyyear mortgage. They had hoped for twenty years, but a longer payment would have stripped away any chance of fun.
Four years after little Tobys birth, joy started to wane. Their second boy, Romy, arrived with a triumphant cry.
No worries! Victor said. Well manage!
Of course, love! Annabelle replied. Where shall we go?
When Romy turned five, Victor managed to secure two vouchers for a holiday resort. They seldom went on vacation, usually just visiting Annabelles relatives in the countryside, and the garden work was hardly a holiday.
Then the call came:
Annabelle! Theres a pool, spa, disco for overthirtysomethings, and five meals a day! Its practically royalty!
And the kids? Victor asked.
For a small extra fee we could take them, or maybe wed give them a break?
Shall we lock them in a room or ferry them to my mums village? Annabelle laughed. It was all tongueincheek; shed never actually watch them, being busy with work, the garden and the house.
Mum, Victor pleaded, can I bring the kids over for a week? Annabelle and I want a break.
Where exactly? Natalie demanded, not letting her mother finish.
To the spa outside town, Victor answered. Weve barely taken a proper holiday in eight years.
So youre off to a spa and we have to guard your little rascals? Natalie fumed. Brilliant plan!
Mum, Victor turned back to his mother, theyre decent lads! Feed them, check theyre dressed, put them to bed on time. Otherwise theyre almost selfsufficient.
Hmm, Nina mused.
No! Natalie shot back for her mother. We just renovated, new furniture! It cost a fortune!
And theyll start wrecking everything? Youll pay for it? And sometimes my husband drops by, but theres never enough room for the kids!
Mum! Victor exclaimed, losing his last scrap of hope. Our renovation is fresh, Natalies sorting her life out. You and Annabelle are a family, sort out your own issues!
Thanks, Mum! Victor managed to say, syllable by syllable.
They went to the spa with the kids, and Victor didnt speak of his relatives for a long while. He was still sore.
Then a setback hit: their salaries were delayed, and the mortgage instalment loomed.
Mum, Natalie, Annabelle and I need a three or fourday loan, please! Victor begged.
Son, we dont have that, Nina replied, glancing at her daughter.
We do, Natalie clapped her mothers hand, dont worry!
Youve just saved my skin! Victor sighed with relief.
No! Natalie snapped. Youll have to rescue yourself; weve set aside money for a new front door! The installer arrives next week, and we need a deposit for the work as well!
Natalie, what do you mean? Victor asked, bewildered. Im only asking for four days!
Its not that simple! I need to pay the carpenter next week, then in five days hell install the doors and well have to settle the full amount!
Youll pay, Natalie! Victor protested. This is an emergency! The loan is due tomorrow, my pay arrives the day after! Ill bring the cash straight away, or transfer it online!
You talk a good game, but Im not going to hand over the doors! If they delay you further, what will I do?
Lets at least go to the solicitor now and sort everything, even if you want to slap a thousandpercent penalty on me!
Ill wait for your penalties, but the door deal ends now! So, brother, off you go, dont cough yourself out!
Victor managed to swing a favour with an old school friend who was a solicitor, paid the money ahead of schedule, and suddenly his mother and sister ended up on his do not call list.
He told Annabelle everything, and she replied with a line shed once read in a book:
A wise person doesnt seek revenge; they wait for life to settle the score.
The waiting didnt last long
Thats it! Victor declared. My cards empty! And I have no desire to hunt for money to help relatives, especially when theyre a hassle!
Youve gone mad! Were family! Natalie shouted.
And the doors! Victor added. Those doors became the final chord, after which I have no will to speak to you at all!
How could you be so low, son? Such petty revenge! his mothers voice rang out.
Im not seeking revenge, Victor replied. Im finally repaying the debts!
You never took anything from us? Natalie asked, missing his hint.
I took your attitude, Victor said. Your love, care, and kindness, the very things you gave me. Now Im giving them back in equal measure!
He hung up, ending the call. It wasnt vengeance; it was just settling a debt.
