Tamara spent the entire day thinking about the strange dream she had seen just before dawn, at that peculiar hour when reality begins to blend with sleep and dreams feel almost real.
“What on earth was that about?” she muttered the moment she opened her eyes. “Complete nonsense!”
In the dream, she had been riding in a bright convertible along a breathtaking mountain road toward the sea. Everything about it should have been wonderful. The scenery delighted her, and the destination was exactly where she wanted to go. But the person sitting beside her…
For some reason, the driver wasn’t a handsome man, as the romantic setting seemed to demand.
It was an orangutan.
Yes, a real one—large, hairy, and grinning at Tamara.
And there was something so unsettling about that grin that she wanted to throw herself out of the luxurious car while it was still moving.
When Tamara woke that morning, she heard the same thing she had been hearing almost every day lately: shouting and children crying. Her grandchildren were throwing tantrums, while her daughter and son-in-law were loudly arguing with one another.
“When is this ever going to end? They’re going to drive me insane!” Tamara exclaimed as she climbed out of bed, almost regretting that she had awakened.
Even the frightening dream about the ape behind the wheel seemed more pleasant than her actual life.
After getting married, her daughter and son-in-law had somehow decided that living with Tamara was the most sensible arrangement. Then the grandchildren had arrived one after another, and peace had vanished from the house completely.
Tamara was no longer young, and all she wanted after work was silence. Yet there was nowhere in her own home where she could hide from the demanding grandchildren or their constantly dissatisfied parents.
“I’ll go to Stepan’s for the weekend,” she decided. “At least I can finally sleep and get some rest there. I deserve that much. Although Stepan has children too… They might get in the way. But I’ll deal with that problem quickly enough.”
Without wasting much time, she called her brother.
“Hi, Styopa! How are things? How are you? The kids? Your wife? Everything all right? Good!”
Her younger brother lived in a village near their elderly parents, and Tamara occasionally visited them all.
“The reason I’m calling is that I’m planning to come over at the end of the week.”
“To Mom and Dad?” Stepan asked. “About time. They’ve been waiting for you. Didn’t you promise to help them in the garden?”
“I’ll help them. I promised, so I will. But later. I’m coming to your place. Well, to you, specifically. I’ll drop by our parents too, of course, but I’m planning to stay at your house. So get ready for your sister.”
“That sounds strange, Toma.”
“What’s strange about it? Fine, I’ll explain. Mom and Dad are always busy. They wake up early, they’re up during the night, constantly fussing around. There’s always something happening either in the house or outside. And I want to sleep. At home, with children screaming and everyone running around, I’m so exhausted I can’t even describe it. Styopa, all I want is some rest. I want to lie down in complete silence and not move. Is that really so terrible?”
“There’s nothing terrible about wanting rest, but why not stay with Mom and Dad? What’s wrong with their place? I feel like you’re not telling me something.”
“I’m not hiding anything. I just want to ask you for one more thing. Tell your Varvara to disappear somewhere with the children for the weekend. She can go to her parents, for example. I need peace and quiet, understand?”
“That’s quite a request,” her brother said, stunned. “Sounds more like an order.”
Of course, Stepan had always known his sister could be difficult, but even he hadn’t expected something like this.
“Why are you reacting like that? Is what I’m asking really so impossible?” Tamara demanded, sounding offended.
“You’ve really outdone yourself this time. Are you serious?”
“Perfectly serious! I want to spend at least one weekend in peace and quiet. I’ve been dreaming about it for months. Is it really so difficult to do one thing I ask? And think about it—haven’t I done plenty for you over the years? Haven’t I helped your family?”
“You have, yes,” Stepan admitted. “And Varvara and I helped you and Vitya too whenever you asked. That’s what relatives do.”
“Oh, don’t even mention Vitya. He’s forgotten we exist. He’s been living with his new family for ages. And I’m asking you for one simple favor, brother—just do what I said! It costs you nothing, and it would help me enormously.”
Forty-two-year-old Tamara had been living with her daughter’s young family ever since divorcing her husband, and she genuinely found the arrangement exhausting.
Dasha had married one of her school classmates almost immediately after graduation. Before long, Tamara became a grandmother—first to a grandson and then to a granddaughter.
After Tamara’s husband left the family, her clever daughter and son-in-law decided there was no point paying rent for an apartment when her mother was living alone in an entire house.
From that day onward, Tamara’s peaceful life disappeared.
Instead of coming home from work to a quiet evening and perhaps a ready dinner, she found chaos and destruction. The refrigerator was constantly empty because everything she cooked to last several days was devoured almost immediately by the hungry young family. There was shouting, screaming, whining, arguing—it felt endless.
And now her brother was suggesting that she stay with their parents.
“Yes, I know I haven’t visited them for a while. And I understand they’re probably upset. But when am I supposed to find time? You know what my life is like. I’ve got an entire circus living in my house. It’s like a beehive. There’s nowhere to hide, nowhere to get away from them, not even a single quiet corner in my own home. And when it comes to cleaning or cooking, somehow I’m the only one capable of doing anything.”
“Mom asked you to help plant some things in the garden,” Stepan reminded her.
“And I will. I’ll get it done quickly and then come to your place,” Tamara explained. “I’m not staying overnight with them. I don’t feel comfortable there anymore. Mom and Dad have become restless, always fussing about something. I want to truly relax this weekend. That’s why I’m asking you to send your family somewhere else.”
“Then relax. Who’s stopping you? I don’t see the problem. When I’m exhausted after work, nobody can stop me from sleeping—not the kids and not even the television.”
“I don’t know where to hide from my grandchildren. They scream so loudly my ears practically curl up. Day and night! Sometimes I almost forget my own name. And now you expect me to tolerate your little brats running around too? No, thank you. I can live without that kind of happiness.”
“They’re children,” Stepan replied patiently. “Of course they shout sometimes and make noise. It’s not the end of the world.”
“No, Stepan. I have absolutely no desire to see or hear them. And to be perfectly honest, I haven’t exactly missed your Varvara either. So Saturday morning, she can take the children and go to her parents. She’ll get to visit them at the same time. And tell them not to come back until Monday morning. I’m planning to leave on Monday and go straight to work.”
“You make it sound as though you’re completely right about everything. How exactly am I supposed to throw my own family out of their house just because you feel like having some peace? Listen to you—you sound like a queen giving orders. Did you even think about what I’m supposed to tell my wife before suggesting something like that?”
“I don’t care what you tell her! You’re the man, the head of the household. Think of something. And show some respect to your older sister, please. I don’t ask you for favors very often. That’s it. The conversation is over. I’ll arrive Saturday. Be ready!”
Tamara ended the call.
“Oh, I’ll think of something,” Stepan murmured slyly to himself. “No doubt about that.”
On Saturday morning, just as promised, Tamara arrived at her parents’ home. To make it look as though she had helped, she dug over a couple of garden beds near their small house and soon began preparing to head to her brother’s place.
“I’m going to Styopa’s. I’ll stay overnight there.”
“But why, sweetheart?” her mother asked sadly. “Why won’t you stay with us? Your father and I were waiting for you. You could go to Stepan’s tomorrow. We haven’t even had time to sit down and talk properly.”
“What is there to talk about? We discuss everything over the phone anyway. We already know all each other’s news. I’m going. My brother is expecting me, and I promised.”
Tamara headed toward another part of the village, where Stepan’s large house stood on one of the newer streets.
On the way, she stopped at the local grocery store and bought herself a small bottle of alcohol along with some light snacks—cheese and fruit.
When she arrived, nobody was home except her brother.
Tamara was delighted.
So he had listened after all. He had gone along with her request and made an effort for his sister.
Good. That was exactly how things should be.
She was older, after all, and had done plenty for him over the years.
“Hi, Styopa! Well done. I’m impressed. The house is quiet and nobody’s here. Where did you send the family?” she asked cheerfully as she placed the bottle and food on the table.
“What difference does it make to you?” Stepan replied without much warmth.
He had been repairing his car in the garage and had only come inside to greet her.
“Oh, what a rude man you’ve become! A real country bumpkin. I don’t know how Varvara puts up with you. Anyway, never mind. Will you have a drink with me?”
“I’m busy. Can’t you see? Make yourself at home. Looks like you’ve already brought everything you need.”
“Of course I have. I bought exactly what I like. I have every right to enjoy myself properly.”
Stepan returned to the garage, and for the first time in months Tamara found herself surrounded by something she had almost forgotten existed—silence.
She changed into a comfortable robe, sat down at the table, and happily celebrated her return to her childhood village all by herself.
The alcohol made her sleepy quite quickly, so she stretched out on the sofa to enjoy a nap in the cool, peaceful room.
At that moment, Tamara felt a sense of tranquility she had almost forgotten.
Sleep carried her far away, back to a time when she was young, beautiful, slim, and constantly admired by men.
Soon, a handsome dark-skinned stranger appeared beside her. He had thick curly hair and a neatly trimmed beard. Smiling warmly, he invited her into a white convertible.
Happy and in love, they drove along a picturesque road between the mountains, heading toward the warm sea—just like in Tamara’s earlier dream.
Enchanting music filled the air.
Tamara was in heaven.
And then…
Without warning, the handsome stranger grabbed a furry toy monkey from the back seat and smacked her across the face with it.
“Ow! What was that?”
Tamara woke with a start and discovered that there really was a horrible furry face right in front of her.
After focusing her eyes, she realized that behind the enormous stuffed toy stood her younger nephew, Pavlik.
“Grrrr! I’m going to kill you!” the “sweet” little boy declared menacingly before swinging the stuffed animal again. “Take that!”
He tried to hit his aunt once more.
“What on earth is going on?” Tamara cried indignantly, pushing the boy away. “Where did you come from, Pavlik?”
Pavlik didn’t answer.
Instead, two more boys roughly his age rushed into the living room, followed by Stepan’s five-year-old daughter, Dasha.
The children shrieked and laughed at the tops of their voices.
Then they aimed toy water pistols at Tamara and blasted her with freezing cold water.
“Hooray! I got her!”
“Me too! Me too!”
“I killed the evil monster! Right in the heart! Hooray!”
“Stop that immediately!” Tamara roared furiously. “Did I accidentally come to a kindergarten instead of my brother’s house? Or am I losing my mind? Where did all of you come from?”
She had no choice but to get off the comfortable sofa and investigate.
“Stepan! Styopa! Where are you?” she shouted, looking for someone to blame for her ruined afternoon.
“Why are you shouting? Hello, sister-in-law. Welcome,” Varvara said as she walked toward her.
“Oh, you’re here too?” Tamara asked rudely, still groggy from sleep and alcohol. “You weren’t here earlier. Where did you suddenly come from?”
“This is my house, in case you’ve forgotten,” Varvara replied with a broad smile. “We weren’t home because the children and I went to meet our guests. Today is a busy day—one visitor after another.”
“Guests? What guests?” Tamara stared at her.
“My sister came for the weekend with her children. We went to pick them up at the station. We had to call a taxi because Styopa’s car is acting up. Anyway, shall we go to the kitchen? We need to start cooking and set the table. There are lots of people here today, so we’ll need plenty of food. My sister is already in the kitchen getting started.”
“What? You expect me to cook while listening to your badly behaved children screaming?” Tamara demanded, openly irritated. “Absolutely not! Count me out! I get enough of that kind of entertainment at home. I came here hoping to escape this chaos and finally rest. Apparently, that wasn’t meant to happen.”
Tamara marched into the kitchen and, without even greeting Varvara’s sister, dramatically grabbed the already opened bottle of red wine she had brought.
On the way out, she almost fell after tripping over toy cars and other things scattered across the floor.
“Little monsters! I nearly broke my legs because of you!” she shouted angrily before slamming the door behind her.
Stepan was still working in the garage.
“Well, brother! Thank you so much!” Tamara snapped bitterly. “I’ll never forget your kindness!”
She turned and headed toward the gate.
Stepan stepped out of the garage and watched her leave, chuckling quietly.
“I certainly hope you don’t forget,” he muttered under his breath. “I’m sick and tired of all your demands and complaints. You still can’t understand that I’m not a little boy anymore. I have my own family now, and I’m the father of two children.”
Tamara returned to her parents’ house angry and silent.
“Well, what happened at Styopa’s?” her elderly mother asked in surprise when she saw her daughter back so soon. “Did they throw you out or something? Why are you back already?”
“Throw me out? Don’t be ridiculous. They already have enough guests without me. Varvara’s sister came with her children. It’s as though they arranged everything deliberately just to spite me!” Tamara complained, barely able to control her temper.
“Well, maybe it’s for the best. At least you have somewhere to stay. Spend some time with us. What’s so bad about being with your parents?”
“Nothing. Just leave me alone, Mom. I’m tired.”
Tamara pulled the unfinished bottle from her bag and quickly emptied it without even bothering to eat anything.
Then she quietly went into the far bedroom, lay down on the bed, and hoped she might return to the wonderful dream that the unruly children had interrupted so brutally.
Unfortunately, the handsome stranger in the luxurious convertible had already disappeared toward the blue horizon.
And this time, he had left without her.