Roma, I handed all the envelopes to my mother. When we were handing them over, you could feel there was a decent amount of money in them. — I did too, Svetochka, felt them as well. It’s clear my dad holds an important position in the government. But I long ago refused his handouts and started working for myself. I’ll never forgive him for leaving my mom. She practically died of loneliness in that tiny one-room apartment of ours.

— So what can we do? Our mortgage is closed down. A one-room apartment with a child just isn’t acceptable. I didn’t want to borrow money from your father.

— I wouldn’t want that either, Svetik. He has another family, and I’m sure he invited those guests on purpose to improve our living conditions. He knows I won’t take anything from him.

— Roma, why don’t we go to my mom’s place? Let her explain the situation.

— And why can’t you sleep? — The door opened to reveal a half-asleep Larisa, Svetlana’s mother.

— Mom, maybe you could explain? I’ll never believe that respectable people like Roma’s father would give empty envelopes.

— And they weren’t empty, daughter. I had been stuffing them into a bag.

— Mom, and you always held that bag in your hand?

— No, Svetochka, I’d hand it over to my daughter-in-law whenever I got invited to dance at a restaurant.

— Tell Karina and Yurka. We’re going to get to the bottom of this, — Svetlana said firmly.

Svetlana’s brother came out of the room, followed by his disheveled wife in a greasy bathrobe.

— Svetka, why are you all here so early? — Yuri rubbed his eyes.

Svetlana explained, showing the empty envelopes. Then Karina was indignant:

— Yura, your sister has completely lost it. You all pulled them out from your own house and are now pinning it on us. So many envelopes were given, and yet they were never enough, — Karina spat on the floor and stormed off to the kitchen.

From the children’s room, two little dark-haired, curly heads peeked out — the children of Yuri and Karina.

Roma realized they’d come for nothing and, taking his wife by the hand, opened the front door. Already in the car, he voiced his opinion.

— It’s clear this is Karinka, but as the saying goes: “if caught, you’re a thief.” I’ll call my father tomorrow to organize money for the down payment.

— Come on, Roma, let’s put your one-room apartment up for sale; that should be enough for a new three-room one.

— Svetik, we planned to leave it for our future child.

— We’ll earn for him later. Let him be born and grow up first.

Yuri’s apartment took a long time to sell. Many came to look, but the ground floor just didn’t do it for them, even with a balcony.

Then Svetlana’s mother, Larisa, came to visit.

— I’ve got news for you. Yurka and Karina have taken out a loan and are already packing their things. And they’ve bought a three-room apartment in the Moscow suburbs.

— Mom, where did Yurka get the money? Karina doesn’t work. Besides, they have two children to support. Even though he’s a plumber at the housing office and earns some extra on the side, that’s not the kind of money you can immediately pay 30% of. And now, banks aren’t taking smaller amounts.

— Svetochka, I know all about it. And I realized even then that it was Karina’s doing. I have a proposal for you. I wanted to leave my apartment to you and Yurka as an inheritance. Not anymore. Let’s arrange a deed of gift. I’ll give you, Sveta, our four-room apartment, and you give me the one-room. Let this act remain on Yurka’s conscience.

That’s how Larisa settled the property matters, punishing the thieving daughter-in-law. Plus, she got rid of her presence in the apartment. She was tired of cleaning up after them all and still had to work at the firm.

After the mother moved into the one-room apartment, Yuri came to her in a huff. He regretted that the whole family had registered at the new apartment, and in the Moscow suburbs no less.

And now 15 years of paying the mortgage, with interest. Commuting to work on the electric train, since he sold his own car.