— Dad, meet my future wife—and your new daughter-in-law—Barbara! Boris beamed with happiness. — Who?! — Professor Dr. Roman Philipson asked in astonishment. — If this is a joke, it’s not very funny! The gentleman examined the rough fingers and chipped nails of his “daughter-in-law” with distaste. It looked as though this girl hadn’t seen soap and water in years—what other explanation for the ingrained dirt under her nails? “My word! Thank heavens my Lara didn’t live to see this disgrace. We did our best to raise this lad with the finest manners,” flashed through his mind. — This isn’t a joke! — Boris declared defiantly. — Barbara is staying with us, and in three months we’re getting married. If you refuse to be part of your son’s wedding, I’ll do without you! — Hello! — Barbara smiled warmly and walked confidently into the kitchen. — Pies, homemade raspberry jam, dried mushrooms… — she recited, unpacking foods from a battered carrier bag. Roman Philipson clutched his chest as he saw Barbara ruin his pristine hand-embroidered tablecloth with sticky jam. — Boris! Come to your senses! If this is meant to spite me, there’s no need… It’s outrageously cruel! Which village did you find this bumpkin in? I won’t allow her to live in my house! — the professor yelled in despair. — I love Barbara. My wife deserves to live here with me! — Boris sneered. Roman Philipson realised his son was simply tormenting him. Refusing to argue further, he silently retreated to his room. Relations with his son had changed drastically since his wife’s death. Boris had become unruly, left university, spoke rudely to his father, and lived recklessly. Roman Philipson kept hoping his son would change—become prudent and kind again. But each day, Boris distanced himself. Now he’d brought this country girl into their home, knowing full well his father would never approve. Soon, Boris and Barbara tied the knot. Roman Philipson refused to attend the wedding—he would not accept the unwanted daughter-in-law. It infuriated him to see Lara’s place as homemaker, partner, and mother taken by this uneducated girl who could barely string two words together. Barbara seemed oblivious to her father-in-law’s disdain, trying to please him but only making things worse. Roman saw no good qualities in her, judging her merely by her lack of education and poor manners. After a stint of playing the model husband, Boris was back to drinking and partying. His father overheard their frequent arguments and secretly rejoiced, hoping Barbara would eventually leave for good. — Dr. Philipson! — his daughter-in-law burst in one day, sobbing. — Boris wants a divorce, and what’s worse, he’s throwing me out, but I’m pregnant! — Well then, why out on the street? You’re not homeless… Go back where you came from. Being pregnant doesn’t entitle you to live here after the divorce. Sorry, but I won’t interfere in your relationship, — the professor replied, secretly relieved he’d finally be rid of the bothersome daughter-in-law. Barbara cried in despair and began to pack. She couldn’t fathom why her father-in-law had hated her from the start, why Boris played with her like a puppy and then abandoned her. So what if she was from the country? She had a soul and feelings, too… *** Eight years passed… Roman Philipson now lived in a care home. He’d grown frail in recent years, and Boris had taken advantage, quickly settling his father there to rid himself of trouble. The old man accepted his fate—there was no other choice. Over his long life, he’d taught thousands the values of love, respect, and compassion. Letters of gratitude from former students still arrived… but he had failed to raise his own son to be a good man. — Roman, you’ve got visitors, — his roommate announced after a walk. — Who, Boris? — the old man blurted out, though he knew it was impossible; his son hated him too much to visit. — No idea. The supervisor said to fetch you. What are you waiting for? Hurry up! — the roommate smiled. Roman grabbed his cane and slowly left his tiny, stuffy room. Descending the stairs, he spotted her from afar and instantly recognised her, even after all these years. — Hello, Barbara, — he said softly, lowering his head, still feeling guilt about not defending the genuine, simple girl those eight years ago… — Dr. Philipson?! — exclaimed the rosy-cheeked woman. — You’ve changed so much… Are you ill? — A bit…, — he smiled sadly. — What brings you here? How did you find me? — Boris told me. You know he refuses to have anything to do with his son. But the boy keeps asking to see his dad and granddad… Ivan isn’t at fault that you won’t acknowledge him. He really misses his family. It’s just us now… — she said through tears. — I’m sorry if I’m out of line. — Wait! — pleaded the old man. — How old is Ivan now? Last photo you sent, he was only three. — He’s here, at the entrance. Should I call him? — Barbara asked hesitantly. — Of course, dear, bring him in! — Roman Philipson brightened. A ginger-haired boy entered, the spitting image of Boris but in miniature. Little Ivan approached his granddad, whom he’d never met. — Hello, son! You’re so grown-up now… — the old man teared up, hugging his grandson. They talked for ages, strolling the autumn park beside the care home. Barbara recounted her hard life, early loss of her mother, and raising her son and home alone. — Forgive me, Barbara! I am truly sorry for how I treated you. I thought I was clever and cultured, but I’ve just lately learned it’s sincerity and kindness that matter most, — he said. — Dr. Philipson! We have a proposal for you, — Barbara smiled nervously. — Come live with us! You’re lonely, and it’s just me and my son… It would mean so much to have family close by. — Granddad, come with us! We’ll go fishing and mushroom hunting together… The village is beautiful and there’s plenty of room in our home! — begged Ivan, gripping his grandfather’s hand. — Let’s go! — Roman Philipson smiled. — I failed to raise my own son well, but perhaps I can give you what Boris never had. Besides, I’ve never lived in the countryside. I hope I’ll like it! — You’ll love it! — Ivan laughed.

Dad, let me introduce you to my future wifeand your new daughter-in-lawEmily! David beamed with joy.

Who? Professor Dr. Richard Spencer asked in surprise. If this is a joke, its really not funny!

The older man eyed Emilys rough hands and grimy fingernails with obvious disgust. It looked to him as if the girl had never heard of soap and water in her life. How else to explain the dirt so deeply embedded under her nails?

Oh my word! Thank goodness Sarah isnt alive to witness such a disgrace! We did our best to raise David properly, Richard thought with a pang of grief.

This isnt a joke! David declared defiantly. Emily will be staying with us, and in three months well marry. If you dont want to attend your own sons wedding, then thats your choiceIll manage without you!

Hello! Emily smiled and strode confidently into the kitchen. These are homemade pies, raspberry jam, dried mushrooms She began listing off the goodies she unpacked from her battered old shopping bag.

Richard clutched his chest in horror as he saw Emily stain his pristine embroidered tablecloth with the leaking jam.

David! Come to your senses! If youre doing this to spite me, its really too much! Where on earth did you pick up this uncouth girl? I wont allow her to stay in my home! the professor cried out in despair.

I love Emily. And my wife is entitled to live with me! David sneered.

Richard realised his son was trying to torment him. Not wanting to argue further, he retreated quietly to his study.

Lately, the relationship with his son had changed drastically. After his mothers death, David became uncontrollablehe dropped out of university, treated his father disrespectfully and lived a wild and careless life.

Richard hoped David would change, become sensible and kind again. But every day his son seemed further away. And now, hed brought home this country girl, knowing perfectly well Richard would never approve.

Soon enough, David married Emily at the registry office. Richard refused to attend the ceremony; he could not accept an uneducated daughter-in-law who barely knew how to string two sentences together, taking the place of Sarah, the wonderful wife and mother theyd lost.

Emily hardly seemed to notice her father-in-laws coldness, trying her best to please himinevitably making things worse. Richard couldnt see a single redeeming quality in her, fixating only on her lack of education and poor manners.

David, after a brief stint as the picture-perfect husband, soon began drinking and staying out again. Richard often heard the young couple quarrelling, and he was almost glad, secretly hoping Emily would leave their house forever.

One afternoon, Emily rushed to Richard, eyes red with tears. Mr Spencer! David wants a divorce and hes telling me to leave. But Im pregnant!

For goodness’ sake, why would you be out on the street? Go back to wherever you came from. And being pregnant doesnt entitle you to stay here after the divorce. Sorry, I wont get involved in your affairs, Richard replied, inwardly relieved at the prospect of finally ridding himself of this unwelcome daughter-in-law.

Emily sobbed and went off to pack. She couldnt understand why her father-in-law had despised her from the first moment, why David had used her and cast her aside like a stray dog. So what if she was from a village? Didnt she have feelings too?

***
Eight years have gone by. Richard Spencer now lives in an elderly care home. The last few years have not been kind; hes grown frail and resigned to his fate. David took advantage as soon as he could, settling his father in the home to spare himself any trouble.

Richard has come to terms with his situation, understanding theres no other way. Throughout his long career, he instilled love, respect, and compassion in thousands of people. Letters of thanks from former pupils still arrive. Yet hed failed to teach such qualities to his own son.

Richard, youve got visitors, his roommate says, coming back from a walk.

Who? David? Richard blurts out, though deep down he knows its impossible; his sons resentment runs far too deep.

No idea. The nurse asked me to fetch you. Why are you still sitting there? Off you go! his friend grins.

Taking his cane, Richard slowly makes his way out of the tiny, stuffy room. As he descends the stairs, he spots her in the distance, instantly recognising her despite the years that have passed.

Hello, Emily, he murmurs, lowering his eyes and voiceperhaps still feeling guilty for never standing up for the sincere, simple girl all those years ago.

Mr Spencer? The rosy-cheeked woman is surprised. Youve changed so much Are you unwell?

A little, he admits with a sad smile. How did you know where to find me?

David told me. You know, he wont have anything to do with our son. But Charlie keeps beggingfirst to see his dad, then his granddad. Its not fairhes not at fault just because you refuse to accept him. Charlie misses having a family. Were alone, just the two of us Emilys voice trembles. Im sorry, I may have come here for nothing.

Wait! Richard says. How old is Charlie now? I remember last time you sent a photo, he was only three.

Hes here, by the entrance. Should I call him? Emily asks hesitantly.

Yes, of course, dear! Call him over, Richard says, brightening.

Into the hall walks a ginger-haired boy, the spitting image of young David. Charlie approaches the grandfather hes never met, uncertain but hopeful.

Hello, son! Youve grown so much, Richard chokes up, pulling his grandson into a tight embrace.

They spend the afternoon talking and strolling through the autumnal gardens bordering the care home. Emily shares her storyhow she lost her own mother so young, and has had to raise her son and run the house by herself.

Im so sorry, Emily. I was wrong about you. For all my intellect and education, its only now Ive realised people should be valued for their kindness and sincerity, not their pedigree, Richard says.

Mr Spencer, we have a suggestion, Emily smiles nervously. Come stay with us! Youre lonely, and its just Charlie and me It would mean so much to have family close.

Grandad, come with us! We can go fishing together, pick mushrooms in the woods Our village is beautiful, the house is big! Charlie pleads, gripping Richards hand tightly.

Alright, Ill come, Richard laughs. I missed my chance with David, but maybe I can be the grandfather Charlie deserves. And Ive never lived in the countrysideperhaps Ill even enjoy it!

Youll love it! Charlie giggles, already dreaming of adventures theyll have together.