We don’t need anything from you
“Son, think it over before it’s too late! That boy doesn’t look like you at all! Your Ellie had him with her ex and decided to pin it on you! I know it!”
“Mum, enough already! Davey’s my son… Why do you always stir things up? I’m off home now.”
Catherine Johnson had raised her son alone all her life. She and Alex had an excellent relationship: he never spoke back, never argued, and did well in school. When he grew up, he became an engineer, just as his mother had hoped. Now, she wanted to help him find a partner. She had chosen a beautiful girl for him named Lucy, the daughter of her friend, Antonia.
Under his mother’s persuasion, Alex and Lucy began dating, but romance never sparked, and after a few months of trying, they broke up. Then Alex met Helen. Their relationship blossomed quickly, and he recognized a kindred spirit in her immediately. They married three months later, much to Catherine Johnson’s displeasure. Six months down the line, Helen became pregnant, and they welcomed a son, whom they named David. Everything seemed fine, except that his mother-in-law had taken a strong dislike to Helen. Every time they met, she complained to her son, even though it had been four years since the wedding.
“Look what she’s turned you into! You look all crumpled and untidy.”
“Mum, I’m not unkempt! My shirt just got a bit wrinkled in the car…”
“Come, have something to eat! Your missus probably hasn’t made anything. You’ll starve to death.”
“Mum, I’ll have dinner at home. Helen’s a great cook.”
“Oh, I’m sure she is… Shop-bought meatballs or, worse, tinned stuff. Lucy’s joined a pastry-making course. Such a good girl, such a clever girl…”
Alex tried his best to fend off his mother’s nagging. He tried not to listen to her complaints and certainly didn’t pass them on to his wife. After all, what she said was baseless. Yet, Catherine Johnson persisted in her cold war against her daughter-in-law. Eventually, her tactics paid off…
“Hello dear… Why doesn’t your Ellie ever visit? You’re always dropping by alone!”
“Mum, how can she visit when you’re criticizing her over every little thing?”
“I criticize for a reason, you know! And while you’re here chatting away, she’s probably off secretly meeting her ex. I know who she was with before you. That unreliable Keith! The boy takes after him. She had fun, and now you’re picking up the tab.”
That evening, Alex had a big row with his mother. He was tired of her accusations and all the gossip. He went home upset.
“Dad, dad, hi!” shouted little David as he ran to meet him.
“Hi there, son. How’s it going? What have you been up to?”
“Mum and I went to the park. Uncle Keith was there. He bought me a chocolate and some juice!”
A thought struck Alex like a lightning bolt—what if his mother was right? That evening, he decided to question his wife:
“Why did you meet your ex?”
“Alex, it was a chance encounter. We were walking, he passed by, and we chatted. Then he walked us home.”
“Why on earth is he walking my wife and son home? Maybe David’s not even mine but his?”
“Alex, can’t believe you’re saying this! Have you lost your mind?”
That evening, the couple had a huge argument, the first since their wedding. From then on, arguments became a regular feature in their home. Eventually, Helen had enough. She packed her things, took their little boy, and moved back to her hometown with her parents.
There was a divorce, and Alex was ordered to pay child support. He was sure the child wasn’t his, but he didn’t go to court, deciding to pay. The happiest with this outcome was Catherine Johnson. She campaigned vigorously to rekindle the relationship between her son and Lucy, whom she dubbed the “perfect daughter-in-law.”
And she succeeded. Alex married Lucy. Yet, right after the wedding, she showed her true colors. She nagged her husband constantly and was never satisfied. She wanted to live lavishly and indulge in fine food and wine.
“Look at Sally’s husband, Peter—he’s already bought her a second fur coat! The Surkovs traded up to a luxury car. And here I am, like some pauper, wearing last year’s coat and driving a clunky car! What kind of man are you?”
Fifteen long years passed like this. Alex worked two jobs tirelessly, while Lucy traveled to resorts and denied herself nothing. She didn’t want kids; she claimed they should live for themselves first, before anything else… Catherine Johnson, seeing this, wanted to intervene again but was swiftly put in her place by her daughter-in-law.
One day, Alex got a call from the hospital. His mother had been rushed in with a stroke. The illness was severe, and after she was discharged, she needed care. Lucy declared:
“I’m not spending day and night by the old woman’s bedside. Let’s arrange a place for her in a care home.”
“Lucy, maybe I should quit work…”
“Are you out of your mind? How will we live? We’re still paying off the loan for my car for another four years…”
Ultimately, Catherine Johnson was sent to a care home. Alex headed off to another job, and Lucy stayed at home. A month later, Catherine passed away. Alex returned home to bid his mother farewell but forgot to tell his wife about his arrival. Letting himself in with his key, he walked into the startling sight of his wife in the arms of the neighbor… He didn’t make a scene. He merely packed his bags and moved to his mother’s flat.
After Catherine’s funeral, Alex sat alone in her apartment, reminiscing about his mother and her “valuable” advice. Why did he ever listen to her?… Now, he was over forty. Most of his life had passed. And it turned out he had neither family, nor children, nor friends… Not even his own car—all purchases were for Lucy… He pondered his life and remembered Helen and David. He never found out if David was his son or Helen’s ex’s. But now, it no longer mattered…
David must be nineteen now… He’s all grown up… I wonder what he’s like? Alex whispered these words into the emptiness, and naturally, there was no answer.
The next morning, he bought a train ticket and went to Helen’s hometown. He found the house and the door easily. He knocked on the familiar door but received no answer. “Probably at work,” he thought and decided to wait outside. After about twenty minutes, he turned his head and froze… Approaching the entrance was a young man—the spitting image of him, only twenty years younger.
“Dave… Dave… Son…”
“You?… What are you doing here?” asked David coldly.
“Son, I’m so sorry… You look so much like me, like two peas in a pod! Where’s your mum?”
“Mum’s not here. It’s been a long time. She died a decade ago. In a car accident…”
“And you? Who do you live with? Can I help you with anything? I’m ready for anything! I’ve got money. Just say the word!”
“I live with Gran. We don’t need anything.”
“But son, I wanted, I…”
Alex didn’t finish. David went into his building and shut the door in his face.
“Son! Son, open up! How could it be, son? I’m your father! Your father!”
He stood outside the closed entrance door for a long time, sobbing, wiping away scarce manly tears from his face. Or maybe it wasn’t tears at all, but the rain?… After that, he visited several times, hoping to reconnect with his son. He pleaded, begged, tried to explain. But David refused all contact.
