Anya absolutely did not understand why they needed this man in the house. She had always wanted her mother to get married and to be happy, but not with him. The girl sat on the couch, pretending to read a book, while half-listening to Arthur. He had only recently woken up and now, slowly and paying no attention to Anya, was moving around the house. Arthur was talking on the phone all the time. And, as she understood, definitely not with a man. Apparently, he thought she was very young, because he didn’t bother to hide it.

“Sweetheart, what are you saying? My wedding is in two weeks, and you want to seduce an almost married man?” He listened to what was said to him, then laughed, and spoke again. Anya felt terr!bly disgusted. Disgusted because she heard all this, and disgusted because this man, whom her mother loved so much, was cheating on her.

Anya sharply put down the book. Arthur turned, looked at her attentively, and went to the bedroom, firmly closing the door behind him. Anya decided to consult her best friend. She slipped out onto the street and rushed along the road toward the barracks, which were not very far away. They were just hidden from view behind tall thuja trees planted as a kind of fence, separating the elite neighborhood from the usual city slums.

If Alla Olegovna had known that her daughter visited there, her heart probably would have given out. Anya looked around; no one was nearby. She put two fingers to her lips and whistled sharply. Immediately, a shaggy-haired boy’s head appeared from the barrack window.

“Anya, come in, the relatives went to grandma’s.”

She jumped over the windowsill — doors were for weaklings — and asked:

“Why didn’t you go?”

Petka, Anya’s friend, scratched his head:

“I got a failing grade in English, so I’m cramming, otherwise Dad promised to give me a beating.”

Anya smiled. Petka’s dad was big, bearded, and terr!bly kind. All the kids in the yard loved him, but he did periodically promise to spank Petka, though he never actually did.

“Anya, why are you here? We agreed to meet only tomorrow evening.”

“Petka, I need to talk to you.”

Petka was two years older than her. Anya had just turned twelve, and Petka was already fourteen, so he was a real authority for her. They had been friends for a long time, since the moment Petka helped her get home after she fell off her bike. She was eight then.

“Yeah?” Petka closed his textbook. He knew changes were about to happen in Anya’s family and immediately understood why she came.

Anya told him about Arthur’s behavior and said that her mother noticed nothing at all. “Petka, I don’t know how to tell her so she’ll believe me.”

“I don’t get why you’re scared. You have a good relationship with your mom. Just sit down and tell her everything. She’ll definitely listen or at least hear you.”

Anya thought. It was true. She and her mother had always been close, though not anymore to the point of hugging and watching movies or discussing things. Now her mother hugged Arthur and discussed everything with him.

“All right, I’ll do that. Thanks, Petka.”

The boy blushed:

“No, thank you?”

“Well, for being here.”

In the evening, Arthur was getting ready to go somewhere. Alla, who had just come home from work, looked at him in surprise.

“Where are you going?” He kissed her and replied,

“Oh, just to the bar with a friend for a bit. I’m about to become a married man — no more going out — and we haven’t seen each other in a long time. Don’t worry, I won’t be long.”

Alla smiled:

“Go ahead, I’m always with people at work, and you’re alone at home. Don’t rush, relax and spend time with your friend.”

“Thanks, darling, you’re the best.”

Arthur hesitated, and Alla slapped her forehead:

“Oh, I didn’t even think. Here, take this.” She quickly handed him money. Arthur kissed her again and left.

Alla watched him leave for a while, then turned to Anya as if remembering she existed:

“Well, how about a girls’ night tonight?”

“Let’s do it, Mom.” They cooked dinner together. Anya had almost forgotten when they last did that. They ate, laughed, and after washing the dishes, Anya sat down in front of her mother:

“I want to talk to you.”

Alla sighed:

“Anya, I know you don’t like Arthur. I know, or rather remember, that he’s younger than me, but don’t you want Mom to be happy?”

“He can’t make you happy. While you’re at work, he talks to other women, and now I’m sure he took someone else to the bar with your money, not a friend.”

Alla slammed her hand on the table:

“That’s enough. It hurts me so much to realize I raised such a selfish girl. I don’t want to listen to anything. And you’re too young to talk about such things. Go to your room.”

Anya huffed in offense and left immediately. It was useless. Mom just wouldn’t hear her. It seemed Anya would have to accept that Arthur was just using her mother and her money.

At night she woke up to loud voices. She looked at the clock: half past three. Arthur had just come back, apparently not in very good shape. Mom was scolding him, then he shouted:

“Listen, Alla, why are you acting like a grandmother with her grandson? Stop scolding me.”

The bedroom door slammed. Then again. Anya heard her mother’s apologetic voice. She felt so disgusted she pulled a pillow over her ear.

The next day Anya and Petya sat on a vacant lot.

“Yes, something must be done.”

Anya sighed:

“Petya, what can you do? You understand, Mom only listens to him, notices nothing.”

“When’s the wedding?”

“Petya, the tenth.”

Petya smiled:

“Listen, I have a plan. I don’t know if you’ll like it, but it seems there’s no other way to make Mom hear and understand you.”

Anya’s eyes lit up:

“Tell me, Petya!”

When Petya finished, Anya shook her head doubtfully:

“Petya, how will we do this? You understand, we’re in school, and this needs…”

“Wait, I’ve thought it all out…”

The tenth day was approaching. Arthur even stopped arguing with Mom. Yes, he still went out almost every evening, but Alla kept silent. Apparently, she remembered the scandal when Arthur compared her to a grandmother. Anya knew Arthur was ten years younger than Mom. She wouldn’t have minded, if not for one “but.” She was sure Arthur didn’t love Mom, and her and Petya’s recent investigations only confirmed it.

Anya was in her room when she overheard Arthur’s phone conversation:

“Sweetheart, I made arrangements with Kolya, you’ll come as his girlfriend. Don’t be afraid, nobody knows you, of course. Just look at what life awaits us now. Oh, don’t grumble, I’ll only kiss her because I have to. But you, watch out, don’t get drunk — I know you.”

Anya clenched her fists. “What a bastard, completely brazen.”

In the evening at the table Arthur casually said:

“Alla, I just remembered my friend. I’d like him and his girlfriend to come to the wedding. You’ll call the restaurant, right?”

“Of course, who’s the friend?”

“You haven’t met him yet. Kolya, we were friends in childhood, then he left somewhere, and now he’s back and called me.”

“Well, that’s great, so many of your friends at the wedding, it’ll be fun.”

Anya stood up and left silently. She simply couldn’t listen to all this or watch how foolish her mother looked. Of course, her mother thought Arthur loved her, but Anya understood he never did. Arthur understood everything too, but only Mom remained completely unaware.

So much money was spent on the wedding that it would probably last a normal person a lifetime. But Alla spared nothing for her beloved. And anyway, she thought it was wonderful to arrange such a celebration when a real family was formed, when there was such love.

Only her daughter was not happy. Every time Alla promised herself she would talk to Anya, pay her more attention, which Arthur had taken away, but a little later, after the wedding. Alla recalled their evenings together and thought she must bring them back. Only now they would watch movies not just the two of them but the three of them.

The celebration was held in the most luxurious restaurant. Anya couldn’t concentrate on greeting everyone or responding to congratulations. She didn’t even notice how beautiful the hall was. She was terr!bly nervous. She didn’t know what would happen after her congratulations. What if their plan didn’t work? What if Mom got angry at her and that was it? Anya didn’t want to hurt her mother, but…

The girl tried to talk to her again, but her mother sharply cut her off:

“Anya, stop, okay? You’re not a child anymore to behave like this. After all, it’s low. Don’t spoil my mood before the most important day of my life.”

Anya stepped back. She couldn’t even say that her birthday had once been the most important day.

“Now congratulations from Anna, the bride’s daughter. Anya, please.” The host’s voice made her jump.

All the boys from Petya’s yard participated in preparing the congratulations. Anya straightened and went on stage:

“Mommy, before you see what I want to show you, I want you to know I love you very much. And more than anything in the world, I want you to be happy.”

Then the host turned on a video recording Anya had given him right before the wedding. On the screen, Arthur was passionately kissing a girl sitting nearby now. Then Arthur at a bar again with this girl in lingerie. Nobody looked at the screen anymore, everyone stared at the newlyweds. The girl disappeared immediately, and Arthur quietly slipped under the table.

Anya saw her mother’s eyes.

“Mommy, forgive me, but you didn’t want to hear me, and he, he just doesn’t love you.”

Alla said nothing. Anya felt that at that moment her mother hated her. The girl threw the microphone into the host’s hands and ran out of the restaurant. Petya was waiting for her outside. Anya said nothing, just ran past him. Petya caught her near the river:

“Hey, wait, crazy girl!”

Anya turned to him, buried her face in his chest, and cried:

“Petya, what have I done?”

“Nothing, you did the right thing. Well, of course, it’s not very nice, but you defended your mom.”

They sat by the river, throwing stones into the water. Both were silent. Finally, Petya asked:

“Are we going to sit here until morning?”

Anya shrugged:

“I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on at home or how to go back.”

They were silent again. Petya said:

“Let’s go to my place. You know your mom — she’ll feed you and put you to bed.”

“I can’t. Mom will worry.” Anya’s words sounded uncertain. “No, Mom will worry, of course, but probably not like before.”

“Anya!” The girl jumped. They stood up. Alla stood nearby:

“Hello, Petya. May I sit with you? I’m tired after looking for you.”

Petya grumbled:

“Of course. Sit on my jacket.” He spread his jacket, and Alla smiled:

“Thank you.” She sat and gently hugged Anya. “Forgive me, daughter!”

“No, Mom, it’s you who should forgive me. You shouldn’t have done that. I didn’t think you’d see it, not only you but all the guests.”

Alla smiled:

“I don’t care. You know, Anuta, it’s like handcuffs were removed from me. I made up happiness for myself and ran around with it like an idiot.”

“Mom, you’re not an idiot, you’re smart, beautiful, the best.”

Petya sat down nearby. Alla hugged him with the other arm:

“So, you’re the legendary Peter I’ve heard so much about but never met. Why have you never come to visit us?”

Petya chuckled shyly:

“Well, probably because I don’t live in your neighborhood.”

Alla looked at him worriedly:

“Where? Far away?”

“No, not really, in the barracks. But don’t think I teach Anya anything bad.”

“I don’t think so.”

“Wait, so you decided I’d look at you differently because you don’t…”

Petya nodded shyly.

“Wow. Anya, you know me — how could you think that? You know what? Let’s have a party tomorrow. Invite Petya’s parents, your friends, I’ll invite some of mine, and we’ll have a ‘hangout’ like you have. We have a whole restaurant of food and a paid host.”

Anya laughed:

“Mom, how shall we call the party?”

Alla thought, then took out her phone:

“Let’s see… Tomorrow? Here it is! Tomorrow is Cat Day. Anya, do you mind cats?”

Anya shook her head and snuggled against her mother:

“I’m so glad you’re back. And we’ll definitely meet a good man, you’ll see!”

Alla kissed her daughter on the crown of her head:

“All right, everyone home. I’m waiting for everyone at the party tomorrow.”

“Petya, bring your parents too!”