One evening, her beloved daughter lowered her head and spoke softly.
"You know, Mom, it's probably better if you don't come over for a while. I'm so grateful for all your help, but you don't need to visit us anymore."
Hearing those words, the poor woman flinched and began packing her bag. Over the last few months, she had felt needed—regularly looking after her grandson while her daughter went to her fitness classes. And suddenly, this turn of events! Had she made a mistake? Maybe she hadn't fed the baby right, or spoke to him the wrong way?
Alas, the reason was different. By getting married, her daughter had entered a wealthy, prominent family. Her husband's parents provided the newlyweds with a prestigious lifestyle. They bought them a spacious three-bedroom apartment, furnished it with expensive pieces, and gifted them modern appliances and fine porcelain. Everything was at their expense, even the groceries in the refrigerator and the tea in the decorative tin!
Because of this, they wanted to be the ones in charge, coming over whenever they pleased and spending long hours with their grandson. Their daughter-in-law's mother only got in the way. She was a simple, unpresentable woman who didn't keep up with appearances and worked as an ordinary train conductor. Why would wealthy people want such company?
Her only daughter explained everything to her quite bluntly.
"Mom, I'm sorry, but you haven't even tried to fit in. You won't go to the gym. You've completely let yourself go. And why haven't you colored your hair? It's embarrassing to walk around gray these days. You're too lazy to even put on makeup. Your shoes are cheap, and your sweaters are so old-fashioned. You smell like the railway. It's obvious you're just a conductor."
In the hallway, the woman looked at herself intently in the mirror. There was no denying it; her daughter told the truth. A simple short haircut, a dull face without makeup, wrinkles, and bags under her eyes. Her appearance was below average—not something you'd show off in polite society. Once she was out on the street, the heartbroken mother wept bitterly. It was her own fault for letting herself go like that.
Returning to her tiny apartment, she sat on her old sofa and began scrolling through photos on her phone. There was her beautiful daughter at prom, there she was receiving her diploma, and there was the happy wedding. And so many photos of her darling little grandson—in his stroller, in his mother's arms, on his grandmother's lap.
They were doing well now. They lived comfortably and wanted for nothing. That was the main thing. The fact that they had rejected her, ashamed of her unkempt appearance, didn't matter as much now. She had done her job—raised her daughter, gave her an education, and looked after her grandson. Now, only one thing was required of her: to stay out of their lives, not to interfere, and not to irritate them with her presence. That shouldn't be too hard, right?
***
The sad story could have ended there. But the woman had character. She may have been kind, soft, and responsive, but this simple conductor had never been weak or indecisive. She had grown up an orphan, raised her daughter alone, and never complained. She had handled every hardship before, so she would handle this one too.
Go to the gym? Not a problem. Cutting out junk food was easy, too—especially since the sudden stress had killed her appetite anyway. She didn't spend much time fussing over her hair; she dyed it and styled it beautifully with a blow-dryer. There was her fashionable hairstyle. Estheticians quickly helped improve her complexion and smooth out the signs of aging. They also taught her how to apply makeup correctly. She stuffed her ridiculous, old-fashioned sweaters into a bag and threw them away. As it turned out, completely updating a wardrobe wasn't even that expensive.
The radical change in image soon brought results. While working on the train, the attractive conductor met an interesting man. She got married, quit her job, and moved to the West Coast. The marriage turned out to be a success; she found a good job, and a prosperous life began. Her daughter, however, was much less fortunate. Her husband grew bored and started disappearing in the evenings. Reproaches turned into scandals, and his parents, of course, supported their son. They began to hold the property over her head and refused to give her money for a nanny.
She called her mother, begging for support. But Mom couldn't help. She was far away—very far—and there was nothing to be done about it now. She promised to visit eventually, but for now, it wasn't possible. She invited her daughter to come to her, at least for a visit, or even forever if need be. She would help her, comfort her, and support her.
But the daughter couldn't think about that yet—she was going through a divorce and fighting for the property in court. It was a long process. In the evenings, she looks at the photos her mother sends—beautiful landscapes and selfies. All the selfies are perfect. A glamorous lady, looking like she belongs in high society. She would love to invite her over now. But she won't come—it's too long a journey. Well, perhaps they'll see each other again someday...
0 comments