Clutching his head, Andrew collapsed onto the couch in exhaustion:
— Mom, why are you spending your money like that? Laura and I wanted to get you a birthday gift ourselves.
Sitting beside him, Susan whispered:
— Thank you for not forgetting about me. But I’m used to handling my own problems. And what’s there to worry about, son? I just need a new fridge. I even picked up a brochure at the mall and checked the prices, so everything’s fine.
Taking the brochure from her hands, Andrew grumbled:
— Look at this, nothing special about it, yet it costs a fortune. Couldn’t we find something cheaper? There’s no shortage of appliances these days, is there?
Giving him a reproachful look, Susan replied:
— Sure, who’s arguing? Should we just buy it from some second-hand shop then? You see, Andrew, you say you love your mom and even offer money for the fridge, but then you try to cut corners.
Standing up from the couch, Susan paced the room before adding:
— No, if I’ve made up my mind, I’ll do it myself. Just drive me to the mall, but not today—maybe in a couple of days. I want to think it over a bit more. I don’t want to regret rushing into the wrong choice.
Andrew waved his hand in response:
— Alright, I won’t try to change your mind. You’re not budging anyway. At least let me transfer some money to your bank card. It’d feel awkward not to contribute something for the gift.
That option seemed to suit Susan just fine:
— Good boy, you figured it out on your own. But you know, whatever money I have will end up with you kids anyway. It’s a bit early to think about that, but you get my hint.
Andrew nodded in agreement:
— Mom, weren’t you planning to go to the countryside? Want me to drive you so you don’t have to take the bus?
With her approval, Susan quickly got ready, and within ten minutes, she was in the car. Taking a slightly longer but smoother route, Andrew got his mom to the country house in about half an hour. Stopping by the fence, he was about to help carry her bag inside when a neighbor approached:
— Hey, Susan, I thought you weren’t coming! And hi to you too, Andrew! Leave the bag, I was heading to visit your mom anyway. Come on, Susan, let’s have some tea and catch up on girl talk.
The women headed toward the garden as if Andrew wasn’t even there. But Susan turned back and said:
— Thanks, son. Emma and I can manage from here. You go on, and I’ll call you when I need a ride back.
Inside the house, Susan sank heavily onto a chair and whispered:
— He worries about me like I’m some fragile treasure. Today he offered money for the fridge as a gift, but I told him I want to buy it myself.
Her neighbor Emma looked at her in surprise and asked:
— Susan, you turned down your son’s money? He meant well, and you just brushed off his kindness.
Shaking her head, Susan replied:
— He’ll be fine. He knows me well enough. As for the money, Andrew offered to transfer it to my card. It’ll stay there, and I’ll use it when I need to.
Letting out a relieved sigh, Emma said:
— Well, that’s different. I thought you were just being stubborn. You know, old age is funny—we grumble sometimes, but we’re allowed.
Setting the kettle on the stove, Susan pointed to the flowerbed outside the window:
— I planted those not long ago, and look how beautiful they’ve grown. It warms my heart. I’m thinking of making a bouquet for my granddaughter.
The kettle soon boiled, and Emma, as if remembering something, lightly slapped her knee and said:
— Oh, my memory! It takes me forever to recall things. Listen, Susan, I saw an ad on TV about a big appliance sale. Want to go check it out together and pick out your fridge?
At that moment, Susan pulled the brochure from her bag and showed it to Emma:
— I was already planning to visit this place. The prices seem decent. I told Andrew to drive me to the mall. — Emma set the brochure aside and added: — Perfect, we’ll need your Andrew to drive us. Doesn’t matter where he’s going. Be ready tomorrow after lunch. I’ll swing by, and make sure you call Andrew so he’s not late.
Plans shifted slightly, but for the sake of the fridge, Susan decided to cut her countryside relaxation short. After tea, she saw Emma off and tended to the garden beds a bit longer. Only then did she call her son:
— Andrew, sorry to bother you again, but my friend and I need a ride tomorrow to a place with discounted appliances.
After a brief pause, Andrew replied:
— Alright, Mom, I’ll come. I know the place—it’s like a warehouse just outside town. They’ve got a big covered pavilion with tons of appliances on display.
They agreed, but Susan had a gut feeling something was off about this warehouse. Her instincts told her the purchase wouldn’t be straightforward, maybe even with an unexpected twist. She couldn’t believe anyone would sell fridges at such low prices. Perhaps there was a catch, like some defect that would only become clear later. Still, with Emma’s recommendation and the tempting offer, Susan figured she had nothing to lose.
The alarm rang at eight in the morning, and there was already a knock at the gate. Peeking out the window, Susan saw Emma’s cheerful face. She had to get up.
— Emma, what’s this? We agreed on lunchtime! I haven’t even had breakfast or washed my face.
Emma let herself in through the gate without waiting for an invitation:
— I know, I just couldn’t sleep. Woke up early and baked some pies. Come on, you can wash up and eat at my place. Oh, and I heated thetykuл
System: the sauna last night, so the water’s still warm.
What could Susan say? The sauna worked its magic on her.
— Alright, you could talk anyone into anything. Let me just get dressed.
As for the pies, Susan wasn’t much for pastries in the morning—she was quite the baker herself. But out of respect for her neighbor, she agreed to try one. Taking a bite, her eyes widened:
— My goodness, this is delicious! I didn’t know you could bake like this. Didn’t someone once say their pies never turned out? Just kidding, Emma.
Emma gave her a mock-stern look but didn’t bite at the sarcasm:
— I get it, you’re the best cook. But let’s not debate our skills—time to hit the road. I say we go now instead of waiting till lunch. Call Andrew.
Susan pulled her phone from her pocket and dialed her son:
— Good morning, honey! Oh, good, you’re already up. Come pick us up—we’re ready to go now.
Andrew let out a heavy sigh over the phone:
— Alright, Mom, I’ll be there in an hour.
Soon enough, Andrew’s car pulled up to the house. He stepped out and said:
— Your chariot awaits. I hope the plan hasn’t changed, and we’re still going to that warehouse we talked about.
Susan and Emma nodded in agreement.
— Yup, that’s the plan. Just take it easy—none of us are fully awake yet.
This time, Andrew chose the shortest, safest, and smoothest route. Half an hour later, they arrived at the massive warehouse. Susan looked around and said:
— What a place! You could sell airplanes in here, not just fridges.
Emma smiled:
— Airplanes, really? Come on, let’s see what kind of appliances they’ve got today.
Andrew stayed in the car, not eager to wander the warehouse. Inside, the women began browsing and checking prices, naturally drawn to the more affordable yet quality options. Susan headed straight for the large fridge displays, while Emma lagged behind, distracted by some flat-screen TVs, but soon caught up. Out of nowhere, a consultant with a beaming smile appeared:
— Ladies, need any help?
Offended by the term, Susan snapped:
— What did you call us? We’re women in our prime. Get your manager—we want a proper tour.
The consultant paled, mumbled an apology, and scurried off, returning with a polished-looking man. He flashed an enthusiastic smile and said:
— My apologies, dear ladies. Let me show you around, and please forgive our new consultant—he’s still learning.
Susan and Emma accepted the apology.
— Fine, take us to the fridges. That’s what we’re here for.
For nearly an hour, the man, who introduced himself as the senior manager, guided them through rows of refrigerators. Finally, Susan pointed at one:
— That’s the one I want. Get it ready for me.
The manager coughed into his hand and said:
— Excellent choice. These just came in. We’ll finalize everything, and it’ll be delivered to you today.
Thrilled about the quick delivery, Susan announced she’d pay in full, no credit or installments. The manager’s smile lit up like a Christmas garland, and he arranged for her to be served immediately.
True to his word, the fridge arrived at Susan’s home that same day, and the delivery team even unpacked it. Admiring her purchase, she said:
— Well, here’s a tip for your great work. My son will come by tomorrow to set it up, so it’ll just sit for now.
The delivery guys shrugged, said goodbye, and left. Susan couldn’t believe how cheaply she’d gotten the fridge—compared to the brochure prices, it was a steal. She was eager to use it but remembered Andrew’s advice to wait for him to handle the setup. No rush, she thought—there was nothing to store yet. Soon, Emma arrived.
— Congrats, girlfriend! I bought a little something—shall we celebrate?
Susan shook her head:
— Just a bit, alright? It’s not a wedding.
After a small toast, the women chatted about everyday matters when the doorbell rang. Emma glanced at Susan:
— You expecting someone? Didn’t Andrew say he’s coming tomorrow?
Susan tiptoed to the peephole but saw no one:
— That’s odd. Someone rang, but it’s like I imagined it.
After waiting a couple of minutes, Susan opened the door—no one was there. Emma joined her and asked:
— What’s going on? Who’s playing pranks?
Silence. No sign of anyone. Puzzled, the women returned to the kitchen. Susan waved it off:
— Probably just someone at the wrong door. Forget it.
No more interruptions came that evening, and soon Emma headed home:
— Alright, I’m off. It’s getting late, and I’ve got a long ride.
After seeing her off, Susan considered inspecting the fridge but something held her back.
The next morning, while preparing breakfast, she noticed a strange man outside her building, occasionally glancing toward her apartment. After last night’s mysterious doorbell, this felt unsettling. She instinctively called Andrew:
— Andrew, come quick. There’s a suspicious guy lurking outside my place.
He promised to hurry over and told her to stay put. Glancing at the fridge, Susan decided to take a peek inside. The array of shelves and compartments delighted her, but she figured she’d wipe them down first. Struggling to open a container in the door’s upper section, she froze in horror. A hidden metal box was built into it—a secret compartment. Her fingers itched to investigate, but caution stopped her. Trembling, she dialed a familiar number.
— Hello, it’s been a while, said a familiar voice.
Her voice shaking, Susan explained:
— I bought a fridge, and it was delivered the same day. I just opened it, and there’s a strange hidden compartment. Plus, someone rang my doorbell yesterday, but no one was there, and now a suspicious man is wandering outside.
The voice belonged to a contact at the district attorney’s office, who promised to alert the right people. Andrew arrived first, but the man outside was gone. Reassuring his mom that everything was fine, he reached for the fridge’s hidden compartment.
— No, honey, let’s wait. I called my friend at the DA’s office. He said to leave it alone, so we shouldn’t touch it.
Susan added that she initially thought it might be a listening device:
— Who knows, maybe they’re spying on people like this.
Andrew chuckled:
— Mom, please, you’re not a secret agent. It’s probably just some extra equipment they forgot to mention.
But his theory was debunked when the authorities arrived and inspected the compartment.
It contained smuggled goods—valuable contraband. The question was how it got there. Susan was questioned:
— My neighbor Emma recommended that warehouse, said the prices were great. I fell for it like a naive kid, and now I don’t know what to do.
To get answers and trace the compartment’s origin, surveillance was set up at the warehouse and Susan’s home. No one appeared outside her place that day, so Susan was temporarily moved to the countryside to make her apartment seem empty. Andrew stayed with her overnight, eager to uncover the truth about the compartment.
The next morning, they got a call: the suspected smugglers had been caught trying to break into Susan’s apartment. Andrew brought his mom back home.
— What happened? Was I scammed or something?
An FBI agent pulled her aside and explained that the fridges were being used to smuggle precious gems, with specific buyers in mind. The warehouse was a front for the operation. By mistake, the delivery team brought Susan a marked fridge meant for someone else. The apprehended smugglers were confessing, and thanks to Susan and Emma’s accidental discovery, an entire smuggling ring was exposed. A reward would’ve been nice, but the women had a better idea:
— Put us on TV—let the neighbors burst with envy.
Not long after, while sitting in the kitchen staring at the fridge, Andrew said:
— Mom, I offered to buy you one myself, but you wouldn’t have it. So, how’s your birthday gift now?
Laughing heartily, Susan replied:
— Just what I needed—some excitement in my life. Don’t worry, son, you’ll have plenty of fun days ahead too.
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