“Am I supposed to greet the guests myself? You mean, you’re going to go on vacation for a week?!”

she grabbed her bag.

“I’m done being convenient. You’ll understand this week.”

Friday arrived, and chaos began.

Tolia didn’t know where clean sheets were kept. He served dumplings for lunch; his sister said her son couldn’t eat them. He rushed to the store, ruined dinner, endured his mother’s comments about dust and housekeeping. Dima ran wild, interrupting continue reading …