Love and matrimonial relations

My younger brother met with a girl for half a year, and then Ira moved to him. Our parents - conservative people - experienced: whether they will marry or will live in a civil marriage. On that day, Oleg dispelled their doubts ... "We are marrying Irishka," said the brother during Sunday's family dinner. Mom's tears in her eyes and her father's eyes are smiling with joy - they are happy with this turn of events. But Oleg is here, and added a spoonful of tar to the barrel of honey: - On Saturday. Mom jumped up and down. "How is it on Saturday?" We do not have time to organize anything in such a short time! "
"You do not need to organize anything," the bride of the brother joined in the conversation.
"We are not going to roll up a merchant's wedding." Sign in the registry office, and all ...
- Such an event - and not to mention? Wrong somehow ... - Dad was upset. The young men exchanged glances. "We with Ira want to arrange just a family dinner. Very modest and only for their own ", - the brother exchanged scoldings.
- Lord! - Mum whispered, suffering with grief. - Are you ashamed of marrying ?!
- Why? On the contrary, we are proud of this, "Irina answered. "We just do not like noisy weddings with stupid tamada jokes and a fight for dessert." This is a stupid tradition, and it needs to be changed!
Until the end of dinner, the atmosphere at the table remained tense. Mom and Dad made several timid attempts, to convince Oleg and Ira, but they stubbornly stood on their own. When they left, my parents threw out everything on me and my husband that they had accumulated over the evening.
"Where it is visible, that for the first time to marry and not celebrate the wedding, as it should," Mom was indignant.
"I'm also young reformers," Dad echoed. - All the traditions to break them! A break - do not build!

I decided to speak in defense of the brother and his bride. I reminded my parents of what happened in my traditional wedding: Aunt Mariana had a row with my newly-born mother-in-law, and my cousin Vitka and Oleg had a fight with a witness. In addition, we cheated at the restaurant for almost two thousand hryvnia, and paid for pork ribs in honey, among other things, and did not apply. And someone burned a veil to me ... Mom and Dad were very worried then: they even had to go to a sanatorium - to restore the shattered nerves.
"And so everything will pass quietly, peacefully, and no hassle," I finished my inspired monologue.
- In vain you, Anyuta, did not become a lawyer, - my father said ironically. "A good defender of yours would have turned out."
But my mother, it seems, I managed to convince:
"Okay, let them get married like that," she sighed. - And then, after all, they could easily, like the others, live for years in this incomprehensible civil marriage ...
I must admit that the wedding of Oleg and Irina turned out to be quite glorious: immediately after the painting went to a small but very cozy cafe, drank to the health and happiness of the young, chatted, laughed, even danced a bit ... And then we went home, and the newlyweds went in a honeymoon. True, my mother, when they found out where they were going, could not help but grumble: "We found where to honeymoon the month ... Normal newlyweds go to the hot countries, at least to the Crimea, and our thoughtful ones - to Karelia. It's not like people!
They say it's so beautiful in Karelia! - I dreamed dreamily. - It seems that the protection of the brother and sister-in-law became a good tradition ... After returning from the wedding trip, our young people began to repair the house left by Ira in the legacy of the grandmother. The house was sound, but quite dilapidated.

For about two months the newlyweds were painting there, laying the tiles, laying the floors, installing new windows and doors ... Then, at last, they finished putting their nest in order and invited us all to a housewarming party.
"A beautiful living room," Mother nodded approvingly, gazing intently at the largest room in the house.
"Something is missing in her," Papa said thoughtfully. After a moment beamed:
- Aha, I understand! There's no TV!
- Guys, probably decided to put it in the bedroom? - suggested my mother. Dad, without waiting for comments from Oleg and Ira, rushed to find the bedroom, but very quickly returned:
"There's no money there either ... Did not you have enough money?" "Mother," he turned to his mother, "but let's give them a TV set for a housewarming party!"
"Thank you, do not," Irina said.
- Are you afraid that we will buy that brand? - Guessed the father. - Then we will give money - choose what you like ...
And then my daughter-in-law even puzzled me.
"I do not like it!" She frowned. - TV dulls the brain. We decided to do without this box at all.
- But how, so ... - Mom's cry was more like a groan. "We live in the 21st century." Now only homeless TVs do not have TVs! Again, in the evening, embracing on the couch, to see some good film - this is such a good tradition! And brings the couple together ...
"On the contrary, it separates." And Oleg and I will break this tradition!
Mom obviously wanted to say something, and not too flattering, but my father diplomatically decided to change the subject of the conversation.
"Lidochka, do you want to see how Oleg and Irisha were equipped with a bedroom?" He said loudly and added in a whisper, so that only my mother and I could hear: "Such a strange room turned out ..."

Entering the bedroom of the young , my mother petrified. Then, at last, she found the gift of speech:
- Irochka, well, who paints the bedroom in a burgundy color ?! Gasped with horror. The daughter in the pocket for the answer did not get:
- I'm painting. More precisely, painted the walls of Oleg, but the idea belongs to me.
But why in dark red? Usually the bedrooms are painted in calmer colors, "his father vigorously supported his mother. - For example, in blue or beige ...
"Is it also a tradition?" The daughter-in-law snorted. - We will break. More precisely, have already broken. Oleg and I want a child, so our bedroom should be stimulated to action, rather than relaxing.
The argument had an effect on my mother: she already has two grandchildren - our children with Stas, but she would not have refused from the third either. The theme of the "wrong" bedroom was, thank God, closed ... The New Year was approaching. Ira offered to meet him with Oleg. But even my brother tried to argue: "We always celebrate this holiday with our parents!" He adored his mother's cooking and was already looking forward to a plentiful New Year's table in his parents' house.

But Ira accused her husband of selfishness: "Give your mother some time to rest from cooking!" At nine in the evening of December 31, we all family came to our young. "Mom, where's the Christmas tree?" My six-year-old Alenka held out disappointedly. Her brother, three-year-old Antoshka, burst into tears:
"And where will Santa give us gifts if there is no Christmas tree?" The baby sobbed until her husband found a way out - threw a glittering tinsel on a palm tree in a tub and said: "Here, under this tree, and put it ... Without gifts will remain. " Anton stopped crying, but it was evident that he was very upset by the lack of a decorated Christmas tree in the house of his uncle and aunt. I myself, I confess honestly, was disappointed, but did not show it to me. Ira invited everyone to the table to spend the old year. The menu was very refined: mussels in spicy sauce, shrimp in batter, salad from grapefruit and salmon. The highlight of the gastronomic program was a large tray of sushi and rolls. With this dish, the hostess offered to start.
Do not be offended, Irisha, but the rice is a little boiled, and the fish, on the contrary, are damp, - mother remarked delicately. Dad imperceptibly from the mistress grimaced: his Ukrainian stomach is not accustomed to Japanese delicacies.
"Where's Olivier?" Alenka growled.
"Will Napoleon be?" - Anton asked sweet.
Irina almost cried: she tried so hard, made a menu, she searched for the necessary products, cooked, and we did not appreciate her efforts. The situation was saved by the pope:
- Let's spend the old year in this hospitable house, and we'll meet the new one in another.

Mother prepared everything ... The Christmas tree was shining with garlands in the corner, the light of the New Year's candles was reflected in the balls and rain hanging from the chandelier. Guests with an appetite leaned on the salad "Olivier", my mother's famous cold and on a roast goose with apples. Gently rose herring "in a fur coat", the home-baked ham fillet with orange circles of carrots rejoiced. In the refrigerator waiting for his turn the traditional "Napoleon" ... Maybe not too sophisticated dishes, but favorite and familiar - purely New Year's, like the film "The Irony of Fate ..."
I glanced sideways at my daughter-in-law: it seems that she had completely ceased to worry and sincerely had fun together with everyone. And after New Year's toasts and congratulations sounded, she said quietly, but so that everyone would hear: "And you know, not all traditions need to be broken ..."