He’s going to ruin your whole life, the relatives warn Natalie as they try to dissuade her from taking her brother into her care.
Alice, dont rush. Think it over again, Aunt Lisa says to her niece. What if you cant manage? Look at the kids now. Youre only nineteen yourself, and Kirill is thirteen. Thats a tricky age for boys. If he starts acting up, what will you do?
Nurse, I cant stand the idea of my own brother ending up in a children’s home. I know it wont be easy, but I wont be able to sleep if Im not sure hes safe, fed and not being mistreated, Natalie replies.
Their mother has just died. A small gathering of relatives arrives at the family house in Leeds: two of their mothers sistersElizabeth and Irene, a cousin with his wife, and Irenes sixteenyearold daughter, Hannah. Two of their mothers former colleagues and their friend Aunt Jane also turn up.
After the funeral, only the relatives remain to decide how the children will go on living. Natalies situation is straightforward. At nineteen she has just finished her second year at university, receives a scholarship, and will have to take a parttime jobhard, but she can manage.
Kirill, however, is thirteen, and no one in the family can take him in.
Were already cramped, Aunt Lisa explains. My husband, our two boys and my motherinlaw live in a twobedroom council flat. Where would there be room for another?
We moved out, but Borislav fell back into a drinking binge after being dismissed from work last week. Hes out for at least a month. My daughter and I lock ourselves in the bedroom at night. How can we have a child in that environment? Irene complains.
Their cousin shrugs. Our own three, he says.
So if the older sister cant arrange guardianship, Kirill will end up straight in a childrens home.
Kirill himself is not at the family meeting. He sits on a bench in the yards playground, his friend Max perched beside him. The boys are silent.
Been talking about this long? Max asks.
Two hours now. Natalie wants to become my guardian, but her aunts keep trying to stop her. They say Im a troublemaker and she cant handle me, Kirill answers.
What do you think? Max presses.
I dont know. I just dont want a childrens home. I want to stay at home, go to my school and play football.
The aunts, trying to dissuade Natalie from what they see as a foolish plan, launch their final arguments.
Natalie, youre still young. You need to think about your futurestarting a family, having children. Kirill will be a weight around your neck. What man will be attracted to a girl with that burden? Dont be naive; put him in a home. You can visit, maybe take him back for holidays. Were looking out for you. Hell ruin your life anyway.
Seeing Natalies resolve, Aunt Lisa adds, Sell that old car, buy something modest for you and Kirill, and live off the difference while you finish your studies.
By evening everyone departs. Natalie calls her brother to come home.
Come on, at least have a proper meal. Youve been snacking all day.
Kirill eats, and Natalie sits opposite him just as their mother used to.
So, Kirill, well manage? she asks.
He nods silently, eyes never leaving his plate.
The next day Natalie starts looking for work. With only two years of a economics degree, her options are limited. She sends CVs for manager and accounting assistant roles but gets no replies. She lowers her expectations and applies for sales assistant positions. After two interviews, one employer seems interested, but when they learn she plans to continue her studies parttime, they pull back:
Youll need to take time off for exams twice a year. Who will work then?
Disappointed, Natalies only remaining option is the checkout at the supermarket down the road. Their neighbour works there and assures her theyll take hertheres a shortage of staff.
On her way home she bumps into her former maths teacher, Mrs Olga Sergeev, now the head of year for Kirills school.
Mrs Sergeev knows the familys predicament and offers to help with the guardianship paperwork, providing the necessary references. She also suggests:
Our secretary is going on maternity leave. The position is temporary, but while shes away for three years you could finish your studies. The pay isnt great, but its close to home and youll always have Kirill around.
Natalie gets the job and switches to parttime study. The salary is modest, but Kirills child benefit and the guardianship allowance let them live modestly without falling into poverty.
Kirill is a typical teenager, so arguments and misunderstandings happen. He sometimes resents Natalies strictness, and she fears she cant keep him out of a bad crowd. Still, they manage. Natalie cooks and does the laundry; Kirill cleans the flat, takes out the rubbish, washes the dishes, and can pop to the shop without issue.
One of Natalies aunts is right, though: Vadim, Natalies boyfriend of almost a year, is not thrilled by her new responsibilities.
I dont get why youve taken this burden on yourself. Id rather just study and live peacefully. Remember last weekend we planned a getaway? You dropped out because of Kirill. I went alone. Then Less birthday at the cottageyou refused again. I cant stand that.
Natalie ends the relationship. At first shes upset, but soon she tells herself, Why should I stay with someone so selfish?
She doesnt stay alone for long. Kirill helps her find her own happiness.
Kirill continues football at the sports academy. At fourteen his coach promotes him to the first team, and he starts playing in official matches as well as friendlies.
One Saturday they face a team from a neighbouring town. Natalie goes to the stands to cheer for her brother. He scores one of three winning goals, but near the end he twists his ankle badly.
He gets first aid at the stadiums medical room, and the assistant coach offers to drive both of them home.
I didnt know Kirill had such a young mum, the coach says.
Its not a mum, its a sister, Kirill corrects him.
The next day Igor, the assistant coach, calls Natalie to ask how Kirill is doing. He calls again, then again, inviting her for coffee and later a date. Within a year they celebrate two milestones: Natalies wedding to Igor and Kirills admission to an elite sports college for Olympic hopefuls.
Thats the ordinary life they leadfull of setbacks and joys, but moving forward together.