Sit down! Were not home! Peter said calmly.
People are ringing, you know, Emily froze, hopping off the sofa.
Let them, Peter replied.
What if its someone important? Or a business? Emily asked.
Its Saturday, the twelfth, Peter said. You didnt invite anyone, Im not waiting for anyone. Got it?
Ill just peek through the window, Emily whispered.
Sit! his tone turned steel. Were not home! Whoevers there, let them turn around!
You actually know who it is? Emily asked.
Im guessing, so Im telling you to sit and not stare out the windows!
If its what I think, they wont just walk away, Emily shrugged.
That depends on how many times we refuse to open the door for them, Peter said evenly. Sooner or later theyll leave.
They wont end up sleeping in the hallway, and we dont need to go anywhere. So sit, grab the headphones, your phone, and watch a film.
Peter, my mums calling, Emily said, holding up her phone.
So the lady at the door is your aunt with her odd little son, Peter summed up.
How do you know that? Emily was surprised.
If my cousin were standing there Peter let the c in cousin slip out, making it sound a bit nastymy mum would have called.
Youre not considering any other possibilities? Emily asked.
If its the neighbours, I dont want to talk to them. If its our friends, theyd have left after a few knocks. Most decent people would ring first and ask if we can take them in, not bang on the door for half an hour. Only our meddlesome relatives would be that bold and clueless.
Peter, its my aunt, Emily said plaintively. Mum texted. She asks where we are. Aunt Natalie will stay with us for a few days; shes got business in town.
Tell her the city is full of hotels, Peter smirked.
Peter! Emily snapped. I cant write that!
I know, Peter thought. Write that were not home, were staying in a hotel because the flats infested with cockroaches!
Exactly! Emily typed the message and hit send.
Peter, she wants us to book two rooms for her and Kevin, Emily said, alarmed.
Tell her were broke. And say we booked two beds in a hostel, with fifteen foreigners in the room, Peter grinned at his own ingenuity.
Mum wants to know when well be back, Emily looked at him.
Tell her in a week, Peter waved it off.
The knocking stopped. The couple let out a sigh of relief.
Peter, mum just texted that Aunt Natalies arriving in a week, Emily said, exhausted.
So we wont be home again, Peter replied.
Peter, you know thats not solving anything. We cant keep running away from them forever. What if they show up on a weekday? What if they wait at the door after work? My aunt, your secondcousinnone of them are that ruthless!
Yeah, right, Peter sighed. And the devil convinced us to buy a threebed flat?
Peter, we were buying it for our future big family, Emily reminded him.
A child, please! Actually, two would be better! Peter said seriously.
Am I being unreasonable? Emily shot back, irritated. You know I need a checkup! Its not happening otherwise!
Just calm down and everything will sort itself, Peter said seriously. Our nerves are taking turnsyours, then mine! Lets evict them all from wherever theyre sneaking in, because nothing works while theyre here!
Emily didnt argue. She knew Peter was right.
When they were about to get married, theyd done a full compatibility and genetic screening, even checked fertility.
Everything was wonderful after the wedding, until they had to put the baby plans on hold to save for a flat.
They couldnt rely on any inheritance. Before the wedding, both Peter and Emily lived with their mums in onebed flats. They could only count on themselves.
Five years of hard work and tight budgeting finally let them buy a spacious flat. It was a secondhand house, not brand new, theyd poured money into renovations, furniture was almost all new. But the happiness was priceless!
They hadnt even celebrated moving in when Aunt Natalie turned up with her son. And to make sure the young couple didnt freak out, Aunt Natalie was accompanied by her motherinlaw.
Dont worry, theres plenty of space! Not like us cramped in one room! Aunt Natalie said, smiling.
Yes, that works, she added. Well put Kevin in his own room.
We dont sleep in the lounge, Peter said. Thats a chillout room.
Im not here to work, Im just staying, Aunt Natalie laughed. Emily, tell your husband itll be noisy with my sonhe snores! And look, were guests and you havent even set the table yet!
We didnt expect you, Emily stammered.
The fridge is empty too, Peter added.
Exactly, Aunt Natalie concurred. Peter, run to the shop, and Emilydash to the kitchen!
Whats the holdup? the motherinlaw shouted. Youre actually hosting guests!
You didnt even ask Peter blurted, but Emily pulled him into another room.
When Peter finally got Emilys mouth off, he asked, Emily, has anyone mixed anything up? Im about to throw them out, even your mums gonna hear about it! If guests show up, behave like guests! Whats this?
Peter, shes just a simple country girl thats how they are, Emily said.
I know country folk, but rudeness isnt accepted anywhere! Peter snapped.
Love, lets not fight with mum and aunt, Emily pleaded. Theyll wear us out! Youd become their enemydo you really want that?
I dont care what I become to them. If they treat me like this, Ill just ignore them completely. Let them disappear; I wont mourn them.
Peter, dear! Have a heart! If we kick Aunt Natalie out now, my mum will curse me, and I have no one else but her!
That finally broke Peter. He clenched his teeth and went to the shop.
Aunt Natalie stayed for three days, then stretched it to two weeks. Peter ended up on valerian tea until the evening of the second day.
When Aunt Natalie and her son finally left, the young couple celebrated with a broom, a mop, and three days of scrubbing the flat.
Then the same scenario flipped.
Bro, Im only here for a short while, Dave, Peters brother, said, hugging him hard enough to hear the bones creak. Well sort the business, then head back.
You cant handle it alone? Peter asked.
What? Ive got a family! How am I supposed to leave them in the village while Im in the city? Think, mate! Dave laughed. If I find an adventure, will my wife even let me?
So you dragged the kids in? Peter asked.
How else do I leave them? They can have fun! Lets do it like the good old days and explore the town!
Dave! Svetlana shrieked. Ill teach you a lesson youll never forget!
An hour and a half after Daves family arrived, Emily was clutching her head with a massive migraine.
The kids ran around the flat, shrieking. Svetlana could only scream; she didnt know how to talk otherwise.
Dave kept trying to go somewhere to light a fire, which only made Svetlana scream louder.
Peter, youre basically an only son to mum, Emily whispered into the pillow.
Its a secondcousin on my mums side, Peter muttered. I call him my cousin.
Call him whatever you want, but can we get him out of here?
You know, Id love to, but the situation is the same as with your aunt. My mumll yank my brain out with a teaspoon and make me eat it!
Before they could finish, more guests appeared at the door. Aunt Natalie and her son kept popping up with new city business.
Cousin Daves family kept dropping by to sort their affairs. The mums never forgot the kids. Motherinlaw would chew the soninlaws brain, the motherinlaw would try to eat the daughterinlaw.
Constant agitation was wrecking the young couples mental health. Of course, there was no talk of kids on this endless guest carousel. Their health was already shaky, and the everyday question was: how?
Should we swap flats? Emily suggested.
For softer rooms? Peter smiled. Theyll be handed to us soon enough!
No, Emily giggled a little. Lets swap our flat for an identical one! There are people who want to live in a different neighbourhood. We move, and nobody knows where we went!
Thats just procrastination, Peter grunted. Both my cousin and your aunt will find new tenants wholl spill where we lived. Theyll track us down and hang us for these tricks!
Maybe well have time to have a baby? Emily asked hopeful.
We need to not just make a baby, but bring a child into the world. Thatll be some excuse at least, Peter shook his head.
Even if we move out of the flat, we could ask friends for a place. Hide somewhere!
You mean Val and Katie? Peter asked.
Exactly, Emily nodded. Theyve got a spare room!
Terra lives there, right? Forgot?
Id rather live with a German Shepherd than with our relatives! Emily sighed, dropping her head.
Hold on! Peter shouted, snatching his phone. Val, can you borrow a dog?
Mate! I owe you forever! Kat and I want a holiday, but weve got a little girl who hates strangers but knows and respects you! Ill bring food, a bed, toys, bowlsI’ll even pay! Val shouted into the handset. Well bring supplies!
Supplies! Peter replied, thrilled.
He went back to Emily, bright as the morning sun.
Call mum and say Aunt Natalies arriving tomorrow. Ill ring my brother and ask him to come over next week!
Are you sure? Emily asked.
Well welcome them with open arms! Whos to blame if they dont like our place?
Cousin Daves family only needed a single yes to book a comfy hotel.
Aunt Natalie, however, fought for her right to stay as a guest.
Lock that beast somewhere! she warned, shielding her little son.
Come on, Aunt Natalie, are you joking? Fortyfive kilos of pure muscle! Thats not a pug, thats a German Shepherd! It could move any door!
Why is it snarling at me? Aunt Natalies voice trembled.
She doesnt like strangers, Emily shrugged.
Get rid of it! I cant live in the same flat with that animal!
Get rid of it?! Peter exhaled. That sweet pup is ours now! We have no kids yet, but we deserve love, and we love her!
Were not throwing her out! Emily added.
Both mums later called, asking why theyd turned away family.
Nobody kicked them out, both replied. They just didnt want to stay. Come over anytime; well be happy!
The dog?
No, Mum, were not refusing anyone!
After a month, Terra went back to her owners, but was ready to return at the first call.
No needEmily was waiting for a showdown.
Friends, if you want more of our stories, drop a comment, smash the like buttonkeeps us writing!The next morning the dog, a hulking goldencapped shepherd named Brindle, padded into the kitchen and nudged the unopened envelope on the table with his nose. Emily lifted the flap, halfexpecting another demand from Aunt Natalie, but inside lay a single sheet of paper with a handwritten address and a note in neat ink: Weve found a place for us, Peter. Thank you for the roof and the love. Well be at 12Maple Street. Natalie.
Peter stared at the address, then at Brindles calm eyes, and felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He turned to Emily, who was already smiling despite the lingering headache, and said, We finally have a chance to write our own story, without anyone knocking on the door every hour.
They packed a few boxes, put the keys to the old flat on the kitchen counter, and walked out together, Brindle trotting ahead as if he knew the path. When they reached the bus stop, a gentle rain began to fall, and the city lights reflected off the wet pavement like promise. As the bus doors closed behind them, Emily rested her head on Peters shoulder, and he whispered, Well build a home where the only knocks are the ones we choose.
The flat on Maple Street turned out to be a modest twobedroom house with a tiny garden that Brindle claimed as his kingdom. Weeks later, when the neighbors child knocked on their door to ask for a borrowed pencil, Peter opened it with a grin, and Emily welcomed the visitor with a cup of tea. The house filled with laughter, the occasional bark, and the quiet certainty that they had finally learned to protect the space where their futurechildren, dreams, and allcould grow without being trampled by endless obligations.
In the evenings, after the lights dimmed and the citys hum softened, they would sit on the porch, watch the rain linger on the leaves, and thank the universe for the lesson that sometimes the most loving act is simply saying no and walking away together, hand in hand, toward the life they had always imagined.