#matildaarcher

[bakersimmer]

Speak Your Language Day edition ⬇ Head lugemist! 😄

Martin: (vihaselt) Kass! Sa lähed õue! Matilda: Tal on nimi ka... Martin: Mind ei huvita, mis selle põrgulise nimi on. Matilda: Aga võib-olla kuulaks ta sind paremini, kui sa seda kasutad? Martin: Ta on kass, ta ei kuula kedagi!

Martin: (angrily) Cat! You're going outside! Matilda: She has a name too… Martin: I don't care what this hellspawn's name is. Matilda: But maybe she would listen to you better if you used it? Martin: She's a cat; she doesn't listen to anyone!

Martin: No muidugi, nüüd sa siis nurrud. Aga ma näen sind läbi! Sa oled terrorist.

Martin: Well, of course, now you're purring. But I can see through you! You're a terrorist.

Matilda: (vuristades) Tead, kassid valivad endale omaniku. Ja ma arvan, et talle meeldib siin palju rohkem kui su sõbranna juures. Ja kassid on stressi suhtes väga tundlikud. Aa, ja siis seda ka, et kassid aitavad inimestel stressi vähendada. Ja! Kassid õpetavad lastele vastutustunnet. Ja enne ei võinud meil olla kiisusid, kutsikaid ega beebisid, sest Lailale nad ei meeldinud, aga nüüd oleme ju ainult mina ja sina!

Matilda: (prattlingly) You know, cats choose their owners. And I think she likes it here a lot more than at your friend's place. And cats are very sensitive to stress. Oh, and also cats help people reduce stress. And! Cats teach children a sense of responsibility. And before, we couldn't have kitties, puppies, or babies because Laila didn't like them. But now it's just me and you!

Martin: Mmmhm... Ja kes nende kõigi eest hoolitsema hakkab? Matilda: Kasside ja koerte eest võin mina hoolitseda. (kõhklevalt) Oma beebi eest peaksid sa vist ikkagi ise hoolt kandma. Martin: (hakkab naerma) Ah-aa, hea teada! Aga õnneks ei ole ühtegi neist siia majja tulemas, seega meile mõlemale jääb vaba aeg alles.

Martin: Mmmhm… And who will take care of them all? Matilda: I can take care of cats and dogs. (hesitantly) Well, you should probably take care of your baby yourself. Martin: (starts laughing) Ah-ah, good to know! But luckily, none of them are moving into this house, so we can both keep our free time.

Matilda: (kiljatab) Ma tean kuidas seda olukorda lahendada! Martin: (iseendale) Palun, ei... Matilda: Sa pead leidma omale pruudi, kellel on kass. Näiteks selle kassi... (Martin segab vahele) Martin: Ei-ei-ei! Lõpeta.

Matilda: (squeals) I know how to fix this situation! Martin: (to himself) Please, no… Matilda: You need to find yourself a girlfriend who has a cat. For example, this cat's… (Martin interrupts) Martin: No-no-no! Stop.

Matilda: (sosistab kassile) Täiskasvanud vajavad vahel abi ilmselgete asjade nägemiseks. Aga küll ma kõik korda ajan ja siis sa saad igaveseks siia jääda.

Matilda: (whispers to the cat) Sometimes, adults need help seeing the obvious. But I'll take care of everything, and then you can stay here forever.

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I tried to make as literal translation as I could 😅

[bakersimmer]

Instead of the familiar sound of the alarm, Martin was abruptly pulled from his dream by a firm nudge to his arm. As he opened his eyes, Matilda stood over him, already prepped for school.

Matilda: I'm going to school. Martin: (still groggy) Okay, have a good day. Martin: No… wait! Um… Do you have everything? Do you need anything? Did you eat breakfast? Did you eat last night?

Matilda: Yes… you can do the dishes. (walks away) Martin: (unsure) Did I say have a good day? Matilda: Maybe. (front door closes)

The silence settled in the room. Martin lingered on the sofa, slowly shaking off the remnants of sleep. After a while, he reluctantly dragged himself to the bathroom. He had once read somewhere that the first sign of depression was a decline in personal hygiene, and Martin was determined to prove to himself that he was not depressed.

Returning to the living room, he sank back onto the sofa, idly fiddling with his phone. He repeatedly locked and unlocked the screen as if this action somehow could help him make up his mind.

Finally, the open screen won, and Martin dialed a familiar number, fully expecting it to go unanswered. To his surprise, after a moment, a familiar voice answered on the other end.

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[bakersimmer]

In the past years, Martin's role in Matilda's life had transformed from the cool cousin into the daily presence of authority. The dynamics had shifted, and the carefree buddy-style relationship was replaced by a more complex, challenging one.

Neither of them had yet fully adapted to the new situation. There were days when Martin struggled with the responsibility of being a consistent presence in Matilda's life, and Matilda, in turn, grappled with the boundaries and decisions imposed by Martin. The transition had been gradual, but now and then, some moments highlighted the struggles in their changing relationship.

Martin: (knocking gently on Matilda's door) Matilda: (through the closed door) I don't want to talk to you! Martin: You don't have to. Just… listen.

Martin: This situation is not easy for either of us, and I'm trying my best to make everything feel as normal as possible. What you said offended and hurt me. As a result, I said things that I didn't really mean. I guess... I wanted to make you feel as hurt as I was feeling. I'm sorry. I'll do my very best to be a better person in the future.

Matilda remains silent, and Martin senses her withdrawal.

Martin: I understand you need some time alone right now. But I want you to know I'm always here for you; nothing will change that.

Martin heads back downstairs. He paces around the living room, restless, trying to figure out how to control the damage already done and avoid causing any further. But instead of coming up with solutions, his mind keeps circling around the question — how did everything go so wrong?

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[bakersimmer]

As Hanna had said, changes won't occur overnight. Yet, one noticeable change unfolded almost immediately as Matilda walked into the room, her backpack slung over one shoulder.

Matilda: Hey. Martin: Hey!

Martin: How was school? Matilda: OK. It was like school... Martin: Cool... Martin: What do you want for dinner? Matilda: (unsure) Pasta?

Martin: (turning his attention back to the screen) I'll see what I can do. Matilda: (nods) Matilda: (hesitant) Can I go to my room now?

Martin: Yeah... You don't need permission to do that. Matilda: (runs up the stairs)

Despite Martin's deep regret for allowing his frustrations to overflow onto Matilda, he couldn't shake the feeling that his actions the day before, though harsh, had been necessary. At some point, Martin had unwittingly become an enabler, inadvertently teaching Matilda that boundaries could be ignored and that his "no" didn't hold any weight. Reflecting on when this shift began, he always traced it back to Laila. Laila had repeatedly stated that she didn't want to come between Martin and Matilda, yet her actions told a different story.

Matilda: (40 minutes later, from upstairs) When will the dinner be ready? Martin: (checks his watch) In about forty minutes? Matilda: (bummed out) So long! But I'm so very hungry. Martin: Okay… Are instant noodles pasta? Matilda: Who cares, it's food! (runs down the stairs)

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[bakersimmer]

By the time Matilda returned from school, Martin had completed unpacking the kitchen and was already making headway in organizing the living room.

Martin: (tries to sound lively) Hey! Looks more like home, right? Matilda: (doesn't answer) Martin: (turning around) Ever heard about "hello" and how it's used? Matilda: No. Martin: (raising an eyebrow) Rough day at school? Matilda: (shrugs) Martin: (trying to engage) Did anything interesting happen?

Matilda: (replies like Martin would) Define interesting. Martin: (noticing the resistance) Hmm. Good point. Alright, let's try this — anything bothering you? Matilda: (impatiently, raising her voice) Stop playing my dad. Just leave me alone.

Martin: Something's wrong, so I can't leave you alone. Also, I hate it when you raise your voice. Matilda: (defiantly, raising her voice even more) And I hate this house, and you, and your grown-up problems! Martin: (trying to stay calm) I don't believe you. And you don't need to raise your voice or get angry. Just tell me what ruined your mood. I know you can do that. Matilda: No! You can't tell me what to do! Martin: (starting to lose his patience) You really want to test this theory?

Matilda: (glares at Martin) Martin: (commanding) Go to your room, unpack your things, and when you've calmed down, we'll talk about what made you act this way. Matilda: (provocative) Not going to. Martin: In that case, I'll put your things in the car and take them to your mom's. You'll be going there too. Sounds like a better plan? Matilda: (eyes widening with fear) No... Martin: No? But maybe you would hate her less? And maybe her home is a palace compared to mine. Matilda: (starts crying) No, I won't go there. You promised I'd never have to go back to her! I don't want to go!

Martin: Then why are you still standing here? Do as I told you, and you don't have to go anywhere. Matilda: (runs to her room)

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[bakersimmer]

Sunday

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[bakersimmer]

11 days later…

Matilda: (grumpily) How much longer? Martin: Just a few more minutes. Matilda: (rolls her eyes and crosses her arms) I want to go home… Martin: I get it, but I need to finish this report—five more minutes tops. Matilda: (clarifies) I didn't mean the new home.

Martin: (sighs) We've talked about this… (imitating Matilda's tone) the new home is our home… for now. Matilda: (angrily) Why?! Martin: Look, sometimes, people need to be apart to understand things better. We currently have no choice but to live elsewhere... Matilda: (defiantly) I want to go home! Ask her to live somewhere else. Martin: I can't do that. Matilda: (crossing her arms) Why not? It's your house.

Martin: (pauses, searching for words) It's... It's complicated. Matilda: (rolls her eyes) I'm not a little kid... I understand things. Martin: (smiles) You're right. Martin takes a deep breath, struggling to find a simple explanation. Martin: Do you know what a prenup is? Matilda: (shakes her head) Martin: Well, let's call it an agreement... Before getting married, Laila and I agreed that the house we lived in belongs to her, no matter what happens. Matilda: (pouting, trying to make sense of the situation) So? Can't you say you changed your mind? Martin: It doesn't work like that. Matilda: Why not? Martin: You've seen lawyers; they're… umm… if it's written on the paper, that's how it will be.

Matilda: (starts to say something but stops)… So we will never go back? Martin: (softly) It's one of the possibilities. I'm sorry. Matilda: (sighs sadly) Martin: (comfortingly) Hey, home is not a place; home is a feeling, and we can create this feeling anywhere we want to.

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[bakersimmer]

Upon entering, Matilda swiftly dodges past Martin and sprints up the stairs. Martin attempts to remind her about the unpacked boxes that still await them, but she vanishes before he can even complete his sentence. The only audible response Martin catches is an unintelligible mumble, from which he infers a subtle tone suggesting that if he wants things unpacked, he has to do it himself.

Examining the room, Martin takes in the emptiness that surrounds him. If home is indeed a feeling, then this space only provokes an urge to give up. He yields to that inclination with a heavy sigh, marching up the stairs and heading to his bedroom, where more unpacked boxes await.

Faced with the decision between unpacking or reaching for his phone, Martin opts for the latter. The glow of the screen reveals Hanna's message…

"Hey! Not sure why, but it seems like talking isn't on the agenda anymore. Just wanted to say that I'm grateful for the times you lent me an ear. Also, I'm a little pissed off that you are ending things like this. Take care, buddy!”

The house feels even emptier now... Martin taps out a response, "Take care too." With the exuberance of a sports commentator, he declares, "Another victory for Archer! What a fantastic season!" as he hurls the phone onto the bed.

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