“When you withdraw your alimony application, I’ll return her,” the ex-husband stated coldly as Clara called him, demanding the return of her daughter.

“How could you give him Dasha? I’m her mother!” Clara exclaimed, directing her frustration at the teacher. “He claimed to be Dasha’s father. It’s not our place to intervene in your family matters,” the teacher replied calmly.

Upset and determined, Clara called her ex-husband, Vasyl. He answered promptly, his voice calm as he reminded her of their prior discussions about alimony. “Return Dasha!” Clara demanded firmly. Vasyl responded with a condition: “Withdraw the alimony claim, and I’ll bring her back. Otherwise, I’ll take this matter to court.”

Reluctantly, Clara agreed, trusting that Vasyl wouldn’t jeopardize their daughter’s well-being. However, Vasyl’s girlfriend, Natasha, was unaware of Dasha’s planned stay with them. As the weekend unfolded, Dasha’s challenging behavior became evident in the tense atmosphere. Frustrations peaked when Dasha had a tantrum over a spilled bowl of buckwheat while attempting to make pancakes. Despite Natasha’s efforts to pacify her, she ended up making the pancakes herself.

The weekend continued to be tumultuous, with Dasha’s tantrums testing Vasyl’s patience. When Vasyl lost his temper, Dasha made a threat: “I’ll tell my mom you hit me! Then we’ll see who’s who!” Witnessing the struggle, Natasha urged Vasyl to take Dasha back, admitting she couldn’t handle her behavior.

Desperate, Vasyl reached out to Clara the following day, informing her that Dasha was at kindergarten. He offered to provide any child support she requested, albeit not through legal means. Clara smiled, knowing Vasyl’s struggle with the fiery Dasha. She couldn’t help but muse about the kind of father he would make—a mere dream.