“You live well, so you should help your family!”
“Emily, are you home?”
“No, I’m on my way. Why?”
“We need to talk. How soon will you be here?”
“In about half an hour. What happened, Mum?”
“You’ll find out later.”
This conversation took place between Emily and her mother, Helen.
Barely had Emily changed her clothes and started unpacking groceries when the doorbell rang.
“Mum, what’s going on?”
Helen looked around the apartment suspiciously then entered.
“I see you’ve got a new TV.”
“Yes, we have.”
“You’re living well, I see,” Helen remarked as she moved to the kitchen.
“Tea, coffee?”
“No, I’m here for a reason.”
Just then, Helen noticed the expensive salami and a heap of fruits.
“I’m telling you, you’re living lavishly. Look at all that you’ve bought.”
“Yes, Mum. We can afford it.”
“Indeed, your father and I worked in the factory all our lives, and you, well, you’ve got a business. You got lucky!”
Yes, Emily and her husband John had their own business, which they built from scratch. No one helped them or gave them capital for the initial expenses. They achieved everything through their hard work. They took a risk and got a loan, though there was a chance of failing and being left in debt. At that time, no one supported the young family. Then people started begrudging them for living better than the rest of the family.
From her mother’s mood, Emily knew not to expect anything good. Either it was another request or a complaint.
“I wanted to talk about your sister Sarah working for peanuts for months now. You know she got a job as a sales assistant.”
“Yes, I know,” Emily nodded.
“Well, I thought it would be nice if you could get her into your company.”
“In what way?” Emily was surprised.
“Literally. You need employees, don’t you?”
“No, we’re fully staffed.”
Helen looked at her daughter reproachfully.
“So, there aren’t any positions?”
“I told you, we have no openings.”
However, this argument didn’t deter Helen, who persisted.
“You know, I get the impression that you just don’t want to help your sister. So, you look for excuses.”
Emily understood why her mother started this conversation. It wasn’t surprising, nor was it the first time.
Since childhood, it was clear that Helen loved Sarah, her younger daughter, more. She always tried to give her the best.
Thus, Sarah got used to having everything handed to her, unlike Emily, who worked hard for everything and aspired for a better life.
While her parents worked, you couldn’t drag Sarah to work even with a stick. Later, she had to, as one couldn’t live on a pension alone.
Without education and work experience, not many places were welcoming to her, unlike Emily, who worked since she was 18 while getting a higher education.
Gradually, Emily and John moved towards opening their own business to live as they pleased. But Sarah wasn’t content with life. Yet, she didn’t want to change anything either.
It was better if someone else did it for her, like her mother or sister. Helen didn’t stray far from this mindset, thinking Emily was obligated to help her younger sister.
“Mum, I’ve already explained everything.”
“It’s easier for you to hire strangers than help your own.”
Indeed, Emily and John had one rule they followed: not hiring relatives or acquaintances. Why? Because they start slacking and getting presumptuous.
They made that mistake once and vowed not to repeat it. In the end, you can’t mix business and personal relationships, especially with relatives.
But it wasn’t the only reason Emily didn’t want to help her sister. Initially, they didn’t have a good relationship.
You could say from childhood, they couldn’t stand each other. The roots were laid when their mother started to differentiate between them and constantly favored Sarah.
Well, what could she expect with such a stance toward her elder daughter?
“Mum, I said I can’t help. I’m not firing anyone nor hiring Sarah.”
“You’re a selfish person, I have to say! Well, we’re just simple folks you wouldn’t understand.”
Helen turned and walked toward the exit. Despite her airs and blows, she took the bag of groceries.
Emily didn’t stop her, knowing it was pointless. Moreover, her mother would see it as a sign of weakness.
Later that evening, John came home and noticed Emily had been crying.
“Emily, what’s the matter?”
“Mum came over.”
“Let me guess, another request about your sister?”
“Yes.”
John gave Emily a tight hug, showing his support.
“I hope you didn’t take her words to heart?”
“No, I’ve gotten used to her antics a long time ago,” Emily shook her head.
“That’s right. You know well, making an exception once, and they’ll walk all over you.”
“Yes, I know, but it’s still upsetting.”
Then the phone rang, and Sarah’s number appeared on the screen.
“Yes?” she answered in an indifferent tone.
“I don’t understand why you’re being so stingy.”
“In what way? Sarah, what are you on about?”
Initially, Emily thought it was about the job, but it turned out otherwise.
“I saw Mum brought home salami and fruit. Why did you give so little? You could have given more. After all, you earn well.”
Emily sighed deeply and replied:
“And why do you think I owe you anything at all?”
“Because I’m your sister, and you should help me.”
“No, my dear. I don’t owe you anything. Just as you don’t owe me. Each of us lives our life within our means. Want a better life – go and seek opportunities. Don’t wait for handouts.”
Emily thought Sarah would get angry and hang up after that, but she found a retort.
“It’s easy for you to talk when you have a business and a golden spoon in your mouth. How about me?”
“Well then, go and build your own business, what’s stopping you? Go ahead, be bold!”
Emily didn’t want to hear any more accusations. She understood her sister and mother were irreparable. Proving her point to them was a waste.
Indeed, you should value those who value you and not try to please someone just because they’re your relative.
