**The Brazen Aunt**
“Is it so hard to help family now? Kick them out, and you’ll have room!” insisted the woman determined to secure a free stay in the bustling city. “Little Joanna has been dreaming of visiting London! We’ve already bought tickets and are arriving tomorrow! Make sure the flat is ready, got it?”
“Yeah, sure.” smirked the student, eager to end the call. “Shall I roll out a red carpet as well? I’ve said my piece, you sort it out.”
It was a pleasant June day. Kevin was on his way back from university, relishing the thought of exams ending. Time for some relaxation. On his way, he stopped by a shop, picking out some junk food for a TV series marathon. Reaching the flat he shared with his classmates Alex and Jeremy, he planned to spend the rest of the day alone. Just then, his phone rang. His screen lit up with “Mum.”
“Hi Mum!” Kevin smiled. “How’s everything? Not missing me too much?”
On the other end, his mother’s soothing voice came through tired but gentle:
“Hello, dear,” replied Zoe Watson, relishing her son’s voice. “We’re doing alright, plenty to keep busy with.” She stifled a small laugh. “How’s college? How did your exams go?”
“I finished them, Mum,” Kevin said, crunching noisily on crisps. “Now looking for a summer job.”
“Thank goodness.” Zoe sighed with relief. “Kevin, I have a request for you…”
“What is it?” Kevin asked with curiosity.
“Do you remember Aunt Susan, my cousin?”
Kevin strained his memory, struggling to remember this Aunt Susan. Mentally sifting through numerous relatives from both sides, yet couldn’t recall.
“How could you forget?” Zoe sounded a bit surprised. “She visited ten years ago for your birthday. She has a daughter, Joanna.”
Oh right, Kevin remembered now. Aunt Susan did visit, but the memory wasn’t a fond one.
Kevin pieced together the birthday scene: his aunt gifting him a hideous sweater, scrutinizing his room while his parents prepared in the kitchen, and criticizing the mess.
“My Joanna has a spotless room,” Susan remarked, inspecting every shelf. “Not a speck of dust! And look at yours? Clearly, your parents haven’t raised you properly.”
As a child, Kevin didn’t entirely grasp the adult’s words. Was a few toys or dishes left out enough to deem someone a slob?
And Joanna – the girl two years younger than Kevin. She behaved atrociously in another’s home, seemingly unchecked by her mother’s discipline. When Kevin demanded she leave his room, Joanna merely giggled, stuck out her tongue, and rummaged through his drawers. Finding Kevin’s favorite coloring book, she gleefully tore it up, grinning maliciously at him. Kevin couldn’t take it and, snatching what was left of the book, pushed Joanna firmly out the door. He heard the child’s wails turn to a screech before the heavy steps of a large woman appeared at the doorframe.
“You little pest!” yelled his aunt, glaring at Kevin. “You’re hitting my daughter?”
“I didn’t hit her…” Kevin tried to explain, pointing at the scraps of paper, but Susan refused to listen. She gave him a loud slap and, lifting him by the shoulders, began to shake him. “I’ll show you for picking on my girl!”
Kevin could only stare at her fearfully. Dangling in mid-air, his legs flailing with the shaking, tears brimmed his eyes. Through his peripheral vision, he saw his shocked parents. It took his father a moment to intervene, finally getting the child free, and then forcibly escorting Susan and her crying daughter out. Kevin hadn’t seen them since.
Reminding his mother of the rather eventful “party,” Kevin then heard her sigh deeply:
“We must leave that in the past, dear. It’s been so long; no use holding a grudge. I’m sure Susan has changed over the years…”
“I don’t know about that,” Kevin doubted his aunt’s transformation. “So, why bring her up now?”
Zoe paused before responding.
“Susan, along with her daughter and father, is planning to visit London. They were hoping to stay with you for a week. It’d be great if you could show them around.”
“Oh, so that’s why she suddenly appeared,” Kevin realized. “Now it makes sense.”
“Sorry, Mum, but I can’t host them,” replied Kevin. “There’s just no space. Besides, Alex and Jeremy help with rent, they’re full tenants. If she’s that keen to visit, a hotel might be best.”
“You’ve got a point,” Zoe agreed. “I’ll let her know. Alright then, have a good rest, son.”
They exchanged goodbyes, and Kevin decided to tidy up a bit. Turning on the vacuum, he missed the persistent ringing of his phone. When he finally checked, he was shocked to find 20 missed calls from an unknown number. Kevin dialed back, almost immediately met by an irate woman.
“Kevin!” Aunt Susan exclaimed, skipping greetings. “Why are you refusing us a place? Don’t you realize hotels are very expensive?”
“I explained it to Mum,” that grating voice brought back unpleasant memories. “I live with two others here…”
“So it’s hard to help family now? Kick them out and make room!” she pressed on, unwilling to relinquish the thought of a free stay. “Joanna has dreamed of visiting London! We’re coming tomorrow, so your flat better be ready!”
“Yeah, right.” Kevin chuckled, eager to end it. “Want a red carpet too? I’m done talking; it’s up to you now.”
With peace of mind, Kevin resumed cleaning. When Alex and Jeremy came home, they laughed with him about the situation.
“Your aunt’s out of her mind, ignore it,” Jeremy quipped, twirling a finger near his temple. “I know loads like that. You get used to it.”
Spending time with his mates, Kevin did manage to forget about it. Waking up the next day in a great mood, he chose to stay in, gaming on his computer. That’s when his phone rang with yet another call from Aunt Susan.
Perplexed by what she wanted now, Kevin answered:
“Hello.”
“Where are you?” Susan blurted at her nephew. “We’re waiting at the train station for you to pick us up!”
“Pick you up?” Kevin repeated, confused, pulling away from his screen.
“To your flat, of course!” the woman bellowed down the line. “Have you lost your mind? Forgotten yesterday’s chat?”
Kevin was astounded by this audacity and retorted, raising his voice to match:
“Maybe it’s you who’s lacking sense! Didn’t get it first time that there’s no free accommodation here? You wanted London, enjoy it; breathe in the fresh air!”
Kevin abruptly hung up, blocking Aunt Susan’s number. This trivial affair had dampened his spirits for the day. He wandered his flat, ignoring his roommates, musing:
“Hmm, wouldn’t wish that family on anyone… Thank goodness they don’t know the address…”
Meanwhile, far away, Susan lamented to Zoe, complaining about her dire circumstances:
“Your Kevin has been ruined by the big city! Family in need and he… Well, tell that brat he won’t see us offering help anytime soon! Not ever!”
Zoe Watson could only shrug to herself, listening to her cousin’s tirade.
The End.
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