An Unwanted Daughter
“I never asked you to bring him into this world,” fumed Emily. “Why should I put up with all these inconveniences because of your child?”
“First, you took my room, then turned me into a free babysitter, and now you expect me to give away my only friend? The one who’s been with me for nine years already?”
“No way! I’m moving to Grandma’s with Max! You can raise your precious Gary without me!”
Sixteen-year-old Emily had been constantly arguing with her parents over the past year.
She had her reasons—after the birth of their son, her mum and dad seemed to forget that they had an older daughter.
From the age of nine, Emily was left to her own devices. When she was younger, she couldn’t grasp why she was being treated this way, and her parents’ indifference left her heartbroken.
Emily would secretly cry and confide in her grandma:
“They’re always with Gary! When I ask them to play, Mum says she’s busy, and Dad just turns away! Gran, don’t they love me?”
“Oh, sweetheart,” consoled Margaret with a sigh, “of course, they love you! They’re just overwhelmed right now.”
“Gary is so little; he needs constant care and attention. He can’t even hold his head up or walk yet.”
“When he grows a bit, things will get easier. Why don’t you help out more? Take him for walks or play with him. Maybe then your parents will have more time.”
Margaret, while advising her granddaughter, knew that no matter how involved Emily got with her younger brother, it wouldn’t change much.
Emily had always been the unwanted child for Susan and James. They got married because of Emily, not out of love—James had only known Susan a few months.
He hadn’t realized she was lying about her age; Susan had added two years to seem older. The pregnancy of a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl was a looming disaster for James, leaving him no choice but to propose.
Emily wasn’t planned; her parents were hardly prepared for her arrival. Susan wanted to live life freely, and she resented the child for tying her down.
James wasn’t very fond of his daughter either, dreaming instead of having a son.
Gary became the apple of their eye. He was wanted, planned for, and they’d prepared thoroughly for his arrival.
“Mum, can we buy that doll?” Emily asked, pointing to a doll with a mermaid’s tail.
Susan, browsing tiny hats and socks, replied indifferently, “I don’t have extra money. Honestly, Emily, you embarrass me! I might as well just avoid shops with you—you’re always begging for something!”
“You know you’ll soon have a brother who needs clothes, a cot, a pram…”
“Why are you so selfish? You think only of yourself!”
Hearing her mother’s constant reproaches made Emily feel guilty. Was she wrong for wanting a few toys? Her brother needed things more, after all.
Gary, however, lacked nothing. He received all his parents’ love, as Susan and James showered their beloved son with gifts almost daily.
Even before he was born, they’d prepared a separate room for him; Emily was moved to the living room, losing her bedroom to a complete renovation.
When she protested, her father sternly said, “You’re older now; you can sleep on the sofa! Gary needs his own space. Our room is too small for a cot.”
“Stop whining,” Susan added, “you should appreciate having a sibling. I had none, and I was always alone. Soon you’ll have a playmate.”
“Stop sulking and sort out your books and toys. Half of them have to go, there’s no space for this stuff.
When Gary was born, Emily lost her childhood joys. Susan and James decided their daughter was old enough to care for her brother.
Whenever the baby cried at night, her parents poked their heads from their room to wake Emily:
“Can’t you hear him crying? Go give him a bottle or check his nappy!”
Emily, getting up at night and after school, cared for her brother while Susan relaxed during her maternity leave, always finding time for herself.
Margaret would visit and constantly complain, “Susan, what on earth are you doing? You can’t dump a two-month-old on a ten-year-old!”
“I see nothing wrong with it,” answered Susan nonchalantly. “She’ll be a mother herself someday; this is all experience.”
“I bet Emily will thank me in a decade! I have my hands full, you know. James isn’t of much help; he’s always at work.”
Margaret argued, “Susan, you’re depriving her of her childhood! Don’t you see her age? She should play with friends, not watch a baby.”
“I raised four kids, all close in age, and managed without help.”
“Times have changed, Margaret,” retorted Susan. “I still find nothing wrong in asking Emily for help!”
“Besides, Gary’s her brother; it’s her job to help raise him. She’s the eldest!”
By thirteen, Emily grew to resent Gary. He was a sharp child, remarkably mischievous, and realised he could pin every mischief on his big sister.
Emily got blamed for everything:
“What do you do all day?” Susan would scold almost nightly. “I found broken glass in the bin. Didn’t you break a mug?”
“Not me,” Emily replied, “Gary knocked it off the table because I wouldn’t let him have sweets.”
“And who made you the boss?” James chimed in. “Are you buying those sweets? He can have them!”
“Mum told me not to give him sweets. He should eat lunch first, then he can have tea and sweets. But Gary didn’t want soup; he demanded dessert and broke the cup when I wouldn’t give him the bowl.”
“Careless!” Susan snapped. “What if he’d hurt himself? You’re old enough to know better, but can’t watch a child!”
“You’re grounded today, no going out! You’ll stay inside and teach Gary his letters. His teacher said he’s behind! Other kids are reading, ours can’t count to five, thanks to you!”
Things hit a breaking point when Emily turned sixteen. Her parents decided, without consulting her, to rehome Max—Emily’s old dog she had raised from a pup.
“Make sure he’s gone by tomorrow! Gary started sneezing, probably allergic to the dog.”
Emily protested, “I won’t give up Max! He’s the only thing that loves me. I won’t!”
“Who asked you?” said James. “We’ve tolerated that flea-ridden mutt long enough.”
“I would’ve kicked him out ages ago but had no reason. He’s clean, never makes a mess.”
Emily argued, “Max stays with me! I love him! Don’t you understand I care about him?”
“And you don’t love your brother?” Susan said, narrowing her eyes. “You’d risk his health for a mutt?”
Emily fired back, “Yes! You and Gary drive me insane! You’ve no idea how exhausted I am! Why should I lose my best friend for him?”
“He ruined my life! I had no childhood. While my friends played outside, I pushed a pram in the park while you, Mum, napped!”
“While classmates did tutoring, I juggled school, nursery, and home because you went back to work. I’m done! I’m moving to Gran’s!”
Margaret welcomed Emily with open arms, accepting Max too.
In her grandmother’s flat, Emily felt at home—no pressure, no forced duties with her brother. She could do as she pleased.
Susan let her daughter stay away for just a month. Four weeks later, she called Emily with a demand:
“Get back here now! Had your break? Enough! We can’t manage alone.”
“Why should I?” Emily retorted. “Who said I’d return?”
“I’m fine at Gran’s, and I’m not coming back!”
“It wasn’t a question,” Susan instructed. “I want you to pack and come home. There’s no one to pick Gary up from school!”
“How’s that my problem?” Emily replied. “Your son, your responsibility.”
“I’ve lots of my own things going on. In case you forgot, I’m at college, studying. At Gran’s, I can do my homework properly. I’ve got my grades up! So I’m staying put.”
“Just wait,” warned Susan. “Your father will come for you. He’ll drag you home! Think you’re so mature and independent now?”
Margaret, overhearing, motioned Emily to hand over the phone:
“Susan, lay off,” the grandmother defended Emily. “You’ve crushed her spirit!”
“Gary’s six now, starting school. Can’t he stay by himself?”
“If you can’t, hire a nanny! Leave Emily alone. She deserves peace to study.”
“And pass this on to James too!”
Emily was left alone. From her grandmother, she learned her parents dealt with the Gary issue—they spent the money to hire a nanny for their cherished son.
Emily feels no guilt. After all, Gary is her brother, not her son; she isn’t accountable for him.
