Unwanted Daughter
“I never asked you to have him,” Laura fumed. “Why should I put up with this inconvenience because of your child?”
“First, you took away my room, then you made me a free babysitter, and now I have to give my only friend to someone else? A friend who has lived with me for nine years?”
“No way! I’m going to Grandma’s and Rex will be with me! You can take care of your own Pete!”
Sixteen-year-old Laura had been constantly arguing with her parents for the past year.
In truth, she had her reasons – her parents, after the birth of their son, had forgotten their older daughter existed.
Since she was nine, Laura had been left to her own devices. When she was younger, she didn’t understand why she was treated this way, and her parents’ indifference greatly upset her.
Laura cried in secret and complained to her grandmother:
“They’re always with Pete! When I ask them to play with me, Mum says she’s too busy, and Dad just turns away! Grandma, don’t they love me?”
“Hush, my dear,” her grandmother, Margaret, consoled while looking away, “Love you, of course they do! It’s just difficult for them now.”
“Pete’s just a baby; he needs attention and constant care. You understand that he can’t even hold his head up or walk yet.”
“When he gets a bit older, things will be easier. Meanwhile, why don’t you help out, show some initiative, help your mum with your brother, take him for walks, play with him. Maybe then your parents will have more time.”
Margaret knew well that even Laura’s active involvement in raising her brother wouldn’t change much.
The real problem was that Laura was unloved by her parents, Emily and Tom. To begin with, they were married, as people say, “by necessity” – Tom had known Emily only a few months.
When he started seeing her, he had no idea she was lying about her age – Emily had added two years to ensure she seemed mature.
The pregnancy of a sixteen-year-old schoolgirl promised Tom huge problems, so he saw no other choice but to marry his girlfriend.
Laura hadn’t been expected or prepared for; Emily wanted to enjoy her youth, and the lack of freedom made her resent the child.
Similarly, Tom felt no particular affection for his daughter, as he had always dreamed of having a son.
Pete was the apple of their eye and was much desired and planned for. They had prepared thoroughly for his birth.
“Mum, can we buy that doll?” Laura asked her mother, gesturing to a mermaid doll.
Emily, while browsing tiny hats and socks, coldly replied:
“I don’t have extra money. Stop embarrassing me, Laura! Honestly, I can’t even take you shopping – you’re always begging for something!”
“You know very well you’re soon going to have a brother and we need to buy him clothes, a crib, a pram.”
“Why are you so selfish? Always thinking only about yourself!”
Listening to her mother’s reproaches regularly made Laura feel guilty. Indeed, why should she complain? What if she had almost no toys; her brother needed things more.
***
Pete lacked for nothing. The boy was the recipient of all his parents’ love, and Emily and Tom bought something for their beloved son almost every day.
A separate room was prepared for him even before his birth – Laura was moved to the living room, and renovations were done in her bedroom.
When she tried to protest, her father sternly explained:
“You’re grown up now; you can sleep on the couch! A child needs personal space. Our room is small, if we put a crib in there, there’ll be no room left.”
“Don’t make a fuss,” her mother backed up Tom, “If I were you, I’d be happy. I didn’t have any siblings – was alone in my family.”
“Soon you’ll have someone to play with. Stop grumbling, Laura, and start sorting out your books and toys.”
“Oh, and by the way, you’ll have to throw half of them away – we’ve nowhere to store that junk.”
When Pete was born, Laura lost all her childhood joys. Emily and Tom decided their daughter was old enough to watch her brother.
When he cried at night, either parent would stick their head out of the bedroom and wake Laura:
“Don’t you hear the baby crying? Go give him a bottle, check his nappy. He might need changing.”
Laura would get up at night for him and after returning from school, she watched her brother.
Emily, on her second maternity leave, had time for herself.
Margaret, visiting her son and daughter-in-law, often complained:
“Emily, what on earth is going on? Can you really place the responsibility of a two-month-old baby on a ten-year-old girl? What can she do?”
“I see nothing wrong,” Emily blithely answered her mother-in-law, “She’ll have to get used to it.”
“She’ll become a mother one day, and she’ll have to go through this. It’s a great experience!”
“Margaret, I’m sure in ten years, Laura will thank me! Between you and me, I get tired too. Do you know how hard it is managing two kids on my own?”
“Tom is useless; he’s always at work and doesn’t help me at all. He plays with Pete for half an hour at night and then lounges in front of the TV.”
“Emily, this isn’t right! You’re robbing your daughter of her childhood. Can’t you see Laura needs to play with friends, not babysit?”
“I had three more beside Tom, and I handled it without asking for help.”
“Times were different then, Margaret,” Emily retorted. “Once again, I see no harm in this help!”
“After all, Pete’s her brother, and she’s the eldest!”
By the time Laura was thirteen, she began to resent her brother. Pete was a smart yet mischievous child.
He quickly realized he could blame all his mischief on his older sister – Laura got reprimanded for everything:
“What are you even doing here when we’re away?” Emily asked her daughter almost every evening. “I found broken pieces in the bin. Did you break the mug?”
“It wasn’t me,” Laura replied, “Pete threw it off the table because I wouldn’t let him have sweets.”
“Who are you to decide?” Tom immediately jumped in to defend his son, “Do you buy sweets? Acting as if you’re in charge! Let him have them!”
“Mum told me not to give Pete anything sweet. He should have soup first and only then tea with sweets.”
“But Pete refused the soup and went straight for dessert. I wouldn’t give him the dish and he smashed the mug on the floor.”
“Careless girl,” Emily snapped, “What if he’d hurt himself? You’re an adult and still can’t keep an eye on a child!”
“You’re grounded today, no going out! You’ll stay home and help Pete with his letters.”
“His teacher says he’s the slowest in the group! Other kids are making words, and ours can’t even count to five. It’s your fault!”
The situation reached its breaking point when Laura turned sixteen. Without consulting her, her parents decided to give their old dog, Rex, whom Laura had found as a puppy and raised, to a new home.
“Make sure he’s gone tomorrow! Pete’s started sneezing, and I suspect it’s an allergy to dog hair.”
Laura protested:
“I’m not giving Rex away, you can’t make me! He’s the only living creature who truly loves me. I won’t part with him!”
“Who asked you?” Tom noted philosophically. “We’ve been tolerating that flea-ridden mutt for too long as it is.”
“I would have thrown him out earlier, but there was never a good reason. He’s smart though; I’ll give him that. Never messed up the house. I was waiting for the right moment.”
Laura stood firm:
“Rex stays with me, I won’t give him to anyone! He means a lot to me! Can’t you understand I love him?”
“And you don’t love your brother?” Emily squinted, “Are you willing to risk his health for that mutt? Did I get it right?”
Laura snapped:
“Yes, exactly! I can’t stand you with your precious Pete! You have no idea how tired I am of all of you! Why should I give up my only friend just for him?”
“He’s ruined my entire life! I missed out on a childhood because of him! While my friends were playing outside, I was strolling around parks with the pram, and you, Mum, were snoozing!”
“When my classmates were off to tutoring and prepping for exams, I was juggling school, daycare, and home. Because you went back to work, Mum.”
“Enough, I’m fed up! I’m moving in with Grandma!”
***
Margaret welcomed Laura, and had no issues with Rex.
Laura felt at home in her grandmother’s place – no one bothered her; no one forced her to spend time with her disliked brother. With her grandmother, Laura could do as she pleased.
Emily allowed her daughter a month’s respite before calling and using her authoritative tone:
“Come back immediately! You’ve had your break! We can’t manage on our own here.”
“Why should I?” Laura responded sarcastically, “Who said I want to return?”
“I’m living splendidly with Grandma and I’m not planning on moving back with you!”
“I’m not asking your plans,” Emily informed Laura, “I’m telling you to pack your bags and get home.”
“There’s no one to pick Pete up from school! I have to give up my lunch break to bring him home after lessons.”
“And how is that my problem?” Laura asked fairly, “Your son, your responsibility.”
“I have my own stuff, by the way, Mum. In case you forgot, I’m in college, getting an education.”
“Here, at Grandma’s, I have the ability to properly do my homework. I’ve caught up on all my main subjects! So, sorry, but I’m staying here.”
“Just you wait,” Emily seethed, “when your father comes home, I’ll send him over. He’ll drag you back! You think you’re an adult now? Independent?”
Margaret, hearing the conversation, gestured to her granddaughter, asking for the phone:
“You’re out of line, Emily,” stepped in Margaret for Laura. “You’re leaving her no room to breathe!”
“Pete’s nearly seven now. Can he not entertain himself for a bit?
“Afraid to leave him alone – hire a nanny! And leave Laura alone, I won’t let her return to you. Let the girl study in peace!”
“And tell Tom what I said!”
Laura was left in peace. Through her grandmother, she learned her parents sorted things with Pete – they spared no expense and hired a nanny for their beloved son.
Laura felt no guilt over her actions. After all, Pete was her brother, not her son. She had no obligation of responsibility for him.
