Emma and James were preparing for their wedding. The day before the celebration, Emmas mother, Anne, came to meet Jamess mother, Margaret. They gathered at Margarets house, discussing wedding details over tea. The next morning, as Anne prepared to leave, Emma walked her out.
So, what do you think of James? Emma asked.
Hes a good lad, Anne smiled but sighed deeply.
Mum, whats wrong? Emma frowned.
Just be careful with his mother. You dont know her yet.
Those words soon made sense.
When Emma learned her mother-in-law planned to move in, she confronted James.
Youll have to choose: me or your mother.
I wont choose, James replied calmly. Things stay as they are, and she can sort herself out.
So she wont live with us?
Ive already told her no.
How did she take it?
Badly. Called me ungrateful and said Id regret it.
No surprise there
Margaret had retired early after years as a flight attendant.
Enough. Ive worked hard, shed declared, pocketing a generous pensionfar better than most.
Yet she quickly realised it wasnt enough for her lifestyle. The solution was simple: shift the burden to her son.
I raised you, gave you an education. Now its your turn to repay me, shed said when James turned 23. Starting next month, youll cover rent and groceries.
Fine, he agreed. But if I pay, you stay out of my life.
She agreedand, true to her word, left him alone. His life never interested her much anyway. James had mostly been raised by his grandparents while she lived for herself, with little success.
Years passed. James grew up, moved to London for work. Five years he paid her rent and fed her while she spent her pension on luxuries.
At fifty, Margaret met Jamess new wife.
Youre so elegant! Emma remarked awkwardly at their first meeting. Not what I expected from a retiree.
Learning the young couple would live with her, Margaret feigned delight: How lovely!thinking, *Now I wont have to cook.*
Emma believed her, but James set her straight:
She didnt dare kick us out. Ive paid for everything these past five years.
Annes visit shattered Emmas fragile illusions:
Be careful, love. That woman lives only for herself. Shell drop you the moment youre inconvenient. Hold onto your husband. I like him. But his mothers another matter.
Six months later, Margaret fell in love. A man named Andrew started visiting. Then
Youve got two weeks to move out. Im selling the flat. Moving to Bath.
Youre serious? James stared in shock.
Of course. Its my flat. My parents left it to me.
And youre throwing us out?
Yes. Its perfectly legal.
James silently put on his coat and left. That evening, he and Emma packed their things, moving in with a colleague who needed tenants. A month later, Margaret sold the flat and left with Andrew.
Days after, James asked to borrow money.
No, of course not. Ive got plans for my savings, Margaret said coldly.
Fine. Good luck, he replied.
You too, she smirked, not even hugging him goodbye.
A year passed. Margaret calledAndrew had taken her money and vanished. Homeless and alone, she demanded:
Im moving in with you.
No. Use whats left, get a mortgage.
A mortgage? At my age? On a pension?
Find work. Sort yourself out, like everyone else.
You wont help me?
I owe you nothing, Mum.
She exploded:
Ungrateful wretch! I raised you!
Im just following your example, James said quietly.
Margaret couch-surfed until her money ran out. Refuge after refuge refused her. Finally, she returned to James.
Youre not ill or frail. Get a job. Rent a room. Figure it out.
Dont you feel sorry for me?
No. You remind me of that grasshopper singing all summer.
Later, Margaret found stabilitynot with work, but another marriage. To the first willing man. At least she had a roof.
But thats another story entirely.
