“If you want it done, do it yourself.”
“Mum, you had kids for yourself, not for me. So, deal with your little Jamie on your own. I need to catch up on sleep before uni.”
“Oliver, I dont ask often. Just this oncetake him to school. Its the first day back, all the kids will be with their parents…”
“Thats the point*parents*,” Oliver cut his mother, Emily, off. “Where were mine when I had school events? Always wrapped up with the little one. Let him go alone. He wont crumble.”
“It wasnt *always*… Just a couple of times. And it wasnt intentional…”
“Well, now its not intentional that hell have to go alone,” Oliver replied flatly, sipping his tea.
Emily was stunned. She hadnt expected such defiance. After all, they fed and clothed him, yet he refused to lift a finger for the family.
“Right,” Emily frowned. “Sorry, Oliver, but you live in this household. Households mean helping each other. Your dad and I help youallowance, meals, cleaning, even *your* room sometimes. The least you could do is return the favour.”
“I never asked you to clean my room. And I dont *need* your allowance. Im eighteennot a child, not a babysitter. My opinion should count too.”
With that, Oliver grabbed his mug and retreated to his room. Emily sat alone, weighed down by guilt, the unresolved issue, and worsethe realisation that her son was selfish.
When had he become like this?
Her first marriage had been a disaster. Olivers father never grew up, preferring the sofa, video games, and his phone over responsibility. He occasionally worked, but his earnings barely covered his own expenses. Eventually, Emily gave up, filed for divorce, and moved back in with her mum.
When she remarried, Oliver was fiveyoung enough to accept a new father figure. David bonded with him quickly, becoming “Dad” in no time.
Then Jamie was born when Oliver was ten. That was when things started unraveling, though Emily hadnt noticed.
Olivers first solo school day was that year. Postpartum exhaustion left Emily unable to attend. David was working, and grandparents were either in another town or at their countryside home.
“Ollie, love, you understand, dont you? Youre such a big boy now,” Emily had said apologetically. “Id *love* to go with you, but you see how things are…”
“I see,” Oliver sighed. “Its fine. Im not a kid.”
Back then, shed thought nothing of it. Maybe he was upset, but hed gone without complaint. Or so shed believedclearly, he remembered.
Three years later, it happened again. This time, Jamie caught something at nursery.
He was always ill. Once, he even brought home chickenpoxjust days before Olivers class trip to London. Oliver had to stay home.
“Mum, I get it, but Im *sick* of being sick. Cant you at least quarantine him?” Oliver snapped as she dabbed calamine lotion on his spots.
“Oliver, were a *family*. Where he is, I am. And Ive got to cook, clean… Isolation isnt realistic.”
Part of her understood. Every time Jamie fell ill, Oliver caught it too. But to her, it was just life.
Soon, Oliver resisted helping with chores or Jamie. At first, hed delay or do tasks so poorly shed rather do them herself. She dismissed it as teenage phaseeven when clashes erupted.
“Why should *I* clean the living room? I never use it. Thats *your* and Jamies space*you* deal with the mess,” he argued once.
“You *do* use the kitchen,” Emily shot back. “And *I* clean it. And cook, for that matter.”
“You wipe down every drop on the sink. If I lived alone, I wouldnt bother. *You* want it spotless*you* do it.”
Sometimes she forced him to help. Other times, she let it slidepeace over pride. Now, here they were.
No one could take Jamie to school. Grandparents were miles away, David was on business, and Emily couldnt get time off. Oliver, free that day, refused outright.
What now?
First, she called David.
“Right. Wants independence, does he? Fine. Ill talk to him. If hes so keen, let him try,” David said grimly.
“David, dont go too far,” Emily fretted. “Were already losing him. Push harder, and hell leave for good.”
“Let him. See how he manages without Dad, give me a lift or Mum, pick up my parcel. We never say no when *he* needs help.”
David wasnt wrong, but Emily was terrified. Stubborn and loving as he was, David might issue an ultimatum too harsh.
Jamies problem was solved when Emily rang her friend Sarah, whose son attended the same school. Not only did Sarah take Jamie, but she also treated the kids to ice cream in the park afterward. Not the same as parents, but better than nothing.
“Oh, Sarah, youre a lifesaver,” Emily gushed when she collected Jamie after work. “Come in for tea!”
“Dont fret. Youve fetched my boy before. Mums have to stick together,” Sarah smiled.
Emily pressed until Sarah stayed. Over tea, she confessed her worries about Oliver. At twenty-six, Sarah wasnt much older than himshed had her son young and remembered teen rebellion well.
“Honestly, I get Oliver,” Sarah admitted. “I was always on call for my siblings. You *are* pushing him. He doesnt see the point in scrubbing floors when its *your* standard. And Jamie *was* your choice… But I get you too. Family should help.”
“Im not *pushing*. I just want fairnessshared responsibilities.”
“To *you*, chores are duties. To him, theyre your quirkslike Jamie. I was the same.”
“So what do I do? Thank God Davids away for a weektime to cool off. Hes ready to *evict* Oliver over this.”
“Not a bad idea, actually. Two options: cut off all helpcook for yourselves, freeze him outor let him go. Not abandon him, but rent him a flat. Let him experience real life.”
“What if he drops out? Or disappears?”
“Risk either way. If he *wants* to bolt, he will. I ran off to marry at eighteen. Lucky I didno time for grudges to fester. So Id choose Option Two.”
Emily mulled it over. When David returned, they rented Oliver a flattwo streets away, two months paid. They stocked the fridge, cleaned, and handed him the keys.
“Got it. Kicking me out to prove a point,” Oliver muttered, but took the keys. “You know I cant manage this *and* uni.”
“Not kicking you out! Youre our son, we love you, and youre always welcome,” David said firmly. “But as a *guest*since you wont *live* with us.”
“Who said I *wont* live with you?”
“Living together means *both* rights *and* responsibilities. You cant just take. Weve covered rent, foodbut after this, youre on your own. Help us, or help yourself.”
Oliver grumbled but packed his things. For a month, he ignored calls or answered in monosyllables. Emily only knew he was alive by the light in his window.
Then, slowly, he reached out. Asked how to clean the oven, which detergent worked best. Once, how to make soup. Emily invited him over, taught him, fed him, sent him home with groceries.
“We miss you,” she said as he left.
He didnt reply. Just hugged her tight.
By month three, he asked to talk. The lease was up, and Oliver was strugglinghow, Emily didnt know. Hed only say, “Managing.”
“I want to come back. If youll have me,” he said. “But only if its fair. Jamies *your* responsibility, not mine.”
Once, shed have argued. Now, she saw his point. He was entitled to his feelingsbut not to skipping duties.
“Hes still your brother,” David grumbled.
“Boys, *enough*,” Emily cut in. “Jamies *our* son too. If Oliver wont help with him, fine. But shared space means shared chores.”
Oliver scowled, arms crossed, then finally nodded.
“New rules. Youll clean the bathroom weekly, mop the hall every other day, dust the living room monthly,” Emily listed. “And vacuum alternate weeks. Your rooms yourswe wont touch it. And *always* wash your
