The Wedding Gift from the Mother-in-Law: Better Nothing Than This!
Emily and Thomas were to be wed. The celebration was in full swing when the master of ceremonies announced it was time for gifts. First, the brides parents offered their congratulations, then came Thomass mother, Margaret Whitmore, carrying a large, pale blue box adorned with a ribbon.
Goodness! What on earth could be inside? Emily whispered curiously to Thomas.
No idea. Mums kept it under wraps, he replied, just as puzzled.
They decided to wait until the next day to open the presents, once the wedding bustle had settled. Emily suggested starting with the box from his mother. They untied the ribbon, lifted the lidand froze in disbelief.
For a long while, Emily had noticed something odd about Thomas: he never took anything without asking, not even the smallest thing.
May I have the last chocolate? hed say hesitantly, eyeing the lone sweet in the dish.
Of course! Emily would answer, bemused. You neednt even ask.
Force of habit, hed smile sheepishly as he unwrapped it.
Only months later did she understand where this quirk came from.
One day, Thomas took her to meet his parentsMargaret and Henry Whitmore. At first, his mother seemed pleasant, but the illusion faded quickly when they sat down to eat.
Before each guest lay a plate with two spoonfuls of mashed potatoes and a meagre beef patty. Thomas finished quickly and quietly asked for seconds.
Always stuffing yourself like a starved horse! Cant ever fill you up! Margaret snapped, shocking Emily with her sharpness.
Yet when Henry asked for more, Margaret beamed and piled his plate high. Emily ate in silence, disturbed by the mothers blatant disdain for her own son.
Later, as wedding plans unfolded, Margarets true nature showed. Everything was too costlythe rings, the venue, the menu.
Whats all this extravagance? Why not something thrifty? she griped openly.
Finally, Emily had enough.
Well handle it ourselves! she shot back. Its our pounds and our choice!
Offended, Margaret fell silent and even threatened to skip the wedding altogether.
Two days before the ceremony, Henry surprised them with a visit.
Son, help me with this, he said, leading Thomas to the car.
Hed gone ahead and bought a washing machineunwilling to heed his wifes protests. A confession followed: theyd fought bitterly because Margaret had balked at spending on a proper wedding gift for her own son.
On the big day, Margaret arrived after allwearing a fine dress, stepping out of a cab. She behaved properly, handed over the large box, then melted into the crowd.
The next morning, Emily and Thomas eagerly opened it. Their excitement turned to dismay.
Towels? Emily murmured, pulling out the first.
And socks, Thomas sighed, holding up two pairs of thick woolen ones. Father was right Mum just grabbed whatever was lying about. Hard to believe shes become so tight-fisted. No gift wouldve been better.
But that wasnt the end. Days later, Margaret calledto pry about others presents.
Well? Out with it! What did Emilys mother give? And Uncle George? And her friends? she prodded.
Thomas refused to indulge her.
Mum, thats none of your concern. Emily and I are content.
Then he hung upwithout a shred of guilt for the first time.
Life teaches us this: the size of a gift says little of the givers heart. Yet respect and love reveal themselves in small gestures. And Margaret, sadly, had none left to give.
