I had to install a fridge of my own, says Emily. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I saw no other way. Honestly, Id happily sell the flat and split the cash, but Mum wont hear of it.
Emily just turned 24. Shes got a degree, landed herself a job, but still flying solo in the romance department. Life at home isnt exactly a walk in Hyde Park. She owns half the flat now; it used to belong to her dad. When he passed away ten years ago, she and her mum inherited it fifty-fifty Emily was 14 at the time.
Those days were proper tough suddenly, there was no breadwinner. Emilys mum had packed up work ages earlier when Emily was little. She skipped maternity leave and chucked in the towel completely. Dad earned well; it was all roses. Mum threw herself into housework. After Emilys father died, her mum lamented, Whod ever hire a forty-year-old? What am I supposed to do become a cleaner?
Emilys story continues: We got some money from Dads pension, but Mum just couldnt resist popping into boutiques and picking up new bits, even though we were pinching pennies. At first, Uncle Dave chipped in, but that didnt last long.
Uncle Dave sat Mum down her names Susan, by the way and told her straight: She needed to find a job. Hes got two kids of his own and couldnt bankroll all of us. A year or so later, Susan brought home a man named Terry. She announced hed be moving in. Her solution to the money shortage? Remarrying. Truthfully, Terry did earn a fair bit, but he couldnt stand Emily.
Terry was fond of saying, All you do is eat. Wouldnt hurt to do a bit of laundry or cleaning, would it? Why are you always doing homework? Want to go to uni, do you? Unis not for people who should be earning! Or do you think Ill keep you fed forever?
Emily couldnt argue. Sure, there was the pension money, but it went straight to Mum. Susan wouldnt stick up for her daughter terrified, really, of losing the new provider.
Howll we manage without him? shed ask Emily. Just dont rile him up and do as he says he keeps the lights on.
Emily managed to make it to university and score a job. Through it all, she was viewed as an extra mouth to feed, a deadweight on Terrys back. He tallied up every penny spent on her.
Six months after starting work, I bought myself a fridge, Emily says. Put it right in my room, since Terry locked the kitchen one away.
Youve got a job now, havent you? Feed yourself, Terry barked.
Susan clammed up again. Even when Terry started wafting utility bills and screaming for repayment of everything hed ever spent on Emily, Susan stayed silent. Not long after, Terry lost his job. Suddenly, he and Susan became regular invaders of Emilys fridge. Emily footed all the bills. At first, she coughed up. But after a year of Terry doing nothing, she snapped and put a padlock on her fridge. Naturally, Susan was appalled. She argued that Terry had kept them fed for years.
Emily shot back: If you fancy helping, be my guest. Im not the first here forced to share everything. Go get a job.
Terrys now moved out; Susans had it with a man who wont earn his keep. Yet Emily refuses to remove the padlock from the fridge she reckons Susan ought to find work herself. So, what do you think is she in the right?
