Injustice
Mum, Sarah asked, sounding almost baffled, why did I only get three hundred and thirty thousand? Wasnt it supposed to be a million? Whats with that amount?
She could hear Mums hairdryer roaring in the background. Then it clicked off with a thwack, and her mum, Jane, replied:
Yes, thats right. Three hundred and thirty. Jane had just coolly dealt with the million, although it hadnt really been hers to begin with.
But Sarah knew she should have received quite a bit more.
Three hundred and thirty? Mum, wheres the other six hundred and seventy? I expected a million. Just about a million. This was from Dads flatyou said youd transfer the money after it was sold.
Oh, Sarah, please, dont start going through all the numbers with me, her mum sighed. You know I did everything fairly.
Fairly, Mum? The floorboards squeaked beneath Sarahs feet, as if echoing her outrage. I gave you power of attorney to sell the flatMY flat, that I inherited from Dad. And then you were supposed to send me the money. So where is it? Whered it go?
Sarah suddenly realised it had been naive to trust things would run smoothly.
I did send it to you! The hairdryer whirred back on. But I split the money like a proper mother would. Equally. So, your legal third is here.
It ought to have been all hers, the whole sum.
You divided Dads inheritance three ways? Among me and them? Sarah meant her half-brothers. Mum, thats my money! My dad! Theyve got a different father, in case thats slipped your mind.
What difference does it make who the dad is? Jane was now styling her hair, not missing a beat. Its all family money. Theyre your brothers. Im your mother. You expect me to sit here and let you have it all to yourself while your brothers look on? Not right! I made it fair. Everyone got the same.
If only Sarah could travel back to that day she signed the paperwork and give herself a good talking-to.
Fair? So you split my million three ways. Three hundred and thirty thousand for each! What about the extra, Mum? The flat was worth more than that.
Yes, there was a little over a million after fees and such, Jane replied, so I rounded it down. And the restI kept as a bit of compensation for handling all of it. Would you have wanted to mess with your solicitors and all that faff? No. I did it all while you were busy working.
Oh, Im so terribly grateful you didnt tire yourself out!
Dont you dare speak to me like that! her mum snapped. He might have been your father, but Im your mother, and I get to decide. Besides, youre the eldest, you dont need as much as the others. Boys need money to get started in life. Youre a girlno one expects you to do as much.
Oh, so Im not supposed to buy a place or start a family, just because Im a girl? Sarah said, deadpan. Transfer the rest, Mum. Now.
No.
Short. Final.
Mum knew Sarah would never go further. Take your mother to court? Over money? People would think she was madprobably crucify her socially. Even so, she and her mum still spoke, here and there.
A few weeks later, Sarah had sorted her finances out and calmed down. She happened to see photos on social media: William posing next to a shiny new blue Polo, and Jamie grinning with a caption: My new baby!
The lads had bought themselves cars. Well Sarah just left her three hundred and thirty grand sitting in her account. Shed wait. As Gran always said: patience is a virtue.
A year went by. Sarah worked, saved and planned, letting things go but not forgiven. Mum acted like everything was normal: ringing regularly, nattering away.
But today, as soon as she heard Mums voice, Sarah felt a chill. Something was up.
Whats happened, Mum?
GranJamie and Williams granshe passed away this morning, Jane said, her voice wobbling.
Sarah felt oddly detached. That gran had never played a part in her life. To her, she was just Mums mother-in-law or the boys nan. She felt sympathy, of courseshe wasnt heartless.
OhIm very sorry.
Ive got to handle the funeral, all the paperwork, everything. Its all fallen to me, the boys theyve got no idea what to do. Can you come and help?
It wasnt out of spite, but work wouldnt let her just disappear like that.
Mum, Im at work. I cant just drop everything and fly back for a funeral. Ive only ever met her a couple of times.
Shed never really been invited round, either.
Please! her mum pleaded. I really need you.
I cant come, but Ill help with some money. How much do you need? Say, and Ill transfer it.
Mum hesitated, but seemed to decide a bit of cash never hurt.
Well its not the same as being here, but if you could spare about twenty thousand, that would help.
Consider it done. And, Ill send a bit extrafor whatever comes up. Call it my way of paying respects to their gran.
Thank you, darling. Youre always such a help.
Sarah hung up, feeling a nasty kind of relief. She had her excuse: she hadnt gone, but she had helped. No one could fault her.
Six months later, the funeral was old news. Jamie and William had already moved on, snapped up new toysmaybe a motorbike or the latest iPhones.
One quiet Tuesday, Sarah decided it was time. She called her mum whilst sitting in the office canteen, prepping for another boring meeting.
Hi, Mum! Hows everything?
Sarah! Were muddling on. Jamie found a new job, better pay, and Williamhes seeing a new girl.
Good for them, Sarah answered. Mum, I wanted to ask about something.
Whats that? Instantly, her mum sounded on edge.
Its been half a year since their gran passed. Everyones sorted the will and all that?
The conversation was somehow even more strained than the one about the missing hundreds of thousands.
Sarah, wheres this going? Of course, they have.
Well, what about my share of the inheritance?
What inheritance? Mum sounded as innocent as a lamb, but Sarah knew that toneshe was fibbing, as usual.
From their gran.
But she wasnt your gran.
So? Sarah prodded, echoing her mums logic. Im your child, you always said you cant cut any of us out. You split my dads money three ways because we have the same mum and all deserve a fair go, remember?
Sarah, this is completely different! Jane snapped.
How? You said inheritance should be shared. Youre the mum, its your call, and everyone gets the samethose were your rules.
Oh, dont compare the two
Oh, really! Sarah couldnt help the sarcasm. Thats convenient! When its my dads flat, the inheritance is a community chest and should be evened out. But when its their grans house, suddenly the inheritance is sacred and strictly follows the family tree?
Stop twisting things! Mum huffed. Youre not expecting me to seriously tell the boys they have to split their grans inheritance?
Im pointing out that you used my trust as a way to nick a third of my money, justifying it by saying were all your children so it should be equal, Sarah said coolly. Well, Im applying your principle to them now. You helped the boys sell their grans flat, didnt you?
The moneys gone.
On what? Cars? Renovations? Well, Id like my share too. Wheres my money, Mum? You once told me I should be fine with less because Im a girl. I dont agree.
Now, Jane seemed to be thinking hard about how to wriggle out of the trap shed set herself. It was always like this in their family! For the boys, her stepdad was Dad, so they got every treat, present and privilege going. That gran never wanted to see Sarahshe was just the outsiders kidand Mum never so much as stuck up for her.
What kind of person are you, Sarah? her mum shot back. Why do you need this money anyway? Youve got a job. Youre young. Youre healthy. The boyswell, they need money to get on their feet. Theyre menits harder for them!
So your stance is: my dads inheritance is to be shared because were siblings. But their grans inheritance belongs solely to them because theyre men, and Im just the girl who should settle for less?
Dont be cheeky, Jane snapped. Where did all this greed come from?
Her mum would never admit she was wrong. In her eyes, Sarah was petty and selfish for daring to ask for what was fair.
You may not know this, but you were legally obliged to send me the entire proceeds from the flat, under that power of attorney. The statute of limitations hasnt run out yet. Im not threatening, but
Sarah! Are you threatening me? her mum whispered, terrified.
No, Mum. But I could still have it sorted through the courts. Have a think about that.
Barely a month later, Sarah received every penny she was owedand Mum promptly blocked her everywhere.
