A Babysitter for My Brother
Whats the matter, Emily? Still not answering?
Not a single word! I snapped, tossing my phone onto the kitchen counter. Shes not replied since six oclock! I didnt go to Mums just because of her Now Ive got to make dinner both there and here, and theres no one to leave Sam with Some help she is!
At that moment, the front door lock clicked loudly.
Oh, youre not in bed yet? Chloe called over her shoulder, headphones still lodged in her ears as she waltzed past us straight to her room, ignoring her parents entirely.
But Mum wasnt letting her off that easily.
Chloe! Stop right there! Mums voice rang out, making Chloe freeze, though she gave no sign of turning back. Where do you think youre going? Youre late by how late? Six hours! Care to explain yourself?
Chloe yanked her headphones out.
Whats with the drama now?
You promised! I managed a defeated tone. You said youd look after Sam!
All Chloe, clearly knackered and dreaming of her bed, could muster was a muttered:
Well, it didnt work out. Nobody died. You were home, werent you?
I gave you a whole weeks notice that youd need to watch your little brother tonight! Because your dads on late shift, and I had to see Mum. Sam, your gran, and your mum dont you care about any of us?
Truth was, Chloe couldnt be bothered. Shed been stuck with her course mates, then George suggested everyone come over for drinks The evening just slipped away she got distracted.
At least, thats how Chloe justified itto herself, anyway.
Her phone hadnt died; shed switched it off on purpose.
I did promise, Mum. Plans changed.
Breathe at me, Mum demanded.
Whats this, are we in prison now? Chloe retorted.
Youve been drinking, Mum stated coldly. Parties matter more than family to you.
Chloe snapped.
Yes, they do! Look, I never signed up to be your babysitter, and I wont be looking after Sam again. You sort it. If you two fancied playing happy families when you were nearly forty, enjoy yourselves. Ive got my own life to get on with.
Dad, whod never before shouted at her or raised his voice, listened and then quietly stepped in.
We never made you our nanny. We hardly ask you for anything! Tonight was important, youd promised Chloe, youre six hours late. Switched off your phone. And now youre trying to palm the blame back on us?
Im not palming anything. Sams your responsibility. So what if I was out? Am I supposed to be the odd one out?
Wed always tried not to overload Chloe with chores. Not long ago she was still at schoola childand now she was studying at a top university on a tough course. We understood, even pitied her sometimes.
But Chloe didnt seem to care in return.
You know whats worse? Mum jumped in. Because of you, I didnt get to see your gran tonight. She cant cook for herself, and I cant run myself ragged between a three-year-old and my poorly mum!
Chloe, taking out the complicated braids a friend had done for her, replied coolly:
Well, thats your problem, Mum. You wanted another baby at your age. So you deal with him. I owe you nothing.
It was so cutting, my dad visibly flinched.
Chloe, thats over the line.
Why over the line? Im studying. I need to socialise, make friends, look for a boyfriend not stay home playing house with you and your son!
Dad sat her down.
Chloe, just hear me out. Were not making you the familys live-in childminder. We asked you to help. One small favour, for the family. You agreed.
Chloe, not about to back down, shot back:
I agreed, but then changed my mind. Life happens, doesnt it?
Yes, life happens. But you changed your plans without letting us know, my dad replied evenly. I understand youre studying and need your friends. But Chloe, youre part of this family. We dont lock you up. But surely you can spare a couple of hours a week for Sam? So we can run errands, go to the doctor like tonight, when I needed to see your nan?
Chloe didnt even let him finish. She threw her head back with a scoff, hairpins scattering onto the table.
No.
Why not?
Because its not my responsibility, Dad. Im not obliged to give up my life for your choices.
Inside, Chloe braced herself for another row. She expected us to really let loose this time
Alright, Dad said surprisingly calmly. Ive heard you.
What? Hed heard her? No shouting? No seizing her phone? No tearful warnings about how one day shed regret all this?
Is that all, then? Chloe asked.
For tonight, yes.
Looking unsettled by her easy escape, Chloe hurried off to the bathroom to wash off her makeup and thensleep, finally. It had been a knackering evening as it was, and our nagging hadnt helped.
But in our bedroom, the conversation was far from over.
Tom, how did she get so callous? Mum asked, not angrily now, but sadly. We raised her like everyone else Never deprived her, never said no without reason. We never bullied her! But its as if she doesnt care about us at all What now? Beg her to babysit if we need help?
No, Tom shook his head. We wont beg. If she thinks she owes us nothing, then we owe her nothingat least until she comes to realise what living independently actually entails.
***
Morning arrived, not with a coffee, but that heavy sense that last nights argument hadnt been settled at all.
Chloe was first to the kitchen. She gulped some water, picked at a dry sandwich left in the fridge. As Mum walked in with Sam, Chloe buried herself in her phone to head off a lecture. But Mum ate in silence. Then Dad came in and even greeted her:
Morning, Chloe.
Wow, speaking to me now, are we? she drawled.
Dad opened his spreadsheet of family living expenses.
Chloe, we need to talk.
She rolled her eyes.
What, responsibility lecture again? I already said
No, not about that, he interrupted. Well, partly. But more about money. As from this month, wed like your contribution towards food and the bills. Your share.
Chloe grinned, taking it as a joke her dads odd attempt to wind her up after last night, tit for tat.
Oh, come off it, Dad. Youre not funny, you know. Not falling for it.
But Dad was ready.
Im not joking, Chloe. From now on, youre paying for your own share of everything. Food, utilities, the lot.
Even Sam, cheeks puffed, spreading breakfast over the table, stared at his dad. He didnt get the whole costs thing, but the tone was enough to worry him.
What? Chloe gasped.
You said you owe us nothing. Fine. But if youre not dependent on us for anything, youll cover your own basics. That means food, your bit of the bills, and most importantlyyour uni fees.
Chloe drew her own conclusionDad wasnt just winding her up, he really meant to start charging her. They must be properly upset after last night.
Dad, listen to yourself! Fine, dont feed me if you like, but my degree? Thats sacred. Youll never forgive yourself if I flunk out. I know youyoull never let that happen.
I canand I will, he replied. Youre nineteen, Chloe. An adult. Grown adults pay their own way. Weve always said wed support you while you study and live herebut that support was always built on respect and some involvement in family life. You refused to help. So you refuse all our support too, in every way.
Mum looked at him as if to ask Are we being too harsh?
Chloe, holding her bit of cheese, dropped it back onto her plate and snapped as she stood up:
Maybe Id better not eatdont want you slapping me with a bill after!
The rest of us finished our breakfast. Chloe clattered about in her room, made sure we all heard her, then dashed off to her lectures, which for the moment, we were still paying for.
Was that too much? Mum whispered.
Dad chewed some cheese, though it stuck in his throat.
Finally, he burst out:
About right, Jane! She wants to be independent, let her pay her own way. Harsh, but maybe shell learn. Shes getting a bit too used to coasting along on us
Chloe started appearing at home only briefly. Out early, in late. Didnt touch the food. Mum, though forbidden by Dad, tentatively asked if she was starving herself, to which Chloe just shot her a wounded look and stormed off.
She ended up picking up a shift at a café after covering for a friend. That friend promptly quit, and Chloe found herself on her feet for four hours every evening, tray in hand. At least she had some money coming in.
We worried, but we stood firm.
Shes missed dinner again, Tom. She must be hungry. I know were trying to teach her, but how far will she push herself Mum fretted.
Shell come round, Jane. Shell work out that in a family, everyone lends a hand. Its just her pride.
And after three months of this silent standoff, Chloe finally said:
Finecall your bluff. I cant keep doing lectures and slog at work, not for this kind of money. Ill watch Samfew days a week, three hours at a time. Call it my job, then. You win. Heres what I saved for renttheres four hundred quid, thats all Ive managed.
She laid down the money, more than she could probably spare. But we didnt keep it.
Chloe We never meant to hurt you. Were not blackmailers, Mum said softly. We didnt care for you just because the law said so, but because were your parents and we love you. The least wed like is for you to join in sometimes.
I get it, I do Sorry Chloe whispered, then, for the first time in months, hugged us herself.
And I realised at lasta family isnt just support and responsibility; its about each of us giving a bit, even when its not easy. I suppose we all needed that reminder.
