Margaret is sixty years old. She has two grown children and shares a modest two-bedroom flat with her husband in Manchester. Actually, saying shares is being generous shes really just been enduring him for years. His temperament is terribly difficult. Hes a self-centred, proud man with not an ounce of warmth. He insists that everything at home must follow his rules. So Margaret has just carried on putting up with him all these years for the sake of peace.
Theyve got two children. Her daughter, Emily, has been married for twelve years. She and her husband, Ben, have been paying off their mortgage, and thankfully theyre gradually making headway. Every raise and bonus they get goes directly towards that.
Both work full-time and somehow manage to keep up with the mortgage, clothe their children decently, and bring them up right. Emilys brother, Thomas, leads a much more comfortable life than she does he owns several flats in London and even has a house out in the country. Then, one day, Thomas calls Emily with some unexpected news: Mum and Dad are getting a divorce, at Mums request. Theyve sold the flat and split the money. I promised Dad Id help him out, and youll take care of Mum, Thomas said.
What are you talking about? Wheres she supposed to live? You know we only have a two-bed flat. Weve got two kids. Wheres she going to sleep? Emily asked, bewildered.
Is it my problem? Are you planning to just abandon your own mother? Thomas pressed.
Ben wont be pleased about this either, Emily replied, worried.
Well, thats your business, Thomas said abruptly, then hung up.
Thomas had already sorted a spare studio for their father, so he had nothing left to worry about. Emily thought over her options and realised shed have to get a mortgage for her mum. Surprisingly, she was approved. The flat was registered in Emilys name, the deposit paid with the share of the money her mum got from the sale. Now Emily had to work even harder to keep up with yet another set of payments.
Ben still cant quite accept what his wife has done. He often looks unhappy and mutters that people their parents age really shouldnt get divorced. After all, its always the children who end up bearing the burden. He says it just isnt right. Whats your take? Do you think Ben has a point?
