My neighbours are an elderly couple, and their daughter lives with themshe has three daughters in tow. Her name is Abigaileveryone whispers that shes the one whose father was never in the picture. All this fuss is apparently because she has three children, each with a different father, if you can believe the neighbourhood gossip.
Apparently, Abigail first got married at the tender age of eighteen. The chap was absolutely besotted with Abbyher folks didnt mind one bit. Honestly, who wouldnt want their child to be blissfully happy, especially in the early pages of life?
The pair muddled along together for about five years but, for some mysterious reason, there were no little ones on the horizon. Naturally, curiosity got the better of everyone, and soon enough, the whispers began. And, as is so often the case, the blame fell squarely on Abby. Folks claimed shed misbehaved so magnificently during her school days that, by eighteen, shed somehow rendered herself unable to have children.
Abigail didnt exactly win the mother-in-law lottery either; her mother-in-law, straight from the countryside, kept harping on about how her son deserved better. After all, she argued, the chief purpose of a wife was to provide grandchildren. Eventually, her son took this good advice, packed up, and left Abby behind. When divorce came knocking, Abby couldn’t be bothered to swap back her surnameshe reckoned the paperwork would just be too much faff.
Soon after, Abby met someone new andwould you look at thatfound herself expecting. So it turned out not Abby, but her first husband, was at fault. Not that it mattered much; the father scarpered as soon as he heard, leaving Abby to register the baby with her first husbands surname. Brilliant choice, that chap.
Abby’s mum wasnt phased, thoughshe was delighted to have a grandchild at last. More time passed, and Abigail told her parents she was expecting another. At least this time shed properly remarried, which was some improvement. Her new husband, however, hadnt planned on children quite so soontough luck, as it turned out. The baby girl was born with health issues, and the father, thoroughly spooked, bolted without even formalising a divorce.
A little while later, Abigail met another gentleman and decided she fancied another child. Her parents protested; feeding three mouths wasnt easy, especially on a pension, but Abby was resolute. So, child number three arrived, andno prizes for guessingthe father vanished again. The little girl got a new surname, courtesy of her absent dad.
At least Abby managed to buy a flat (well, her parents chipped in too). But, after a grand row with her folks, Abby faced the awkward question of how to support three children on her own. Her next idea? Child maintenance. What do you think happened? Not a single supposed father wanted to step forward. Some simply disappeared, while others tried threatsrather lacking in chivalry, if you ask me.
So, thats Abby for you. Shes got children, but to what end? It seems shes landed herself in a proper pickle, yet again…
