You’re Rolling in Cash, Aren’t You? My Sister-in-Law Borrowed Money and Took Off to Brighton Beach for a Holiday
This summer, my wife’s adored younger sister came to visit us. I used to call her “the golden child,” because at every family gathering, Mum, Dad—everyone—could talk about nothing but her. She was a brilliant student, graduated with honours, landed her dream job—surely the perfect daughter, right?
Me, on the other hand—I’m married to the eldest, who didn’t even finish uni before tying the knot. But no one seemed bothered, as I was relatively well off, running my own business, with a flat, a car, and a healthy income. Still, the youngest daughter held the title of family superstar.
So, as I said, this summer the golden child showed up, asking for a loan to help with the deposit for her mortgage—she was planning to buy a flat. It wasn’t a huge sum for me, so I agreed. She assured me, working in a public sector job, that she’d pay me back promptly, in monthly instalments.
Well, within a week, she swanned off for a seaside holiday in Brighton. I was a bit thrown, to say the least. How does someone with no deposit for a mortgage suddenly have money for a holiday?
She told the family she’d saved up all year for that trip, but, funnily enough, she still hadn’t sorted the mortgage. So I asked her about it—she shrugged and said she’d changed her mind about buying.
I politely asked her to repay the money, explaining it was meant for her flat, not a trip to the coast. Her response really stung:
‘I’ll be earning loads of money soon—can’t you just wait? I’ve got nothing left right now.’
And you can probably guess how this story ends. She told my mother-in-law I’d asked for the loan back too soon—that family shouldn’t behave that way. And just like that, the youngest daughter became an angel again, while we turned into the heartless rich ones! Youre making loads of money, arent you? My wifes sister borrowed money and went off to the seaside.
Ten years working as a cook in my son’s household and nary a word of thanks Today, I find myself
I’m 58 now, and honestly, Ive reached my wits end with my neighbour across the road. She lives
We Weren’t Expecting You Our dad, Jack, had gone off somewhere to earn a living and disappeared
A SENSE OF DREAD You know those nights when you just cant sleep, and you cant really figure out why?
I retired, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness settled in. Only now, in my older years, do I truly
My own mum kicked me out of the flat because she fancied my stepdad more! I lived with my dad until I
I retired, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness settled in. Only now, in my older years, do I truly
I do not want to live with my daughters family! Let me explain why. My daughter and her family found
“Mum, I’m Getting Married!” – Victor Exclaims Happily.
“That’s nice,” Sofia says with little enthusiasm.
“Mum, what’s wrong?” Victor asks, surprised.
“Nothing… Where are you planning to live?” his mother asks, narrowing her eyes.
“Here, of course! You don’t mind, do you? It’s a three-bedroom flat, surely we’ll all fit?”
“Do I have a choice?” she replies.
“Well, renting is out of the question…” Victor mumbles.
“So, I don’t have a choice,” Sofia sighs.
“Mum, rental prices are ridiculous these days! We won’t have enough left for food. We’re not here forever—we’ll work and save for a place of our own much quicker this way.”
Sofia shrugs. “Fine… You can move in and stay as long as you need, but I have two conditions: the bills get split three ways, and I am not the housekeeper.”
“Agreed, Mum, whatever you say,” Victor replies straight away.
They celebrate a modest wedding, and soon Sofia, Victor, and his new wife, Eva, are sharing the flat.
From day one, Sofia always seems to have urgent plans whenever the couple get home—she’s out, the pans are empty, and the flat is left a mess just as the newlyweds left it that morning.
“Mum, where have you been?” Victor asks one evening.
“You know, Victor, the Community Centre rang and invited me to join their Folk Choir—I do have a great voice, as you know…”
“Really?” Victor is surprised.
“Yes! You just forgot. There’s a bunch of other retirees there and we have the best time singing together. I can’t wait to go back tomorrow!” Sofia says cheerfully.
“And tomorrow is choir again?”
“No, tomorrow’s our literary night—we’re reading Shakespeare. You know how much I love Shakespeare.”
“Really?” Victor is surprised again.
“Yes! I’ve told you before! You never pay attention to your old mum,” she teases gently.
Eva listens silently to the entire exchange.
Since Victor got married, Sofia finds a new lease on life: she attends all sorts of groups for pensioners, makes new friends, hosts lively gatherings in the kitchen with tea, biscuits brought by friends, and marathon games of bingo. Sometimes she goes for walks or gets so lost in her favourite soaps she barely hears her son and daughter-in-law come home.
Household chores? Sofia is adamantly uninvolved, leaving everything for Victor and Eva. At first, they don’t complain. Eventually, Eva starts casting glances, then they mutter under their breath, Victor sighs loudly, but Sofia remains blissfully unaware and continues her busy social life.
One day, she returns home, humming “Greensleeves,” and enters the kitchen where the couple sit over a freshly made soup.
“Good news, kids! You can congratulate me—I’ve met a wonderful man, and tomorrow we’re off to a spa together! Isn’t that exciting?”
“It is,” Victor and Eva agree in unison.
“Is it serious?” Victor asks, worried about another household member.
“Well, we’ll see after the spa. Hopefully, I’ll know by then,” Sofia says, happily tucking into her soup.
But after the trip, Sofia returns disappointed. “Alex wasn’t a good match, but I’m not giving up!” She throws herself back into her clubs, walks, and gatherings.
Eventually, Victor and Eva come home to yet another messy flat and empty kitchen, and Eva snaps, banging the empty fridge:
“Sofia, could you please help with the housework too? It’s chaos in here and there’s no food! Why do we have to do everything?”
“Now, why are we so irritable?” Sofia asks, surprised. “If you lived on your own, who would be cleaning for you?”
“But you’re here!” Eva protests.
“I’m not your maid—those days are behind me! I warned Victor I wouldn’t be the housekeeper. If he didn’t tell you, that’s not my fault,” Sofia insists.
“I thought you were joking…” Victor says, bewildered.
“So you want to live here happily and have me do all the housework too? No chance! I set my terms, and if you don’t like it, you’re welcome to find your own place!” Sofia says, disappearing to her room.
The next morning, doing her lipstick and humming “Early One Morning,” she dons her favourite blouse and heads off to the Community Centre for Folk Choir, leaving Victor and Eva to fend for themselves. Mum, Im getting married! my son announced, cheerful as ever. Thats nice, I answered, maybe lacking a
