I had to get a separate fridge so my mum wouldnt take my food shopping.
I had to get my own fridge, says Emily. Its ridiculous, but theres no other option. I wouldnt mind selling the flat and splitting the money, but shes completely against it.
Emily turned 24 not long ago. Shes got a university degree and landed a job, but shes still single. Her life at home has never been easy. Emily owns half of the flatthe place used to belong to her father. She and her mum inherited equal shares when Emily was just 14.
It was a rough time for the family ten years ago, as theyd lost their breadwinner. Emilys mum gave up work when Emily was little, deciding not to take her maternity leave since her husband earned enough and everything seemed fine. She devoted herself to running the house. After Emilys father died, her mum broke down: Whos going to take me on at forty? As a cleaner? Thats all Id get.
Emily carries on with her story: I received survivors allowance, but Mum just couldnt stop herself from visiting beauty salons and buying herself new clothes, even when we were scraping by. At first, my uncle helped her out, but eventually, he got fed up.
My uncle told Linda (my mum) she needed to find a job. He had two children of his own and just couldnt afford to look after all of us anymore. After about a year, Linda brought home a boyfriend called Dave. She announced hed be moving in. Mum tried dealing with the money problem in her own wayby getting remarried. Dave did earn well, but he and his stepdaughter clashed constantly.
Daves words stuck with me: All you do is eat. Wouldnt it be better if you did some laundry or cleaning up? Why are you always doing homework? Planning on university? What foryou should be working. Do you think Ill just keep feeding you forever?
I couldnt say anything. Yes, I got survivors allowance, but my mum controlled the money. Linda wouldnt stand up for me against Daveshe was afraid shed lose the breadwinner.
How will we manage without him? she asked me. Just dont argue and do as he says. He keeps food on our table.
Eventually, I made it to university and managed to get a job. Still, all those years, they treated me like just another mouth to feed, with Dave constantly counting every penny he spent on me.
Six months after finding work, I finally saved up for my own fridge, Emily explains. I kept it in my room because Dave locked the one in the kitchen.
Youve got a job? Fine, you feed yourself now, said Dave.
Linda went quiet again. She kept silent even when Dave started showing me bills for the water, electricity, and the rest, demanding I pay him back for everything hed ever spent on me. Soon after, Dave was made redundant. He and Mum started raiding my fridge whenever they fancied. All the household bills landed squarely on my shoulders. At first, I paid up, but Dave was unemployed for almost a year. Id had enough and put a padlock on my fridge. Of course, Mum didnt approve, insisting Dave had kept us fed all those years.
I told her: If you want to help me, then do it. Its not just me whos expected to split everything in this house. Go out and get a job.
Dave moved out of the flat fairly recently, and Mums had enough of a man who isnt contributing. But Ive still not taken the padlock off the fridge. I think Linda should find a job, too. What do you reckonis that fair?
