I had to buy a separate fridge, says Emily. I know, its ridiculousbut honestly, theres no way around it. I wouldnt mind selling the flat, splitting the money. But Mum refuses.
Emily recently turned twenty-four. She has a university degree, landed a job, but hasnt tied the knot yet. Life in her own home is far from a stroll in Hyde Park. Emily owns half the apartment. It used to belong to her dad. When he passed away, she and her mother inherited equal shares. Emily was fourteen at the time.
Ten years ago, things were extremely tight for the familytheyd lost their breadwinner. Emilys mum, Margaret, had quit her job when Emily was little. She didnt bother with maternity leave. Her husband was earning handsomely, and the piggy bank was always full. Margaret dedicated herself to keeping the house in order. Then, after Emilys dad died, Margaret sobbed, What am I supposed to do? At forty, whos going to hire me now? Become a cleaning lady? Really?
Emily recalls, We got a survivors pension, but Mum couldnt resist fancy salons or treating herself to new things, even when we were barely scraping by. At first, her brother helped, but eventually hed had enough.
Emilys uncle told Margaret, You really need to find a job. Youve got two kids. I cant support you all forever. About a year later, Margaret brought home a man named Roger. She announced hed be living with them. Her own solution to the money issue: get re-married. Roger did make a fair bit, but he simply couldnt get along with Emily.
Rogers words: You just eat and sit around. Why dont you help with the laundry or tidy up? Whats this homework nonsense? Off to university? Studying? You ought to be working. Or do you think Ill feed you forever?
Emily couldnt argue. The pension was hers, but Mum got the cash. Margaret had no intention of standing up for Emily against her stepdad. She was terrified of losing the provider. How would we manage without him? Margaret would ask. Just dont argue too much and do what he says. Hes the breadwinner.
Emily managed to go to university and bag herself a job. All those years, she felt like an extra mouth, sponging off her stepdad. Roger kept meticulous tabs on what he spent raising his stepdaughter.
Six months after I got my job, Emily recounts, I bought my own fridge. Put it right in my bedroomstepdad had padlocked the kitchen fridge.
Roger declared, If youve got a job, feed yourself. Margaret kept quiet, even when Roger would hand Emily utility bills and receipts, demanding repayment for everything hed spent on her all those years. Eventually, Roger lost his job. He and Margaret started selling off itemsincluding Emilys fridge. All complaints landed squarely on Emilys shoulders. Initially, she paid. But Roger was unemployed for nearly a year. Fed up, Emily locked her fridge. Margaret kicked up a fuss, insisting Roger had provided for them all that time.
Emily said, Look, if you want to help, help me. Im hardly the one who started dividing up everything in this house. Get a job.
Rogers recently moved out of the flat. Margaret had enough of a man who brought in no money. But Emily still refuses to unlock her fridge. She thinks her mum should get a job too. Do you reckon shes got a point?
