I had to get a separate fridge, honestly. It sounds ridiculous, but there was no other option. Sometimes I wonder how things ended up like this; I wouldnt mind selling the flat and splitting the money, but Mum refuses.
I turned 24 not long ago. I finished university, found myself a job, but married life hasnt come round yet. Living at home has never been straightforward. I own half the flat now. It used to belong to Dad. When I was 14, he passed away, and Mum and I inherited equal shares.
Its been ten years since, but I still remember how tough it was without Dad. Mum had quit work when I was a childnever bothered with maternity leave, figured Dads salary was more than enough. She focused on running the household. When Dad died, I overheard her sob, Whos going to hire me now, at forty? Am I supposed to clean offices?
I got a widow’s pension, but Mum couldnt resist the hair salons or new outfits, even when money was tight. At first, her brother helped out, but he grew tired of supporting us.
Uncle Richard gave Mum a talking-to: You need to find a job, Alice. Youve got two kids. I cant support everyone. About a year later, Mum brought home a man. His name was Alan. She told me hed be living with us. Mum tried to solve our financial issues her own wayremarrying. Alan did earn a decent wage, but he and I just couldnt get along.
Alan was blunt: You just eat. Wouldnt it be better if you handled the washing or tidying? Why bother with homework? Off to university, really? Its time you worked. Or do you expect me to feed you forever?
I never replied. The pension went straight to Mum. She wouldnt defend me from Alan, terrified of losing our new provider. What would we do without him? shed say to me. Just avoid arguments and do as he says. He keeps a roof over our heads.
I managed to finish university and land a job, but all those years, I felt like nothing more than an extra mouth, a burden Alan counted every penny spent on.
Half a year into my job, I finally bought myself a fridge. I had to keep it in my bedroom because Alan locked up the one in the kitchen.
Youve got a job now? Feed yourself, then, Alan announced. Mum said nothing, not even when Alan started showing me bills and demanding I pay him back for everything hed spent on me. After a while, though, Alan lost his job. He and Mum began raiding my fridge regularly. All the blaming shifted onto me. At first, I paid for everything. But Alan was unemployed for nearly a year, and I got fed upso I put a padlock on my fridge. Naturally, Mum opposed, insisting Alan had provided us food all this time.
I told her, If you want things to change, help me out. Im not the one starting the division in this house. Go out and find work.
Alan recently moved out. Mum got tired of a man who couldnt bring in any money. But even now, I refuse to remove the padlock from my fridge. Id prefer Mum find a job too. Sometimes I wonderam I being unreasonable?
