**Diary Entry**
My own son betrayed his mother.
At the graduation ball, every girl wanted a photo with him. He chose Poppy She wasnt pretty, clever, or accomplished. But her father was some local bigwig. And Poppys dress that night was the most extravagantof course. She got into university too. Just like that, she took his hand at graduation and never let go, dragging him along for years until she led him straight to the altar.
***
**LIFE AS IT IS. My Boy**
When he was little, we all doted on him like he was a painting. Not only was he a beautiful child, but he had this way about himso charming! Anyone who held him would get cuddled like he was their own. Strangers would slip sweets into his hands. Mary worried theyd jinx him. At school, girls would squabble over himeveryone wanted to be his friend, then his girlfriend. Nick was top of his class, an athlete. Only trouble was, we were poor. But the local posh girls didnt care that their idol wore the same jeans until they frayed at the ankles. Theyd have mocked anyone elsebut not him.
Then came graduation. Every girl wanted a picture with him. He chose Poppy No beauty, no brains. Just her father, some council official. And that dress of hersridiculously lavish. Of course, she got into uni. She latched onto him that night and never let go, leading him by the hand for years until marriage.
Before the wedding, Mary sold her pig, gave Nick the moneyand that was it. He took those few hundred quid and off he went.
* * *
Mary came to the village with a little boy in her arms. Whether it was gossip or truth, who knows. They said the childs father bought her the cottage to keep her quiethe was married, after all. No one ever saw any family of hers. She lived simply, worked in the village shop, kept a smallholding. There were suitors, but she turned them all away. Ive got a man, shed say. A joke! Friends would nudge herits hard on your own. Shed snap.
When she took little Nick to his first day of school, she spotted Victorthe new PE teacher, fresh out of college. Their eyes met, just by chance. Then they kept seeking each other out. Before she knew it, they were together. Victor taught Nick to ride a bike, fix a puncture. They went to the woods in winter, planted the garden in spring. Mary never quite found the courage to tell Nick the truth. She noticed whenever she hugged Victor or even just touched him, the boy would stiffen and fall silent.
Whats wrong, love? Hes good to us! Hell be your dad she whispered once Victor had gone.
I dont want you to love him! Just me! the boy muttered.
One morning, Nick woke to find Victor in bed with his mother.
This is how itll be now, lad! Victor said, wrapping an arm around himgenuine, warm.
No! I dont want you living with us! he screamed. He refused breakfast, bolted out. Mary found him at dusk, brought him home.
Is he inside? Nick asked, tears streaming, pointing at the door.
He is
Tell him to leave. Or I wont go in.
Son! Hes never said a cruel word to you! Well be a family, like everyone else
I dont want like everyone else! Just you and me! Hes not my dad!
He will be. Youll see.
Victor left with his suitcase, same as hed arrived. He hugged Mary, kissed her forehead.
Think it over, Nick. Im not your enemy, he said, almost sheepish. Will you?
No! The boy shook his head, turned away.
If you let him stay, Ill run off! he hissed once the gate closed behind Victor.
Mary chose her son. Victor left the villagegone for good, it seemed. No one saw him again. That New Year, Mary had another boyGeorge. She feared Nick would reject him too, but he doted on the baby, never asked where he came from. And Mary? She spent years making it up to Nick, terrified of upsetting him.
My Nicks so grown-up, shed boast to friends. Such a golden boyI ask him for advice, not the other way round. Theyd scoff. They knew exactly why Mary was still alonehis advice.
When Nick started dating Poppy at school, Mary was thrilled. The girls family had money. Once they married, theyd set him up for lifethat was her hope.
As always, she waited for her student son to come home on Saturday. Pies baked, jelly set. The train had long passed, but no Nick.
Mum! George ran in from the football pitch. Nicks gone to Poppys!
No supper. Just waiting. He didnt come. Not by morning, either. He dashed in just to catch the train backno kiss goodbye.
Mum! Were getting married! he announced.
She wanted to scold him for staying out, say all shed thought through the night. But the words clogged her throat as he ploughed on:
Youll help, wont you? Sell a pig or something.
Of course, love. Whens the wedding?
Dunno yet. Well do it in Londonstudent-style. Not this dump.
By next weekend, Mary sold the pig. Nick swung by for the cash. Took it without a word, didnt count it. Straight back to Poppy.
Villages know everything. The buzz was that the in-laws were throwing a proper country wedding. Nick never came home. No courting, no arrangements. Unnatural. She worked up the nerve to visit the in-laws, offer help. The mother-in-law met her at the gate.
Help? From you? She sneered. Weve got professionals. Our sort. Youve no place at the weddingyoure neither wife nor widow! The boy grew up fatherless because of you! A bastard! Think were thrilled to welcome that into our family? Himfine, for our daughters sake. But you? Stay away! The gate slammed in her face.
Mary stumbled home like she was drunk. No one had ever cut her so deep. What had she raised? Some son! And after all shed given Self-pity blurred the world with tears.
The wedding was a three-day spectacle. Hired bands, selective guest lists. The talk of the villagenot just the excess, but the scandal: the grooms mother wasnt there. Some smirked. Others tutted. How could he?
Mary never left the house that day. Shed waited the night before too. Couldnt believe he wouldnt come, invite her. Maybe at dawn No. Honking cars decked in ribbons sped past her cottage. She buried herself under the blankets. George pretended to read. Evening fell. George sneaked into the reception, grabbed Nicks arm.
Nick! How could you? Mums been crying all day!
Listen, squirt. Tell her to stop. Im sorted now. Deal with Poppys lot: marry her, never see you again. I gave my word.
Ill give you George swung. Nick caught his wrist, twisted.
Piss off before anyone sees you! Dont wreck this for me, you little runt. Understood? He shoved him into the street.
Mary waited on the doorstep. Didnt ask where hed been. They hugged.
**Lesson learned: Love doesnt always mean loyalty. Sometimes, the ones you give everything to are the first to walk away.**
