Poor Little Lamb
– Mum, Dad! burst in Emily one Saturday, cheeks glowing Im getting married! Jamies proposed, and I said yes, straight away!
– Crikey, Emily, youre all grown up now, exclaimed Janet, throwing her hands up with a mix of shock and delight. She glanced over at her husband, Peter, who sat stone-faced, clearly chewing over the big news.
– Course I am, Mum, Emily grinned proudly. I finished uni, already working in London, and Jamies got a good job too, so we thought, why not?
Janet and Peter knew Jamie well enough a polite, steady bloke from a nearby town, lived with his mum, Mary. Theyd never object to having him as a son-in-law.
Janet and Peter decided to organise the wedding themselves, honest as they were, living out in their old cottage with a bit of land. Jamie had managed to save a little, but Peter quickly settled the matter.
– Jamie, mate, you keep your savings. Youll need every penny for a flat. Leave the wedding to us and your mum, if she can help.
Jamies mum, Mary, spoke up straight away:
– Im awfully sorry, but Ive not got anything spare. Raised Jamie on my own on the one wage, maybe can manage a little something for a gift, thats all.
Janet harboured no hard feelings towards her in-law but couldnt help trusting her less because of her constant pleading poverty. They booked out a small café in town nothing glamorous, but the wedding was lovely regardless.
Afterwards, Emily and Jamie started out by getting a mortgage with Janet and Peters help for the deposit Mary, yet again, couldnt contribute, citing her endless loans.
Emily and Jamie settled into their new flat, and before long, their daughter, little Sophie, arrived. Janet and Peter, out in the countryside, would bring Sophie little something every time from their pensions eggs, milk, carrots, home-cooked pies. Theyd come bearing vegetables and homemade jams on every visit.
Janet would occasionally ring up her in-law:
– Mary, shouldnt we put together for a decent gift for our granddaughter? She needs so much these days.
– Oh, Jan, you know I havent got spare, dear, Mary would reply, on the edge of tears just me alone, difficult enough as it is.
On Emilys birthday, Janet and Peter turned up with food and a joint of beef; Mary pressed a crisp tenner into Emilys hand, while Janet topped it up with another fifty quid, thinking nothing of the cost. Still, Janet was gnawed by how Mary never helped out.
– Peter, why is it that we never count the cost where our children are concerned, yet Mary does nothing but complain? Always with the sad story, gets right on my wick. Everyones got problems; you find a way and you work. Imagine me being like her hanging round, feeling sorry for myself. I pull my weight same as you, Janet declared in exasperation. Peter, predictable as ever, just listened quietly.
Janet had noticed Mary was always immaculate: hair freshly cut, nails done, clothes well kept. Yet, she always cried poverty didnt add up.
But Peters reaction caught Janet off-guard.
– Its a fine thing for a woman to look after herself. Mary does a smashing job of it keeps her young, I reckon.
Janets jaw nearly hit the floor.
– Easy for her when shes got all the time in the world, Janet snapped. Flat in town, no garden, no animals to worry about. Im run off my feet dawn till dusk: veg patch, chickens, housework Still, Peter lapped it up in silence, knowing her well enough to keep out of it.
Life carried on the same as ever; Peter half-heartedly helped on the plot, but mostly it was down to Janet. He spent most of his time driving lorries for the council.
When Sophie turned three, she started nursery and fell ill frequently. It was decided Mary would mind her, since she was a pensioner with time on her hands.
– Alright, happy to help. What else am I doing? Mary agreed.
Janet breathed a sigh of relief.
– Thank the Lord shes finally pitching in.
As time passed, Janet noticed Peter had started making regular trips into town.
– Jan, pack up a bit of cream, some eggs, potatoes Ill take them round to Emilys. Have to nip into town for parts anyway. Plus, Ill check on Sophie.
Janet cheerfully packed him off.
– God knows what theyre paying in those city shops. At least ours is proper food.
But Peter began coming home later and later from these trips. He always had excuses: car repairs, shopping. The odd thing was, hed never been one for hanging about, but suddenly he spent ages with Emily and Jamie, or at least thats what he claimed.
At first, Janet didnt think much of it. Then it dawned on her.
– Goodness gracious, Peters taken a shine to Mary theres something going on need to keep an eye on this.
Next time Peter announced a trip to town, Janet chimed in:
– Ill come too, Peter. Missing Sophie, wanted to look in a few shops.
He agreed, looking rather deflated.
– You alright, love? Janet asked on the drive youre in a funny mood.
– Oh, just a headache, he mumbled, clearly caught on the back foot.
They knocked at Emilys flat. Mary opened the door, dressing gown a little loose, face freshly powdered, a wide smile. The moment she saw Janet, her smile froze and she quickly tied her dressing gown.
They played with Sophie, gifted her a new doll; when Sophie nodded off, Mary offered tea.
At the table, Janet watched Mary shoot Peter meaningful looks, and he responded in kind.
– Blimey, what do they take me for? Janet silently fumed. No shame, the pair of them, flirting right under my nose.
Peter announced he was popping downstairs for a smoke. The moment he left, Janet went for it.
– Mary, dont play the helpless lamb. I see everything, and Im not daft. I know my husbands been frequenting this flat for more than just his granddaughter. Im telling you now, knock it off. If a mans what youre after, find yourself a husband. Leave mine out of it. Its not right to be cozying up to another womans husband, especially your sons father-in-law! If you dont stop, Ill start coming round to mind Sophie myself. You ought to be ashamed.
Mary turned beetroot red, floored by Janets bluntness. Plain old Janet from the sticks, she must have thought. Never imagined Id be alert.
As they left, Janet called out to her:
– Dont make the mistake of thinking Im a fool.
On the way home, Janet let Peter have it:
– Youre not going on your own again. I know whats what, and Mary wont be cutting eye at you anymore Ive put a stop to it.
– Jan, whats got into you? It was nothing, youre reading too much into things, Peter tried to protest feebly.
– Oh, was it? Either way, youre not calling round unless Im with you. And if it ever comes to someone minding Sophie, Ill do it myself. You sort out the garden and the chickens. Im not saying things twice.
Later, Emily rang up, upset.
– Mum, why were you short with Mary? She helps us so much with Sophie. And seriously, why would you be jealous of Dad visiting her? Hes only checking on Sophie.
Janet was fuming, realising Mary had spun the story her own way.
– Emily, youre young. Imagine your husband hanging around your mates flat all day! Marys got to know better you dont get friendly with another womans husband at home with her. Youve one mother, and everything provided for you is thanks to me, not your dad. If Mary wont look after Sophie, Ill come myself.
– Sorry, Mum, Mary made you out to be in the wrong. Now youve explained it, its different she twisted everything her way.
– Of course! I told her straight. She had no idea I knew what was going on. Sat there, red as a lobster.
Peter calmed down after that. If he needed to go into town, he always let Janet know, often asking her to come along. Janet was happy for the excuse to see Sophie, and Peter, perhaps to appease her, pitched in more around the garden, did the heavy work, let Janet put her feet up more often. They started tending the veg together.
A man should have proper work to do, I mused, or his thoughts wander to trouble, and hell value his wife more. These days, Im not so worn out myself I look after my appearance now. Why shouldnt I, just as much as Mary does?
Thanks for reading. Wishing everyone the best of luck and happiness.
