A Babysitter for My Brother
– Whats going on, Emily? Still not answering?
– Shes STILL not answering! – I flung my phone onto the worktop. – Shes not responded since six oclock! I didnt go round to Mums because of her Ive got to cook there, got to cook here, and no one to leave Charlie with Some help shes turned out to be!
At that moment, the front door clicked open.
– Oh, youre still up? – Lily called over her shoulder, not bothering to take out her earphones, and made straight for her room, totally ignoring us.
But there was no way Mum was going to let her get away with that.
– Lily! Hold it right there! – Mums fierce shout stopped Lily in her tracks, but she didnt turn around, – Where do you think youre going? Youre late by how long? Six hours! Dont fancy explaining yourself?
Lily took out her earphones, obviously not in the mood.
– Whats the drama now?
– You promised! – I groaned in despair, – You said youd watch Charlie!
Lily, who clearly wanted nothing more than to collapse into bed, muttered,
– Well, it didnt work out, did it? No one died. You were home, werent you?
– I told you a week ago youd need to keep an eye on your brother today! Dads on the late shift, theres no way hed make it, and I needed to go to Grans. You dont care about your brother, your gran, or even your mum!
But the truth was, Lily just stayed out too late with her mates, then Ben suggested everyone pile round his place for a bit Time just disappeared on her. She forgot.
Or at least, thats what Lily told herself.
Because her phone wasnt dead shed switched it off herself.
– I did promise, Mum. But plans changed.
– Let me smell your breath, – Mum demanded.
– What is this, a prison now? – Lily snapped.
– Been drinking, I see, – Mum stated, – Parties matter more than your own family, obviously.
That finally set Lily off.
– Yes, they do! I never agreed to be your babysitter, and Im not watching Charlie. Thats for you to sort out. You wanted to play at being parents at your age enjoy it. Ive got my own life!
Up to this point, Dad had never once shouted at Lily or even really told her off, but now he got involved.
– No ones trying to make you a babysitter. We hardly ever ask you for anything, Lily. But tonight we really needed your help, and you promised Lily, you were six hours late, you turned off your phone, and youre trying to pin this on us?
– Im not pinning anything, but Charlies your responsibility. I was out with friends, like everyone else my age. Am I supposed to be different?
Wed done our best not to overload Lily with chores at home. She only left school recently, a child herself, really, and now shed made it into a good university with a tough course. We understood and felt sorry for her.
Pity she didnt feel the same for anyone else.
– You know whats worse? – Mum chimed in, – The worst part is because of you, I didnt get to help your grandma. She cant even cook for herself! I cant keep splitting myself between a three-year-old and a poorly mother!
Lily, undoing the elaborate hairstyle her friend from uni had given her, said, ice-cold,
– Your problem, Mum. Youre the one who wanted a child late in life. Deal with it. I owe you nothing.
It stung so much that even Dad winced.
– Lily, thats out of order!
– Whys it out of order? Im at uni. Im supposed to socialise, make friends, maybe meet someone not babysit your son every night!
Dad sat her down.
– Just listen, Lily. No one is asking you to take on a full-time job here. All we wanted was a small favour, not employment just to help out your family. You agreed.
Lily, too far in now to turn back, retorted,
– I agreed, and then changed my mind. Life happens.
– Maybe so, but this was you changing plans and not letting us know, – Dad replied, – I get it, youre busy. Youve got friends. But, Lily, youre part of this family too. No one is locking you up, but sometimes, we need a bit of help as well. Could you find a couple of hours, even just once a week, to look after your brother? So we could get to a doctors appointment, or like yesterday, visit your gran?
She didnt even let him finish. She huffed, tossed her head, sending hairpins clattering to the floor.
– No.
– Why not?
– Because its not my job, Dad. Im not giving up my life for your choices.
Lily braced herself, expecting the row of her life. Surely any second now
– Alright, – Dad said quietly, – I hear you.
Wait, what? Where was the shouting? The confiscated phone? The whole one day youll regret this speech?
– So thats it? – Lily asked.
– Thats it. For today, anyway.
Lily, a little thrown by how easily they let her go, hurried off to wash her makeup off, desperate for bed this evening had been exhausting, and now Mum and Dad were on her case too.
But in their room, my parents conversation wasnt done.
– Mark, how can she be so heartless? – Mums voice now full of sadness, – We brought her up just like other kids. We never denied her anything, never forbade without reason, never tyrannised her! And yet she acts like she doesnt care about us at all What now? Do we have to beg her to help with her brother?
– No, – Mark shook his head, – No begging. If she reckons she owes us nothing, perhaps we need to let her stand on her own, at least until she learns what being truly independent means.
***
The next morning didnt start with a nice cup of tea, but with a feeling that last nights row wasnt finished.
Lily was up first. She grabbed some water and picked at the tasteless sandwiches stuffed in the fridge the night before. As Mum came in, carrying Charlie, Lily quickly turned to her phone to dodge any lecture. But Mum ate in silence. Then Dad came in and even said:
– Morning, Lily.
– Wow, still speaking to me then, – Lily shot back.
Dad opened a folder with the family finances inside.
– Lily, need a word.
She rolled her eyes.
– Is this about being responsible again? I told you
– No, not about responsibility, – he cut her off, – Well, a bit, but more about money. Starting this month, we expect your share for food and bills. Rent too, your share.
Lily smirked, convinced this was some weird joke to wind her up after last night. Fair enough, shed stressed them out, now it was their turn in the morning. Balance restored.
– Ha, Dad. Comedys not your thing. But Im not rising to it.
But Dad was ready for her.
– Not joking, Lily. From now on, if you want to be so independent, you pay your way for everything. End of.
Even Charlie, squishing his breakfast, was staring at Dad. He didnt get talk of bills, but he knew serious voices.
– What? – Lily gasped.
– You said you owe us nothing. Right. That means you arent dependent on us anymore. Starting this month, you pay your share of food, bills, and the big one your tuition.
Lily twigged then Dad wasnt winding her up, he was serious. Maybe they were more hurt by her words than she thought.
– Youre not serious? Ok, maybe you dont want to feed me, but you must pay for my uni! Thats sacred! Youd never let me drop out. I know you.
– I can, – he replied, – Youre nineteen now, an adult. Grownups pay for themselves. Weve always said wed support you through uni, while you live here, but thats because we expect a bit of respect and involvement from you. You turned that down, so well stop helping, too.
Mum shot Dad a did we go too far? look.
Lily, still holding a chunk of cheese, dropped it onto her plate and stormed off,
– Fine, Ill skip breakfast then! Wouldnt want you to stick me with the bill!
The rest of us finished our meal. Lily dressed loudly in her room, made a racket to make her point, and legged it to her lectures which, for now, were still paid.
– Did we go too far? – Mum whispered.
Dad gnawed his cheese, struggled to swallow.
But he barked,
– Just enough, Anna! If we all owe nothing, she can be an adult by law. Time to pay her own way. Hurts, but its needed. Shes got far too used to leaning on us
Lily barely saw us after that. Out early, back even later. Didnt even eat at home. Mum, though Dad told her not to, asked gently if she was eating Lily just shot her a wounded look and moved on.
She lucked into a café job, taking over from a friend who quit. Lily did four-hour shifts after lectures, waiting tables at least she finally had money of her own.
We were worried, but stuck to our plan.
– She skipped another dinner, Mark. She must be starving. Parentings one thing, but whats she doing to herself – Mum fretted.
– Shell come round, Anna. Shell realise family means helping one another, shell come round. Shes just being stubborn.
And on the third month of this frosty standoff, Lily finally said,
– Alright, you win, consider yourself successful blackmailers. I cant hack lectures and working every night and the pay is rubbish anyway Ill look after Charlie, a few times a week, three hours at a stretch. Treat it like a job. There. And heres some money for rent, Ive saved what I can.
She put down £200 on the table. Couldnt manage more. But we didnt take it.
– Lily we never meant to hurt you. Were not blackmailers, – Mum said, – We took care of you not because we had to, but because were your family and we love you. Please, show us some of that in return. Just be part of us.
– I get it, Im sorry – and for the first time, she hugged us both herself.
Thats how life teaches you: familys not just a word for the people youre born with its about what you do for them, and what they do for you. I learned, as a parent, that sometimes letting your child stand on their own feet is the most loving thing you can do.
