– I never asked you to have him, – Emily fumed, – so why should I suffer because of your child?
First, you took away my room, then made me a free babysitter, and now you expect me to give away my only friend? Who’s been with me for nine years?!
Absolutely not! I’ll move to Grandma’s, and Rex and I will live there! You can raise little Tommy on your own!
Sixteen-year-old Emily had been constantly clashing with her parents over the past year.
She had her reasons – her parents, after the birth of their son, seemed to have forgotten their elder daughter even existed.
Since the age of nine, Emily had been left to her own devices. When she was younger, she couldn’t comprehend why her parents treated her with such indifference, and their neglect deeply upset her.
Emily secretly cried and confided in her grandmother:
– They’re always with Tommy! When I ask Mom to play with me, she says she’s too busy, and Dad just turns away! Grandma, do they not love me?
– Oh, my dear, – her grandmother Margaret reassured her, looking away, – of course they love you! It’s just hard for them right now.
Tommy is little, he needs attention and constant care. You know he can’t even hold up his head or walk yet.
When he grows a bit older, it’ll get easier. Why don’t you take the initiative and help your mom with your brother? Take him for walks, play with him. Maybe then your mom and dad will have more time.
Margaret fully understood that even with Emily’s active involvement in raising her little brother, it wouldn’t change the situation much.
The problem was that the older child was not loved by either of her parents, Jessica or Mark. They had gotten married, as people say these days, “due to unforeseen circumstances” – Mark had known Jessica for only a few months.
When he started dating her, he hadn’t realized she lied about her age – Jessica intentionally added two years to seem older.
The pregnancy of the sixteen-year-old schoolgirl threatened Mark with big problems, so he couldn’t think of anything better than to marry his girlfriend.
Nobody was expecting Emily, and her parents hadn’t particularly prepared for her arrival. Jessica wanted to enjoy life, and she resented the child who deprived her of that opportunity.
Mark didn’t have any special affection for his daughter for the same reasons. He had always dreamed of having a son.
Tommy became their beacon of joy, he was wanted and planned for. They prepared thoroughly and ahead of time for his arrival.
– Mom, can we buy me a doll? – Emily asked her mother, – that one with the mermaid-like tail.
Jessica, while inspecting tiny hats and socks, responded indifferently:
– I don’t have spare money. Emily, stop embarrassing me! Honestly, it’s embarrassing to go shopping with you – you start begging for things every time!
You do realize your brother’s coming soon, and I have to buy clothes, a crib, and a pram for him before then.
Why are you so selfish? You only ever think about yourself!
Regularly hearing her mother’s reproaches, Emily started to feel guilty. Really, what was she thinking? Sure, she barely had any toys, but her brother needed them more.
***
Tommy never heard the word “no.” The boy received all the love from their parents, Jessica and Mark who practically bought him something new every day.
He even had a separate room prepared before he was even born – Emily was moved to the living room, and they refurbished her bedroom.
When the girl tried to object, her father explained strictly:
– You’re already grown up, you can sleep on the couch! The child needs personal space. Our bedroom is tiny, if we put a crib there, there will be no room left at all.
– Stop making a fuss, – her mother agreed, – if I were in your shoes, I’d be happy. I didn’t have any siblings, I was an only child.
But soon you’ll have someone to play with. Come on, Emily, stop sulking, sort your books and toys.
By the way, you’ll have to throw away half of them – there’s no space to store all this junk.
***
When Tommy was born, Emily lost all her childhood joys. Jessica and Mark decided their daughter was old enough to look after her brother.
When the baby cried at night, her parents would emerge from their bedroom and wake Emily:
– Don’t you hear the child crying? Go give him a bottle, check his diaper. He might need changing.
Emily would get up to attend to the baby at night, and during the day, after returning from school, she would watch her little brother.
Jessica was on her second maternity leave and always seemed to have time for herself.
Margaret, visiting her son and daughter-in-law, constantly voiced her disapproval:
– Jessica, what’s all this? How can you leave the care of a two-month-old baby to a ten-year-old girl? What can she manage on her own?
– I see nothing wrong in it, – Jessica answered her mother-in-law without a care, – let her get used to it.
Sooner or later she’ll become a mother and have to go through all this. It’s a good experience!
Margaret, I’m sure Emily will thank me for this in ten years! Besides, I am tired too. Do you think it’s easy managing two kids on my own?
Mark is no help, he’s always at work, doesn’t help much either. Spends half an hour with Tommy in the evening and that’s it, off to bed, to the couch in front of the TV.
– Jessica, you can’t do this! You’re robbing the child of her childhood. Don’t you see that Emily is at such a tender age where she should be playing dolls with friends, not watching a baby.
I had more than just Mark, I had three other kids, all close in age! I managed somehow, without asking anyone for help.
– It was a different time then, Margaret, – retorted Jessica to her mother-in-law, – I repeat: I see nothing wrong in this help!
After all, Tommy is her brother, she should help raise him. She’s the older one!
***
By the time Emily turned thirteen, she started hating her brother. Tommy was a smart kid but incredibly mischievous.
The boy quickly realized he could blame any of his antics on his big sister – Emily got into trouble for everything:
– I don’t understand what you do here when we’re not around? – Jessica scolded her daughter nearly every evening, – I found broken pieces in the trash bin. Did you break the mug?
– It wasn’t me, – Emily answered, – Tommy knocked it off the table because I wouldn’t let him have candies.
– And who are you to give orders? – Mark immediately defended his son, – did you buy those candies? You’re not the boss! Let him eat!
– Mom told me not to give Tommy sweets. He’s meant to eat his soup first and then have tea and candies.
But Tommy refused his soup and immediately demanded dessert. When I didn’t give him the bowl, he slammed the mug on the floor.
– You careless goose, – Jessica fumed, – what if the child got hurt? You’re nearly grown, but you can’t watch over a child!
You’re grounded today, no outings! You’ll stay home and teach Tommy his letters.
His teacher recently told me that he’s the slowest in the group!
All the kids can already piece together syllables, and ours can’t even count to five. That’s your fault, by the way!
The situation reached a breaking point when Emily turned sixteen. Without asking her permission, her parents decided to give Rex, Emily’s old dog, to a good home – a dog she had found as a puppy years ago and had raised.
– By tomorrow, I want him gone! Tommy started sneezing without reason, and I suspect it’s an allergy to dog hair.
Emily protested:
– I’m not giving Rex away! You can’t make me! He’s the only living being that truly loves me. I won’t give him up!
– Who’s asking you? – Mark commented philosophically, – we’ve tolerated your flea-ridden mutt for long enough.
I would’ve thrown him out sooner, just hadn’t found the right excuse. Smart pest! Never made a mess indoors even once. Though I was waiting for the chance.
Emily held her ground:
– Rex stays with me, I won’t give him to anyone! He’s dear to me! Can’t you understand that I love him?
– So, you don’t love your brother? – Jessica narrowed her eyes, – you’re willing to risk his health for that mutt? Did I get that right?
Emily grew angrier:
– Yes, you got it right! I’m so tired of you and your Tommy! You can’t imagine how sick I am of you both! Why should I give up my only friend for him?
He’s ruined everything, your Tommy! Because of him, I didn’t have a childhood! While my friends played outside, I walked in parks with a pram while you, Mom, were asleep!
While my classmates went to tutors and prepared for exams, I was torn between school, nursery, and home. Because you, Mom, went back to work.
Enough, I’m done! I’m moving to Grandma’s!
***
Margaret welcomed her granddaughter with open arms, having no objections to Rex.
In her grandmother’s apartment, Emily felt at home – no one bossed her around or forced her to spend time with her disliked brother. At Grandma’s, she could do whatever she wanted.
Jessica allowed her elder daughter to live separately for only a month – after four weeks, she called Emily and in a demanding tone commanded:
– Return home immediately! Have you had your break? That’s enough! We can’t manage here on our own.
– Says who? – Emily snarked, – who said I’d come back?
I’m living perfectly well with Grandma and I’m not planning to move back in with you!
– I’m not asking about your plans, – Jessica told Emily, – I’m telling you to pack up and come home immediately.
There’s no one to pick Tommy up from school! I have to skip my lunch to take the child home after lessons.
– And how is that my problem? – Emily retorted rightfully, – your son, your responsibility.
I have my own life, Mom, in case you’ve forgotten. I’m studying at college, getting an education.
Here, at Grandma’s, I have the chance to do my homework peacefully. I’ve caught up on all my subjects! So, I’m sorry, I’ll be staying here.
– We’ll see about that, – Jessica snapped, – when your father gets home from work, I’ll send him after you. He’ll drag you back home! Think you’re all grown-up? Independent now?
Margaret, who witnessed the conversation, gestured for her granddaughter to give her the phone:
– You don’t get to dictate everything, Jessica, – Margaret stood up for Emily, – you’ve hounded the girl enough, let her breathe!
Tommy’s seven this year. Can’t he stay by himself for a bit?
If you’re scared to leave him alone, hire a nanny! Leave Emily alone, I’m not sending her back to you. Let the child study in peace!
And pass my words on to Mark!
***
Emily was left alone. From her grandmother, she learned that her parents eventually resolved the issue with her younger brother – they spared no expense and hired a nanny for dear Tommy.
Emily doesn’t regret her decision. After all, Tommy is her brother, not her son. She shouldn’t have to be responsible for him.
