“You live well, so you should help your relatives!”
“Emma, are you at home?”
“No, I’m on my way. What’s up?”
“We need to talk. How long until you’re here?”
“About half an hour. Is everything okay, Mum?”
“You’ll find out later.”
This conversation took place between Emma and her mother, Valerie Smith.
Emma barely had time to change clothes and unpack her groceries before the doorbell rang.
“Mum, what’s happened?”
Valerie gave the apartment a suspicious glance before entering.
“I see you’ve got a new TV.”
“Yes.”
“Living the high life,” muttered her mother as she headed to the kitchen.
“Tea, coffee?”
“I’ll pass. I’m here on business.”
But it was at that moment that Valerie spotted the expensive salami and a whole heap of fruit.
“You really live in luxury. Look at all you’ve bought.”
“Yes, Mum. We can afford it.”
“Indeed. Your father and I worked at the factory our whole lives, and you, well, you get to run a business. Aren’t you lucky!”
Emma and her husband, Paul, had indeed started their own business from scratch. Nobody helped them or provided funds for the initial investments.
They achieved everything through their own hard work. They took a risk and got a loan, even though there was a chance it could all go wrong, and they’d be left with debts. At that time, nobody supported the young family, yet now they were criticized because evidently, they lived better than other family members.
Emma knew well from her mother’s tone that nothing good was forthcoming. Either it was another request or a complaint.
“Here’s what I wanted to talk about. Your sister, Lucy, has been working for peanuts for months now. You know she’s a shop assistant.”
“Yes, I’m aware,” nodded Emma.
“Well, I thought it would be nice if you could get her a job at your company.”
“In what sense?” Emma was puzzled.
“In the direct sense. Don’t you need employees?”
“No, our team’s full.”
Valerie gave her daughter a reproachful look.
“So, there are no positions at all?”
“I’m telling you, we have no openings.”
But this argument did not deter her mother, who persisted.
“You know, it seems to me that you just don’t want to help your sister. That’s why you come up with excuses.”
Emma knew very well why her mother was bringing this up again. It wasn’t the first time.
From childhood, Lucy, as the younger daughter, had been Valerie’s favorite. She always tried to give her the best.
So, Lucy was used to receiving everything she wanted. Unlike Emma, who worked hard and wanted a better life.
While their parents worked, their younger daughter couldn’t be pushed into working, no matter what. But later, she had to because living on one pension wasn’t enough.
Without education and work experience, she wasn’t much welcomed anywhere. Unlike Emma, who started working at 18 while pursuing a degree.
Gradually, she worked towards starting her own business with her husband, living life on their terms. Meanwhile, Lucy remained unsatisfied but turned down changing her own circumstances.
It was easier if someone else did the work for her. Her mother or sister, for example. And Valerie didn’t stray far from this belief, thinking Emma should support her sister. So she continued.
“Mum, I’ve already explained everything to you.”
“Indeed. It’s easier for you to hire strangers than to help family.”
But Emma and Paul had a steadfast rule: do not hire relatives and friends. Why? Because they tend to slack off and become bold.
They’d made that mistake once and swore not to repeat it. Business and friendships shouldn’t be mixed. The same goes for relatives.
But that wasn’t the only reason Emma didn’t want to help her sister. Initially, they didn’t have a great relationship.
You could even say they couldn’t stand each other since childhood. It began when their mother started favoring Lucy over Emma.
What did Valerie expect with such a treatment towards her elder daughter?
“Mum, I said I wouldn’t help. I’m not firing anyone to hire Lucy.”
“You’re selfish, no doubt! Still, what can we expect from you? You’re well off and won’t understand us simple folk.”
Valerie turned to leave, but despite her strong character and hurt feelings, she took the bag of groceries.
Emma didn’t stop her, knowing it made no sense. Moreover, her mother would perceive it as a weakness.
That evening, Paul came home, seeing from his wife’s face that she’d been crying.
“Emma, what happened?”
“Mum came over.”
“I see. Did she ask about Lucy again?”
“Yes.”
Paul embraced Emma tightly, showing his support.
“I hope you didn’t take her words to heart?”
“No, I got used to her antics long ago,” Emma shook her head.
“That’s right. You know the moment you make concessions, they’ll take advantage.”
“Yes, I know, but it still hurts.”
Then her phone rang, showing Lucy’s number.
“Hello,” she answered indifferently.
“I don’t get it; is it so hard for you to share?”
“What do you mean? Lucy, what are you on about?”
Emma initially thought she was talking about the job, but it turned out differently.
“I saw Mum brought back some salami and fruit. Why send so little? You could have given more. After all, you’re doing well.”
Emma sighed heavily and then replied,
“And who said I owe you anything?”
“Because I’m your sister, and you’re supposed to help me.”
“No, dear. I owe you nothing. Just as you owe me nothing. We each live our own lives within our means. Want a better life? Go look for opportunities. Don’t wait for handouts.”
She thought Lucy would hang up in anger, but Lucy found a response.
“Of course, you can say that, having your own business and all the privileges. What about me?”
“Then start your own, for goodness’ sake! Go for it!”
Emma no longer wanted to hear such reproaches. She knew very well that her sister and mother wouldn’t change. Proving her point to them was a futile effort.
Indeed, cherish those who value you and don’t bend over backward just because they’re family.
