**A Mother Betrayed by Her Own Son**
At the prom, all the girls wanted to take a picture with him. But he chose Emily Not that she was particularly pretty, clever, or accomplished. But her father was a local bigwig, and her prom dress was the most extravagant. She got into university too. And just like thatonce she took his hand that night, she never let go. Years passed, and soon, she led him straight to the altar.
***
**LIFE AS IT IS. My Boy.**
People doted on him like he was a painting. Not only was he handsome, but he had a way of making everyone adore him. If someone held him, hed snuggle up like family. Strangers slipped him sweets just to see him smile. Mary worried they might jinx him. In school, girls fought over who got to be his friend, and later, his girlfriend. Nicholastop of his class, star athlete. Only problem? He was dirt poor. The local fashionistas didnt care, though. Even when his jeans were worn to threads, no one mocked him. They never would.
At the prom, everyone wanted a photo with him. He chose Emily Not a beauty, not sharp, not accomplished. But her father was a man of influence. And her dress? The finest there. She got into uni, too. And just like thatshe never let go of his hand, not for years, until she married him.
Before the wedding, Mary sold her pig and gave Nicholas the moneyevery last penny. He took it, said nothing, and left.
***
Mary arrived in the village with a little boy in her arms. People whisperedsome said his father, a married man, had bought her the house to keep her quiet. No one ever saw her family. She lived simply, worked in the village shop, kept a small garden. Suitors came knocking, but she turned them all away. “I have a man,” shed say. A joke, really.
When she took Nicholas to school, she met Victorthe new PE teacher, fresh out of university. Their eyes met once, then kept finding each other. Before she knew it, they were together. Victor taught Nicholas to ride a bike, fix a puncture, and theyd walk through the woods in winter, plant vegetables come spring. But Mary hesitated to tell Nicholas the truth. She noticed how he stiffened when she hugged Victor, or even just touched his arm in front of him.
“Why, love? Hes good to us. He could be your dad,” she whispered after Victor left.
“I dont want you to love him! Just me!” the boy muttered.
One morning, Nicholas woke to find Victor in bed with his mother.
“From now on, its like this, lad,” Victor said, wrapping an arm around him.
“No! I dont want you here!” Nicholas screamed. He refused breakfast, ran off, didnt come home till dusk.
“Is he here?” Nicholas asked tearfully, pointing at the door.
“Yes.”
“Make him leave. Or I wont come in.”
“Son, hes never hurt you! We could be a proper family”
“I dont want a family! Just you! Hes not my dad!”
“He could be, if you let him.”
Victor left that day, suitcase in hand, just as hed arrived. He kissed Marys forehead.
“Think it over, Nicholas. Im not your enemy.”
“No!” The boy turned away.
“If you let him stay, Ill run off!” he told his mother.
Mary chose her son. Victor left the villagegone for good, it seemed. That New Years, Mary had another boy, George. She worried Nicholas would resent him, but he didnt. He doted on his little brother, never questioned where hed come from. Mary, though, carried guiltalways careful not to upset Nicholas, always praising him to friends.
“My Nicholas is so grown-up,” shed say. “Such a golden boyI ask him for advice, not the other way round.”
Her friends sneered. They knew it was his “advice” that kept her alone.
When Nicholas started dating Emily, Mary was thrilled. The girl came from moneymaybe shed help him get ahead.
One Saturday, Mary waited for him with pies and cold cuts. The train had come and gone, but no Nicholas.
“Mum!” George ran in from football. “Nicholas went to Emilys house!”
They waited. He didnt come. Not that night, not the next morning. He barely glanced at Mary when he rushed past to catch the train.
“Mum! Were getting married!” he announced.
She wanted to scold him for staying out, to say all shed thought that nightbut the words stuck.
“Youll help, wont you? Even if you have to sell a pig.”
“Of course, love. Whens the wedding?”
“Dunno yet. Well do it in Londonnot here.”
By the next weekend, Mary sold a pig. Nicholas came for the moneygrabbed it without counting, then vanished to Emilys.
The village buzzed. The wedding would be grand. But one detail shocked everyonethe grooms mother wasnt invited. Some smirked; others tutted. How could he?
Mary didnt leave the house that day. She waited, hoping hed come. Maybe at dawn No. A line of decorated cars honked past her cottage. She buried herself under the covers. George pretended to read. Night fell. George slipped into the wedding party, grabbed his brothers arm.
“Nicholas! How could you? Mums been crying all day!”
“Listen, kid. Tell her to stop. Im fine. Emilys parents made me promiseonce I marry her, Im done with you lot. I gave my word.”
“You rotter!” George swung at him, but Nicholas caught his wrist, tight.
“Piss off before someone sees you. Dont ruin this for me, you little brat.”
Mary waited on the doorstep. She didnt ask where hed been. They hugged.
**Lesson learned:** Love blinds a mother, but a sons ambition blinds him worse.
