Hold on, love! Youre in another family now; youve got to mind their ways. You werent just a guest when you married him. What ways, Mum? Everyone here is a nightmare, especially Motherinlaw! She despises me, thats obvious! Have you ever heard of a kindhearted motherinlaw?
Out and about! Out and about! And thats the last straw! Margaret Whitaker stood in the middle of the kitchen, her face flushed with fury, eyes blazing. If a man strays, the womans to blame. Do you think I have to explain everything to you?
The motherinlaw was in a rage, shouting at her daughterinlaw Ethel as if she were mad. All because Ethel had begun to suspect her husband Thomass son Jack of infidelity.
Ethel, a delicate young woman with wide, trusting eyes, pressed herself against the wall, trying to calm the enraged lady.
Mrs. Whitaker, surely thats unreasonable. He has a family, children Ethel began, pleading, but the mother cut her off with a swift flick of her hand, as if swatting an annoying fly.
Is that what you call a family? Or the child who wont let us near his grandfather? the old woman sneered. Your upbringing, by the way!
What upbringing, Margaret? Jack is barely a year old. Hes still a baby, Ethel whispered, voice trembling.
A baby? the woman snarled. The Howlett boy is even younger. He cant even hold his own, let alone thatyour she gestured toward the nursery.
Actually, hes your grandson, Ethel replied, though her voice quivered. Children sense bad people. Perhaps thats why he keeps his distance.
Bad people? Youre a painted goat! the mother shrieked. And who do you live off, you freeloading wretch? Whose food do you eat? Whose money do you spend? Ungrateful!
Ethel refused to argue further. She had begged Thomas a thousand times to move out of his parents house, but Thomas, the pampered son, saw no need. He loved the comfort of his parents home, a safe haven like a cradle. He went to work calmly while the elderly handled every domestic chorelaundry, cleaning, cooking. It was a fairytale life, not a marriage.
Ethel had tried everything to win over Margaret: helping around the house, supporting her, even listening to endless complaints about neighbours and the village. Yet each effort fell flat. She could not hide the hate that simmered inside her.
Brought this clumsy thing into the house as if decent girls didnt exist, Margaret whispered to her neighbour, as Ethel gathered the toys Jack had scattered, hearing every word.
And they even drove to the next village for him! Our old ladies are far betterhardworking, clever, gossiped Mrs. Maud, the local busybody.
Youre right, Margaret agreed. She cant do anything right. Shell lose anything she touches, even that child of hersnothing about her is right.
When life became unbearable, Ethel phoned her mother in the nearby hamlet, pouring out her woes. Her mother answered:
Hold on, love! Youre now in another family; you must respect their customs. You didnt just drop in as a guest when you married.
What customs, Mum? Everyone here is insane, especially Motherinlaw! She hates me, its plain as day!
Never have you heard that a motherinlaw can be kind? We all endured it, and youll get through too. The key is not to show how hard it is. Endure.
Realising her timid mother could not help, Ethel threatened to call her own father.
Dont you dare trouble your father! her mother gasped. Hes on a conditional release. One misstep and theyll lock him up again!
Ethel understood. Her father, George, loved his only daughter fiercely. Hed received his conditional licence for a brawl hed started when a shopkeeper insulted Ethel. He would not stay silent if he learned how his daughter was being tormented.
I wont tell Dad, Ethel said, but if they keep this up, I dont know what Ill do.
Everything will sort itself out, dear, her mother tried to soothe. Give it a few weeks and youll forget this conversation.
The tension with Margaret only grew. Even Thomass father, the weary old man Henry, could not bear it any longer.
Whats your problem, shouting at a girl all the time? he asked one morning as the argument peaked. Shell walk out on us! Shes right to do so!
Ill take her! Margaret roared, directing her fury at Henry. Ill drag the courts over every pound weve earned these years! Ill take the child so she wont be raised in this worthless household!
Ethel felt the terror, though she still loved Thomas.
Rumours of Thomass secret trysts with an exgirlfriend, an Oksana, were nothing more than village gossip, spread by old women like Margaret.
The abuse might have continued forever, if not for Margarets long, sharp tongue. One brightminded night, after another victory over Ethel, she bragged to her best friend, Mrs. Maud, about her latest exploits, embellishing each tale. The story hopped from neighbour to neighbour, ultimately reaching George.
George, a hulking man over six feet tall with broad shoulders, thought quickly. He grabbed his axestill slick from chopping firewoodslipped on his worn leather jacket, mounted his battered Royal Enfield, and, without a word to his wife, rode to the neighbouring village to rescue his daughter.
Meanwhile, in Margarets house a fresh scandal erupted. The young mother, in a fleeting moment, left baby Jack on a brandnew, brightorange sofa to fetch a fresh nappy. Returning, she found a small brown stain on the fabric. To Margaret, that stain expanded into a yawning black hole that seemed ready to swallow the entire sittingroom. She stormed in like a summer thunderstorm, shouting at Ethel.
Youve ruined the sofa! My favourite! Do you know how much it cost? Ill tear your arms off and stitch them back just to see you suffer!
Ill fix it, Ill clean it, Ethel pleaded, trembling hands clutching a cloth.
What will you clean? Its new! How could you know? Youve never bought anything with your own money!
Then why do you act like you have? Ethel snapped, finally daring to call out the woman whod spent her whole life on her husbands back.
Look at her! Enough of this insolence! Margarets face flushed a deeper red.
Now wipe that stain and then march out with your son! Youll keep living here, making a mess, until you learn some decency!
Tears streamed down Ethels cheeks as she scrubbed at the stubborn brown smudge, which refused to lift, mocking her helplessness. Little Jacks cries rose to a wail, adding to the already thick tension.
Margaret loomed over Ethel, raining down a torrent of curses. She didnt notice the figure stepping through the doorwaya tall, grim silhouette. It was George, his hand gripping the wooden axe handle.
For a heartbeat Margaret turned, sensing a presence, her eyes landing on the weapon.
She knew Georges temper, his past, his conditional licence. Fear flared through her like ice.
Ah, good evening, George! Im just raising your little Ethel here Margaret managed, voice wavering.
Ive heard how you raise her, George growled, stepping into the room barefoot.
He lifted the axe high, making Margaret flinch, eyes wide with terror. Instead of a swing, he rested the axe on his shoulder, then extended a hand to his daughter.
Come on, Ethel, youve got no business staying here, he said gently, leading her toward the exit.
Wait! Margaret shouted, regaining some composure. What will I say to my son?
Let your son come to me, if he wishes. Ill speak to him as a man should. George gave her a cold, hard look that said more than any words could.
He escorted Ethel and baby Jack out. Thomas, too frightened to confront his father, stayed behind, his face pale.
George sat with Thomas for a long, tense discussion. He made no threats, but his steady voice and the axe resting on the table gave his words weight.
Thomas promised that he and Ethel would move out, that his mother would no longer interfere, and that he would protect his wife and child. He shook Georges hand firmly, feeling the seriousness of the pact.
From that day on, Margaret avoided Ethel and little Jack. She no longer spoke to them, not even a greeting on the lane.
Thomas and Ethel settled in a modest cottage of their own. Their lives found a new balance, a quiet understanding. Perhaps the old mans advice had finally taken root, or perhaps love had simply triumphed.
