A whole year of feeding the grandkids cash to settle a mortgage! Im done with the pence!
Arthur and I have only one child, an adult son. Hes already got his own family and weve even become grandparents.
I grew up in the postwar years and didnt marry until my thirties, which back then made me the village spinster. Naturally everyone expected you to start a family straight away; being childless was practically the same as catching the plague.
Eventually Arthur and I had a son, and we decided that was more than enough. As sensible people we knew raising a child costs a bundle, and the more kids you have, the deeper the hole in your wallet.
So we settled on one child, put all our effort into raising him, gave him a decent education, and got our own affairs in order.
Our son, David, had a different view. Not long after we tied the knot, his wife Eleanor got pregnant, and our first grandchild arrived. The young couple didnt own a flat, so they took out a loan. Somehow we ended up paying a slice of it each month. Then I heard Eleanor was expecting again. Of course I asked how they planned to feed two kids and still keep up with the mortgage. They took offence, insisting theyd manage. I said, If you can, good for you.
For a while they did manage. Then Eleanor fell ill and couldnt work, and David was made redundant. What now? They moved into the flat we were renting ourselves. Arthur declared hed help the youngsters clear the debt, so he and I covered their mortgage for an entire year. I thought we were doing the kids a massive favour. Turns out we werent.
Just recently I discovered the loan was still unpaid six months behind schedule. Where did the money disappear to? Arthur is livid, saying hes exhausted. Im flabbergasted. I dont even know what to say or do. We tried to help our children, and theyve simply lounged on our backs, taking it easy. So, what on earth do we do now?
