I was only twenty-two when my world turned upside downalone, without a husband, holding little David in my arms. My boy was just two then. My husband walked out on us, tired of the constant responsibility, grumbling about having to earn money only to spend it on his family.
He wasnt fond of that idea. I suppose he thought it was better to splash his wages on himself and his mistress. No matter what sort of husband he was, it made things easier for me in the end. With him gone, every burden landed squarely on my shoulders. I sent David off to nursery and went out to earn a living myself. There were days when exhaustion numb my legs, yet my home remained tidy, meals were always ready, and my child was clean and fed.
My mother taught me well, and women from my generation seemed tougher somehow. I admit, I spoiled my son a little. At twenty-seven, David cant even fry an egg. But recently he got marriedso I thought, finally, hes found his wife, shell look after this hopeless lad, and Ill be free to pick up a hobby or change jobs if I fancy. In short, I could finally live my life in peace.
But then David told me he and his wife would be staying with me for a while. Naturally, I wasnt thrilled, but I agreed, hoping shed cook for him, wash his clothes, and Id just have to be patient for a bit. How wrong I was. Kate was quite the characternever cleared the table, never washed the dishes, never cleaned up after herself or David, didnt even sweep the floor once. She simply did nothing.
For three months, I cared for all three of us. Did I really need that? What did my daughter-in-law do? Since David decided hed provide for his family, Kate wasnt working. From morning till night, until David came home, shed be out with friends in town or glued to her phone. Meanwhile, I worked my shifts. When I returned, the place was chaos: everything in disarray, fridge empty, nothing cooked. So Id head to Tesco, buy some groceries, cook dinner, and clean up the mess. Kate didnt show a hint of guilt. She even managed to waltz in while I was washing up, bringing me some plate shed kept hidden away in her room for daysforgotten, covered in flies and God knows what else.
The next time Kate handed me a dirty plate, I told her straight: if she had any decency, shed wash the dishes at least once.
And do you think she apologised or changed? Not at all. The next day, after a row, both she and David packed their bags and rented a flat. David even accused me of trying to ruin his marriage. For what? Telling his wife to wash a plate every so often? Well, thank heavens, now I can live in peace and cleanliness, and never again pick up after anyone else. Young people these days, I tell you, are completely uselessutter rubbish.
