So my mum has this house out in the suburbs, and every summer, like clockwork, Mum suggests we head over, fix it up a bit, dig around in the garden. Not long ago, my husband even put a pool in proper inflatable job. Theres a roomy gazebo too, so its become a decent spot for weekends. But ever since my brother tied the knot, hes not set foot there. His wife, Jane, is dead against it. Jane makes it clear: from now on, hes got a wife, a family, and all their priorities trump everything else. If Mum needs something, shed best hire help.
Mum doesnt take it personally. She tries to see Janes side. But this year, Mum overdid it at work and couldnt get out to the house, so she was a bit anxious about the plot no one was keeping it up.
She asked my brother if hed plant a few veggies, but Jane talked him out of it and he wouldnt budge. So my husband and I thought, why not get some fresh air ourselves? We could pop down at weekends, which would help Mum stop worrying.
We bought some saplings and seedlings, tidied the place up before planting, spruced up the flower beds, checked in on the greenhouse. Sundays were our day to rest. And we followed Mums instructions down to a tee.
Last weekend, though, we went to my husbands parents, so no one was at Mums place. Turns out, my brother and Jane decided to show up.
Next weekend, when we rocked up, we were properly caught off guard. Someone was living there! We knocked, but got nothing. Jane just peered out the window and said, We decided to let out our flat to raise some money for our summer holiday, so were staying here. Anyway, you werent invited.
I asked, Does Mum know? Janes like, Of course. Where do you think we got the keys?
I called Mum. She said shed given the keys to my brother because he promised to pop down and help. I told her, Theyve moved in, Mum, and theyre not helping at all. Janes doing nothing and wont let us in.
Mums baffled, What do you mean, theyre living there? I explained theyd rented their flat and just moved into the house themselves. Theyre saving up for a trip away. Mum says, Fine, if they’re looking after the garden and sorting out the weeds and watering, let them stay. But if theyre not, kick them out. Theyre just crafty, they know how to take advantage! They always turn up in autumn, fill bags with apples and spuds, never lift a finger. Remind them its their turn to look after things. Mum was firm.
So I went and knocked again. Jane snapped, What now? I told her what Mum had decided. Jane said she wasnt planning on doing any work. Ive got my nails to sort! What do you think I am, your servant? And if we do grow anything, who says were sharing? If you want any, buy it off us. Everything here will be ours. Honestly, wed have to turf them out. They wouldnt listen, so Mum had to phone and tell them herself. She told them to leave.
My brother went, But where are we supposed to go? Someone else is renting our flat! I suggested, Give them back the money.
No chance, he said. Spent it all on earrings for Jane. If we sell them, well barely get half what we paid. What are we supposed to do? Honestly, its not my problem. At least Mum got a proper warning about their plans. And really, moving in uninvited is pretty cheeky. So Jane and my brother packed up and headed to her mums, cursing us as they left. Said theyll never come back and were on our own.
But, you know, Ive got a feeling theyll be back come autumn, empty sacks in hand, ready for apples and potatoesWith Jane and my brother gone, peace settled back over Mums house like sunlight after a passing storm. My husband and I spent the next weekend digging up their leftover messempty snack wrappers by the pool, nail polish spills on the patiobut soon enough, the garden was ours again. Mum even managed to come by that Sunday, hands trembling but smile beaming as she walked through the beds wed planted. She knelt by a tomato vine, stroked its leaves, and said quietly, Its not just vegetables you grow out here, is it? We all laughed, and that afternoon we grilled fresh corn and watched fireflies flicker as dusk fell.
Mum never mentioned my brothers stunt again, but sometimes shed drop hintsFamilys tricky, isnt it?while watering pansies. Eventually, she invited neighbours over for lemonade in the gazebo, and the old house felt alive with laughter and conversation. My husband floated in the pool, pretending to be a dolphin, and Mum and I watched, legs dangling from the edge, thankful for what we had: an imperfect, stubborn, beautiful family that just kept growing, no matter who tried to uproot it.
