Dont Leave Me, Mum: A Family Tale
They say in England, Still waters run deep, meaning you never know whats going on inside a person at first glance. But Dorothy Benson was quite certain that was a load of nonsenseshe prided herself on being an excellent judge of character.
Her daughter, Edith, had gotten married last summer.
Dorothy had dreamed that Edith would find a good, solid Englishman, that grandchildren would soon follow, and she herself would be the grand matron of this growing clanjust as shed always been.
Henry, the son-in-law, turned out to be clever and, accordingly, not short of a pound. Clearly, he took pride in this. But Edith and Henry set up their own home (he had his own bright little flat in Camden, which he insisted upon), and they seemed maddeningly immune to Dorothy’s advice.
She firmly believed Henry was a bad influence on her daughter.
This new arrangement didnt suit Dorothys dreams at all, and soon Henry became the scapegoat for her disappointments.
Mum, you just dont understand, Edith pleaded. Henry grew up in foster homeshes made his own way in life, honestly. Hes strong and decent, and very kind.
But Dorothy would purse her lips and find fresh faults with Henry.
He was nothing like the charmer he pretended to be, was he? Her maternal duty, she thought, was to open Ediths eyes to this empty lad, before it was too late.
No degree to his name, always set in his ways, not interested in much of anything! On weekends, he just slumps in front of the telly, claiming exhaustion!
And with such a man, her daughter wants to spend her life? Over her dead body. Edith would thank her eventually.
And if they had childrenher grandchildrenwhat would a father like that teach them?
All in all, Dorothy was deeply disappointed. Henry, sensing his mother-in-laws icy glare, slowly withdrew as well. Their conversations dwindled, and soon Dorothy stopped going round altogether.
Ediths father, a gentle fellow named William, took the only sensible route: a neutral stance, understanding Dorothys ways after all these years.
Then, late one evening, Edith rang up Dorothy, her voice tight with worry:
Mum, I didn’t mentionIm away for work for a couple of days. Henry caught a chill at the building site, came home early tonight, wasnt well at all. I tried ringing, but he isnt picking up.
Edith, whats that got to do with me? Dorothy snapped. You two live your own way, hardly even bother with us. No one asks how Im feeling, and now you ring at this hour just to say Henrys ill? Are you off your head?
Mum, please, Ediths voice trembled, thick with worry. Its just Im upset you wont see that we love each other. You think Henrys no good, but youre wrong. Do you think I, your daughter, would ever fall for a bad man? You dont trust me?
Dorothy fell silent.
Mum, please youve still got the key to our flat. Im begging youcheck in on him! I think somethings wrong. Please, Mum!
Fine, Ill go, but only for you, Dorothy grumbled, waking William.
When they reached the flat, no one answered. Dorothy quietly unlocked the door herself.
It was dreadfully dark insideperhaps no one home.
Maybe hes gone out? William suggested. Dorothy just glared, a ripple of Ediths anxiety echoing inside her.
She stepped into the lounge and recoiled. There was Henry sprawled on the sofa in an odd, twisted posehe was burning up!
The paramedics managed to rouse him.
Dont worry, looks like your son-in-laws developed complications from a bad coldworked through it by the looks of him, eh? the medic said kindly to Dorothy.
Yes, he works rather a lot, she murmured.
Just keep an eye on his fever. Ring us if theres any trouble.
With Henry sleeping, Dorothy sat down in a battered armchair, bewilderedas if caught at the bedside of an enemy.
He lay there pale and burning, stray hair sticking to his forehead. Suddenly, Dorothy felt a wave of pity for him. In sleep, he looked younger, his features softer, less guarded.
In a dreamlike murmur, Henry whispered, Mum, please dont leave, and clasped her hand in his.
Dorothy froze, but didn’t pull away, staying close as the night flowed softly into dawn.
Before sunrise, Edith rang again.
Mum, Im so sorry. Ill come back myself, you neednt botherhell be fine, Im sure.
Dorothy managed a smile. Of course, love. Alls well already. Were waiting for you. Everythings just fine.
*****
When her first grandchild was born, Dorothy was the first to offer help.
Henry thanked her, kissing her hand. See, Edith? I told you Mum would want to be part of things.
Dorothy, cradling young Jamie proudly, paraded the cottage, whispering to him:
Jamie, you lucky lad, youve got the best parents aroundand a proper gran and granddad, too! Truly blessed, you are!
Thats why the proverb rings true: still waters run deep. It takes time to really know someone.
And in the end, only love can show the way through it all.
