Ever since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, Ive been the sort whod lend a hand to anyone in a jameven someone whod once pinched my school lunch and blamed it on the dog. It never crossed my mind that my mother-in-law would fall into that category. Despite the reputation that mothers-in-law have for being rather prickly, mine is genuinely lovelya proper lady, full of polite chatter and warm smiles.
Not long ago, disaster struck: she became dreadfully ill, ended up in hospital, and needed some serious rest afterwards. Without batting an eye or bothering to ask my husband, I bundled her up and brought her home, thinking we’d both look after her together. I reckoned my husband would be over the moon that I was spoiling his mum, but all the way home, she was oddly glumlike she wanted to say something but couldnt quite pluck up the nerve.
Once we arrived, I got her settled in the spare room, fluffed the pillows, and put the kettle on for a nice bowl of soup. I wanted to make both her and my husband happy. Sadly, when my husband came through the front door, everything went pear-shaped.
He took one look at his mother tucked up in bed and asked, Whats that old leech doing in our house?words he probably shouldve kept to himself. He actually threatened to chuck her out, and I barely managed to rein him in. If I hadnt stepped in, he might have marched his own mum out onto the street.
Were still married, though these days Im somewhat disappointed by his less-than-charming behaviour. Honestly, its enough to make you wonder if the British stiff upper lip is a bit too stiff sometimes.
