I had to get my own fridge, says Emily. The situation is completely ridiculous, but what can you do? I wouldnt even mind selling the flat and splitting the cash, but mums having none of it.
Emily has recently turned 24. Shes got a degree, found herself a job, but shes still single (much to her grandmas dismay). Her life in her own home is hardly a walk in the park. Emily owns half the flat. It used to belong to her dad. When he died, she and her mum inherited it fifty-fifty; she was just 14 then.
Ten years ago, things were pretty bleak. Dad was gone, the family breadwinner had vanished into thin air. Emilys mum, Helen, had stopped working when Emily was a babyno maternity leave for her, thanks very much, since her husband was earning plenty. Helen had focused on running the household. When her husband passed, Helens reaction was, Whos going to hire me now, at forty? What am I supposed to dobecome a cleaner?
Emily carries on with her story: We had a survivors pension, but mum couldnt resist fancy hair salons and new clothes, even though we could barely scrape by. At first, her brother helped out, but even he got fed up after a while.
Uncle Arthur bluntly told Helen, You really ought to find yourself a job. Youve got two kidsyou cant expect everyone to support you forever. About a year later, Helen brought home a gentleman. His name was Richard. She announced that Richard would be living with them. This was Helens solution to their money problemsjust marry someone. Richard did earn heaps, but he and Emily had about as much in common as marmite and jam.
Richards favourite catchphrases included: All you do is eat. Youd be better off doing laundry or cleaning up. Why bother with homework? Are you actually planning on going to university? Studying is pointlessyou need to work. Or do you think Ill keep feeding you forever?
Emily couldnt say much to that. Sure, she had a pension, but the money went straight to Helen. Her mum never took her side against Richardshe was far too keen on keeping the familys new provider. How would we survive without him? Helen would ask. Dont argue and just do as he says. Hes the breadwinner now.
Emily managed to get herself to university and eventually found a job. All that time, she was treated as an extra mouth to feeda burden hanging off Richards neck. He never missed an opportunity to count exactly how much money hed spent on her.
Six months after landing my job, I finally bought myself a fridge, Emily says. I had to put it in my bedroom because my stepdad locked the kitchen fridge!
Got a job? Well, feed yourself then, Richard said. Helen stayed silent, even when Richard handed Emily the utility bills and demanded repayment for years of expenses incurred on her behalf. Eventually, Richard lost his job. He and Helen started using Emilys fridge as their own personal pantry. All the complaints were now aimed squarely at Emily. She ended up paying for everything. But when her stepdad was unemployed for nearly a year, shed had enough and put a padlock on her fridge. Naturally, Helen objected, insisting Richard had provided for them all along.
Emily snapped: If you want to help, then start helping. Im not the one dividing everything in this flat. Get yourself a job.
Richard recently moved out. Helen finally got tired of a man who didnt bring in any cash. Now, Emily still refuses to remove the padlock from her fridge and reckons its high time Helen found herself a job. What do you thinkdoes she have a point?
