“Mom, you always said I was selfish,” her daughter smiled. “So I gave your tea set to Aunt Rose.”
From a young age, Ella grew up knowing that toys never stayed long in their house. This was because her mother, Anastasia Edwards, loved visiting friends and would often give Ella’s toys to their children.
“Mom, why did you take my doll?” Ella asked cautiously.
“Ella, dear, I know you love that doll, but a little girl who lives across the street is ill and feeling really down. I thought our doll might cheer her up and make her a bit happier. We can always buy a new doll, but the chance to do a kind deed doesn’t come around often,” her mom explained, gently stroking her daughter’s hair.
Ella looked thoughtfully at the doll, then at her mother, and began to tear up. She really didn’t want to part with her favorite toy.
But, unfortunately, getting approval from others was more important to Anastasia Edwards than her child’s tears.
“Stop whining, you shouldn’t be so selfish,” the woman said irritably, sending the girl off to do her homework.
As Ella grew older, books and clothes were added to the list of things given away to others.
At first, Ella surrendered quietly, thinking her mother was acting out of good intentions and she truly was selfish.
But gradually, Ella started to understand that her mother’s actions weren’t from the goodness of her heart, and feelings of hurt and confusion began to grow within her.
“I’m heading to Aunt Mary’s and will be back late,” Anastasia Edwards said, taking down her daughter’s coat from the hanger.
“You’re planning to wear my coat?” Ella laughed, seeing her clothes in her mother’s hands.
“No, don’t be silly, I wouldn’t fit in it; you’re much slimmer than me,” the woman grinned awkwardly.
“Then why did you take it off the hanger?” Ella asked in a serious tone.
“I promised it to Mary’s daughter; hers is torn, and they don’t want to buy a new one since spring is around the corner,” her mother hedged.
“And what am I supposed to wear? Her torn one?” Ella exclaimed in disbelief.
“I’m telling you, it’ll be spring soon, you won’t need the coat. If it gets cold, you can wear mine,” Anastasia Edwards grumbled nervously.
Ella continued gazing at her mother in bewilderment, feeling indignation burgeoning within her heart.
“Why does she always give my things away? Why does she think that’s normal?” Ella wondered.
For the first time in years, she decisively approached her mother and snatched her coat back from her hands.
“Mom, I don’t understand why you keep giving my things to others. It’s not normal!” Ella gritted her teeth.
“You’re too selfish, daughter. You need to learn to share with others,” Anastasia Edwards said, frowning.
“But why is it always my stuff? Why my toys, books, or clothes?” her daughter protested. “I don’t mind sharing, but why always mine? Why don’t you give her your coat?”
Her mother looked at her in confusion, like she hadn’t grasped what was being said.
Then she pursed her lips in irritation and walked out of the house silently. Ella was relieved she stood her ground and hung the coat back on the rack.
All day, she walked with a sense of pride in her actions, but the following day, it all happened again.
Only this time, no one asked Ella’s permission or reported to her.
Anastasia Edwards silently took the coat from the hanger and quickly left the house.
Her daughter, upon discovering its absence, cried out in frustration. That day she realized that only by living away from her mother could she save her possessions.
When Anastasia Edwards returned home, she saw her daughter’s disappointed gaze and felt a vague sense of guilt.
But her pride and confidence in her correctness suppressed this feeling. Gradually, Ella’s internal dissatisfaction transformed into a determination to change the situation.
She worked hard to finish school with good grades and was determined to attend college on a scholarship.
As soon as she moved to the dormitory, she felt an unexpected relief.
Even sharing a room with three other students, Ella worried less about her belongings than when she was at home.
Years passed, she graduated from college and got a job. She rented her own place and started building her personal life.
Despite past grievances, Ella called her mother regularly and visited her occasionally.
One day, when Anastasia Edwards was visiting her daughter, she decided out of habit to give away her new jeans to a relative.
“Ella, I’ll give these jeans to Maggie; you two are the same size,” the woman said nonchalantly.
“Mom, seriously? These are my jeans; I bought them myself and I won’t give them away,” the girl snapped angrily.
Anastasia Edwards looked at Ella in surprise; she hadn’t expected her daughter to resist.
“Why are you being so stingy? You’ve been selfish since you were little,” her mother said disapprovingly.
“It’s easy to be generous at someone else’s expense; start giving away your own things,” her daughter suggested.
Anastasia Edwards frowned but said nothing in response. She quietly put on her coat and left.
That day, Ella came up with a plan, not only to teach her mother a lesson but also to get back at her for her childhood.
Her late father’s sister’s birthday was approaching, and Ella knew she would definitely be invited.
Aunt Rose had always been kind to her niece, unlike her mother, whom she couldn’t stand.
A day before Aunt Rose’s birthday, Ella visited Anastasia Edwards and discreetly took her antique tea set under the guise of taking her own things.
Despite its age, it looked magnificent, and gifting it was nothing to be ashamed of.
Her aunt was genuinely pleased with the gift, while her mother was furious upon discovering the missing item.
“Where’s my tea set? I’ve taken care of it all my life; it was as good as new,” Anastasia Edwards demanded angrily.
“Mom, you always insisted we should share with others and do good deeds,” Ella replied with a smile. “So I gave the set to Aunt Rose, and she was thrilled with it.”
Her mother was momentarily speechless and stared at her triumphant daughter.
“You should have asked me first if I wanted to give it away,” Anastasia Edwards finally said.
“Did you ever ask me when you took my things from the house?” her daughter retorted.
“Children shouldn’t teach their mothers, remember that! I bought those things for you, so I had the right to do as I pleased with them!” her mother shouted angrily.
“Well, Dad bought that tea set, so consider it as me sharing my inheritance,” Ella replied sharply.
Anastasia Edwards couldn’t endure her daughter’s insolence and kicked her out.
For over a year, she didn’t speak to Ella or respond to her calls, her anger was that deep.
However, by Christmas, she reconsidered their relationship and was the first to reach out.
