Alright, my dear guestshad enough to eat? Had enough to drink? Did I manage to keep you happy? Jessie Miller called out, rising to the head of the long dining table.
Absolutely, sis, said Brian Thompson, grinning, youre always on the ball!
Spot on! added Natalie Clarke, nodding. We learned to cook together with Mum, but I never manage to make it taste as good as yours. No wonder I always ask you to cater my parties!
Mum, said Natasha Patel, and here I am, barely escaping the gym! I just couldnt stop!
My dear, Ill send my wife over so you can teach her a thing or two, Andrew Whitaker chuckled.
Thats why I married you! Victor Hughes declared, letting out a satisfied belch. Excuse us!
Got it, then! Jessie beamed. Now, my beloved family she paused, her smile fading, off you all go!
Its the last dinner Ive ever cooked for you! The last time Ill bend over backward! Im done with youno more seeing, hearing, or even thinking about you!
She snatched the massive salad bowl from the table and, with a wild swing, smashed it onto the floor.
Enough, you little rugrats! The dancings over, she said with a wicked grin. I wont let anyone ride me any longerespecially you lot!
A heavy silence fell over the room. The guests stared, stunned. They might have expected a tantrum from anyone, but not from Jessiealways calm, helpful, everobedient.
Are you serious? Victor asked, receiving an instant slap from his wife.
Call an ambulance, shes having a mental fit! Natalie shouted.
Jessie grabbed the decanter with the last of the juice.
Whoever reaches for the phone gets a taste of this! she said, smiling sweetly. Why are you all frozen? Get up and scram, you greedy little gremlins!
Jessie! Brian barked. Im your older brother, calm down and pull yourself together!
No! Jessie replied, still smiling. Im done being your servant! I wont please you any longer, I wont run around like a headless chicken because you cant do anything yourself! Thats itenough!
Whats got you so riled? Victor asked, rubbing his reddening cheek. Everything was fine!
I didnt just gather you here for fun, Jessie said, sinking into a chair and leaning back. Your cheekiness has crossed the lineactually, its been crossing it for ages! Your lastminute demands showed just how bold youve become, and I refuse to keep seeing you.
Honestly, we did nothing wrong, Andrew murmured.
Exactly, son! Victor replied, smirking.
***
They say youve got to live life the right way, and nobody can argue with that. But whats right? Everyone claims a different answer. Jessie, now fortyfive, was convinced shed been living perfectly. At worst, she could only blame herself.
Shed been the third child, with an older brother and a younger sister. She kept her parents happy, adored her brother, and got along with her sister. She studied, got a job, didnt aim for the stars but never settled for less either. She married, had two kids, was a loyal, loving wife, never raised her voice without cause, and a decent mother. She raised her children, educated them, and sent them off into the world, staying close to her brother and sister for support whenever needed. People called her kind, caring, clever, and understanding.
So she believed shed lived correctlyuntil, at fortyfive, she discovered what it meant to be abandoned when she most needed company.
***
Ms. Miller, the tests are back, no contraindications. Shall we schedule the operation? the doctor asked after lunch.
Of course, Doctor, Jessie replied sadly, the decisions already made.
I understand, the doctor said, noting her downcast look, but just in case
Schedule it, Jessie waved. The sooner we start, the sooner we finish.
Right, the doctor noted. Youll have dinner tonight, then nothing tomorrow, surgery the day after.
He turned to the woman in the next bed. Mrs. Patel, your results need a lookover.
Alright, Dr. Oleg, Katya said.
When the doctor left, Katya asked, Why so glum, Jess? Scared of the operation?
Partly, Jessie admitted, glancing at her phone. My husband still, she trailed off.
Me? My boyfriend left me with a song in his head, Katya laughed. I bet the kids will be with mum while he plans a party. Hell sort it out later, maybe even skip out on his own.
According to his last voicemail, hes up and about, Jessie pursed her lips. He knows Ive got an operation. He should be supportive, not out with his mates on a pint!
Ah, men, Katya shrugged. All cats and no mice!
Its still irritating, Jessie said. Uterus removal is serious. A little encouragement wouldve been nice. I told him Im terrified and need support, and all he does is send two short texts and then go silent!
Katya, ten years younger, didnt have enough experience to comfort her, so the conversation drifted.
Jessie skipped dinner, taking nothing with her, because she knew shed need to fast before surgery. She lay quiet, staring at the ceiling, remembering the time Vasya broke his leg in two places at work. Shed visited him daily, bringing homemade meals, clean clothes, staying until midnight, then trudging home. Shed taken time off to help, juggling like a squirrel on a treadmill, never refusing her husband a glass of water, a spoonful of soup, a wash, a shave, or a cuddle.
Why does he treat me like this? Jessie asked when Katya returned from her own dinner.
Not just yours, Katya smiled. Theyre all the sameconsumers! Do they teach them at school how to sit on a womans neck?
Ive been pushing three years at work through acquaintances, picking a fatter little spot. He never likes it. He only works when I threaten divorce and alimony!
My husband works, Jessie said.
Your mans quirks are the sameexploiter type! If you dont keep him in line hell sit on your neck, strip your legs, and run off! Thats what Ive learned.
Jessie wondered if she was overreacting, nerves from the operation getting to her.
Both can coexist, Katya replied. And the fact you hear no kind words from him is obvious. Mines a mess, but I get fruit juices daily, calls, little hearts on my phone.
Jessie turned away and pulled the blanket over her head.
***
Going a day without food, even when you need it, isnt easy. Jessie tried to distract herself with chat, but the mornings lab work kept pulling Katya away in short bursts.
Phone in hand, she thought, Relatives will chat to pass the time. Her son Andrew didnt pick up, just sent a text promising a callback. Her daughter Natasha missed two calls, then her number went dead.
Good kids, Jessie muttered, bewildered.
They dont answer? Katya asked, catching her breath between tests.
Imagine! Jessie exclaimed. Is it that hard to answer mum?
Adults, Katya replied. They live separately now.
Fine, forget them, mum, Jessie sighed. Youll only see them when you need something. Like fledgling birds thatve left the nest, only a gust of wind brings them back.
My sixteenyearold son already treats me like a penny, she thought. If theyre living apart, parents become uselessgood luck getting them to a funeral.
No, were fine! We have a great relationship, Jessie insisted.
So why dont they pick up?
Katya trotted off, leaving Jessie to ponder.
Is it really that hard to find a minute to talk to your mum? she mused. Their recent visits have all been about moneyCan you lend me a tenner?
Katyas words rang true: The chicks have flown, now they live their own lives.
Jessie dialed her husband again. No answer. She left a message, which stayed unread.
Oh, VasyaVasya! she muttered. He should be more reliable!
Only by evening did he finally reply: Where are our savings? Salarys gone, weve got nothing to live on! Hed actually been paid three days earlier.
Ah, the optimism! Jessie thought, Feast like a king, wine like a river! Yet she didnt answer him. If hed even hinted he was worried, she might have said something. Instead, she let him sort his own mess.
***
Brother Brian answered his phone, then said he was busy and hung up.
Typical, Jessie said.
Katya wasnt there, so Jessie got no comeback. She recalled the six months shed lived in two houses after Brians wife left him, kids in tow. Jessie had stepped in as mother, cook, cleaner, and everything else until Brian found a new partner. Shed also mediated his conflicts, because he wanted his kids loved, she wanted hers, and the others kept clashing.
Year and a half I patched them up, never got a word of thanks. And now hes busy again, she thought. When she called him that night, only a short buzz and a hangup.
Thanks for the blacklist, brother! she muttered. He did know about her upcoming operation. When he asked to take the kids for a month, Jessie refused, citing the surgery.
***
Sister Natalie gave Jessie barely five minutes, and only asked about health:
When will you be fit again? My brotherinlaws relatives are arrivingabout ten people. Well lodge them in a hotel, but we need to feed them at home, big time! Youre my only hope!
I dont know, Nat, Jessie replied. The operations serious. Two to three weeks in hospital, then a recovery period. Doctors say up to fifty days.
No, no, sis! Thats not how we do things! Push it, swing it like a waltz, and get us ready in three weeks! Its my brotherinlaws family, theyre top priority! Natalie demanded.
Im scared, Jessie admitted.
Dont be daft! Chatter and off you go! Natalie snapped, rushing off.
Its a hassle, Jessie muttered, staring at her phone. And I still need a cook! Im almost fifty and still cant manage a proper roast!
Natalie constantly called on the younger sister to cater her guestscolleagues, the husbands friends, any celebration. Jessie barely left the kitchen for two days and never got an invitation to any of those gatherings.
You what? Natalie shouted. Its a strangers party!
Jessies effort for that strangers party was completely ignored.
The operation went smoothly, but the doctors kept her for another two weeks. Jessie didnt call anyone. She waited for a call that never cameno husband, no kids, no brother or sister.
She thought a lot, then made a decisive choice.
Jess, what nonsense are you spouting? Brian demanded. Did they remove a piece of your brain with the uterus?
You remembered! Jessie laughed. I thought no one would ever think of me again!
She rose again to the head of the table.
Listen up, dear relatives! Ive been in hospital for two weeks, and not a single soul bothered to check on me! No brother who loves me more than his new mum, no sister whos used me as a freerange chef all my life, no loving husband who managed to spend not only his salary but also our savings wed been tucking away for a holiday cottage, no dear children I gave life tonone of them called!
A hush fell over the room.
Ive always been ready to do whatever you needed. Now, when I needed even a simple bit of support, you were nowhere! If I survived that on my own, I can survive anything. I wont be your errandrunner any longer.
She addressed them one by one.
Vasya, divorce and no more talk! Get out of my flat!
Kids, you live your own lives, finecall dad if you need help. Mums gone!
And you, Brian and Natalie, Im done watching you. Hire nannies and chefs elsewhere! Enough!
Are you out of your mind? relatives shouted.
All rose together, forming a line, and shouted, To the devil with you! Jessie, finally alone in the flat, sat down at the nowempty table and said,
Ive overreacted a bit, she smiled, glancing at the broken salad bowl, but Ill start a new life with a brandnew salad bowl.
