**”Arent you ashamed of yourself?”** Margaret hissed, her voice sharp as she overheard the mention of food.
**”Emily, did you buy this cream?”** Katherine asked, turning the small jar over in her hands as she examined it in the bathroom. **”Its so expensive.”**
**”No, Daniel brought it,”** her daughter-in-law replied, drying her hands on a towel. **”Claims it helps with wrinkles.”**
Katherine set the jar down with a click, pressing her lips together. Her son wasted money on frivolities while essentials ran short. Just this morning, hed called to apologisegroceries wouldnt arrive until tomorrow.
**”What are we making for lunch?”** she asked Emily. **”Theres only potatoes and carrots in the fridge.”**
Emily shrugged.
**”Dunno. Soup, maybe?”**
**”Soup with what? No meat, no chicken. Just vegetables.”**
**”Then vegetable soup,”** Emily said, moving to the kitchen. She pulled open the fridge. **”Theres onion, cabbageitll be fine.”**
Katherine shook her head. In her day, women ran households properly. They planned ahead, kept reserves.
**”What about Lily?”** she asked, thinking of her four-year-old granddaughter. **”She wont eat plain soup.”**
**”Ill make porridge,”** Emily said, pulling out a box of oats. **”Or pasta with butter. Kids love that.”**
**”Do we even have butter?”**
Emily checked the fridge again. **”Barely fifty grams left.”**
Katherine exhaled sharply. Living hand-to-mouth while her son splurged on creams. The priorities of the young.
**”Listen, Em,”** she said, sinking onto a stool, **”could you pop to the shop? Just bread and milk for Lily.”**
**”With what money?”** Emily turned. **”Ive got nothing.”**
**”Nothing? You work.”**
**”I do. But paydays not till Friday. My purse is empty.”**
Katherine stood, pacing the small kitchen. The situation was dire. Daniel delayed, Emily had nothing, and the family needed to eat.
**”My pension went on medicine,”** she muttered. **”Blood pressures been awfulhad to get expensive tablets.”**
**”Then we wait till tomorrow,”** Emily suggested. **”Well manage one day.”**
**”And what will Lily eat?”** Katherine snapped. **”Youd starve her?”**
Emily froze, ladle in hand. **”What do you want me to do? Fry air?”**
**”I dont know! Think of something! Youre her mother!”**
Footsteps pattered down the hall, and Lily appeared in her teddy bear pyjamas, rubbing her eyes.
**”Granny, whens dinner?”**
**”Soon, sweetheart,”** Katherine said, scooping her up. **”Mummys cooking now.”**
Silently, Emily began peeling potatoessmall, sprouted things, far from appetising.
**”Mum, can I have biscuits?”** Lily asked, peering into the cupboard.
**”Only crumbs left,”** Emily said. **”After soup, okay?”**
**”What kind of soup?”**
**”Potato.”**
Lily wrinkled her nose. **”I dont want potato. I want meat, like at Aunt Claires.”**
Katherine sighed. The girl was right. Children needed proper meals, not scraps.
Emily set a pot on the stove, her hands trembling slightly from exhaustion and nerves.
**”Emily,”** Katherine said quietly, **”call someone. Friends, your parents.”**
**”Why?”**
**”To borrow money. For food.”**
Emily turned sharply. **”No. Theyve got their own problems.”**
**”But theyd understand if you explained.”**
**”I dont beg.”**
**”Your parents, then. Where are they?”**
**”Mums in hospital. Dads with her. Theyve got enough bills.”**
Katherine stared at the pot, where water bubbled over sad chunks of potato. No smell, no comfort.
**”Call Daniel,”** she said firmly. **”Ask him to bring something.”**
**”He said he cant today.”**
**”Try.”**
She dialled her sons number.
**”Danny? Its me… Yes, fine… Listen, any chance you could swing by? Weve got nothing… What dyou mean no money? Wheres it gone? Right… Tomorrow morning? Fine.”**
She hung up.
**”Hell come tomorrow. Says hes skint.”**
**”Then we make do.”** Emily stirred the soup.
Lily, meanwhile, climbed onto a chair and grabbed the empty biscuit tin, licking crumbs from her palm. Katherines heart clenched.
**”Emily, please,”** she tried again. **”Just ask someone.”**
**”I said no.”**
**”Is it pride?”**
**”Decency. I dont take handouts.”**
**”Handouts? Theyre your friends!”**
**”Theyre struggling too.”**
Katherine paced. The situation was desperate.
**”Ask the neighbours, then. Mrs. Thompsons always kind.”**
**”No.”**
**”Why not?”**
**”We barely know her.”**
Emily ignored her, stirring the thin broth.
**”Mum, whens Daddy coming?”** Lily asked. **”He promised ice cream.”**
**”Tomorrow, love.”**
**”No ice cream today?”**
**”No.”**
Lily pouted. **”Why doesnt Daddy come? Doesnt he love us?”**
Katherine couldnt take it.
**”Lily, go watch cartoons. Granny needs to talk.”**
Once the girl left, she turned to Emily.
**”Listen. She needs proper food. Not just soup.”**
**”And what should I do? Wave a magic wand?”**
**”Youve got a phone. Swallow your pride!”**
**”I wont beg!”**
**”You think youre too good for help?”** Katherines voice rose. **”Daniel pays for everythingthis flat, your lifeand you turn your nose up at kindness?”**
Emily paled. **”I never asked him to!”**
**”No? Who begged to marry him? Who had his child?”**
Lilys cries echoed from the bedroom. Emily snatched her up and stormed off.
Alone, Katherines hands shook with fury. How could she be so stubborn? A child was hungry!
She grabbed her phone.
**”Mrs. Thompson? Its Katherine from number forty-two… Could I pop over?”**
Five minutes later, she stood on her neighbours doorstep.
**”Come in, dear. Whats wrong?”**
**”No food. Daniels delayed, Emilys broke. Lilys starving.”**
**”Oh, poor lamb!”** Mrs. Thompson clucked. **”Ive got milk, yoghurtswait here.”**
She returned with a bag. **”Biscuits, sausagesenough for two days.”**
**”Thank you,”** Katherine whispered, blinking back tears. **”Well repay you.”**
**”Nonsense! Neighbours help neighbours.”**
Back home, Emily sat at the table, eyes red.
**”Whats that?”**
**”Mrs. Thompsons kindness. For Lily.”**
**”I told you not to ask!”**
**”And let her starve?”**
Lily bounded in, spotting the treats.
**”Whered these come from?”**
**”Mrs. Thompson,”** Katherine said. **”Just for you.”**
The girl devoured a yoghurt, grinning. Emily watched, something shifting inside her.
**”Thank you,”** she murmured.
**”Dont thank me. Thank her.”**
Lily reached for a biscuit. **”Mum, can I have another?”**
**”Of course, love.”**
Emily sat quietly, realisingpride wasnt always strength. Sometimes, it was the heaviest burden of all.
