Now you have no mother! Maggie Whitaker roared, her voice echoing through the modest kitchen of their terraced house in Manchester. Forget you ever had a mother. After youre married youll leave me be, as if I never existed. And I wont put a penny towards your wedding either. If I didnt pick your wife, I wont fund this farce.
Harry Whitaker felt a warm rush of joy whenever his little son, Charlie, clutched him and declared, Mum, youre the best in the world. Ill do everything to keep that smile on your face. The boys simple words turned the mothers heart inside out. She swelled with pride at having birthed such a charming child, her angel with golden curls, blue eyes and aristocratic features. As Charlie grew, Maggie began to weigh every possible daughterinlaw with a strict checklist: impeccable family background, wellkept looks, a slender figure, a university degree, flawless manners and, ideally, a respectable job in a good position and a circle of influence.
The flat is already Harrys, she would say. Now we need a proper lady to keep everything immaculate, ready to welcome guests at three in the morning, because thats a wifes duty. Time passed and her demands grew harsher. No woman over twentyfive, otherwise shell bear a frail child. And the child must be yours, no doubt about that. Relatives would sigh, Maggie, youre being unreasonable. There are no women who meet all those standards nowadays. If you want Harry to marry and have children, ease up, or hell stay a bachelor forever.
Harry graduated with honours from both school and university, landed a wellpaid post at a London financial firm, yet his personal life stalled. Every time he introduced a potential partner to his mother, Maggie found a thousand reasons to turn her away. She would summon Harry to the kitchen, Charlie, slice some fruit for us while we chat, and then dismiss the girl.
The first girl Maggie met was Emily Clarke. Emily came from a modest background: her mother an accountant, her father a coalminer, and two younger brothers. She worked as a pharmacy assistant, which made Maggie wary. She has constant access to medicines. What if she poisoned my son? Or me? No, shes not suitable. Her family are labourers, not our sort. One evening, alone with Emily, Maggie warned, You cant marry Harry. Youre too different. He grew up in a world youll never know. Forget him and find someone simpler. Emily left without a word, refusing to say goodbye to Harry. When he asked why, she answered coolly, Ask your mother who raised you in such special circumstances. She says Im too good for you, and you should look for someone more ordinary.
Harry confronted his mother, Mum, why did you turn Emily away? I like her, truly like her. What did you tell her? Maggie replied slowly, Son, I know better who can make you happy. Not that Emily, thats for sure. Where did you even find such a? It seems theres no one from a respectable family left. Realising he could not sway her, Harry withdrew. He mentioned casual dates now and then, but never brought them home. Maggie offered help in finding a wife, which he politely declined, Ill choose my own partner, not you. Maggie muttered, I know exactly who youll picksome cleaning lady with nothing in her head but mops and rags. Harry smirked, At least the floors will shine. Dont speak to me like that! she snapped, and Harry retreated to his room.
Eventually Harry moved out, taking the flat that Maggie owned and had been renting out. His father, Arthur Whitaker, long estranged after a divorce when Harry was six, had kept his distance. After many years, Arthur agreed to meet. Why did I leave Maggie? he confessed, She controlled everythingwhere I went, what I did, who I saw. When I tried to spend time with you, she shouted Id teach you nothing because I lacked a degree. She used me like a beast of burden, then discarded me. I thought, why waste my life on a madwoman who never cared? She refused alimony and took away my parental rights. Harry asked, Youre happy now? Arthur frowned, What do you want? He explained he had saved ten years wages to buy you a home, handed the keys to Maggie, and warned, If you stay with her, youll have no life of your own. She sees no one as an equal. When Harry asked why Arthur had avoided him, the father said, I didnt want you to suffer. Maggie threatened to ship you away, so I watched from afar. Those words shifted Harrys view of his mother; she seemed, in his mind, the best woman he ever knew, and he whispered that he hoped his future wife would bear some of her qualities.
Maggies disapproval continued with every new girl. Finally Harry set a condition: Either you stop meddling in my life, or Ill cut off contact with you. Maggie exploded, How ungrateful! I gave you a house, an education. How dare you speak to me like that? Mum, enough, Harry pleaded, I know who really bought that flat. I spoke with father, he told me everything. And you believe him? That failureprone father? Maggie shouted, Hes not my mother, just a loser. Harrys words turned Maggies face a pallid shade. She stared at him with contempt and withdrew to her bedroom.
The next morning she didnt appear for breakfast. Harry knocked, hearing a harsh cry from inside: Leave me alone and go back to your worthless father! He opened the door, finding Maggie on the bed, hair disheveled, her oncepristine dress rumpled, staring blankly at the ceilinga stark contrast to the immaculate, perfumescented woman she usually presented. You know, son, Ive come to a decision, she said slowly. Marry whomever you wish, even a Papuan with a penguinrhino mix. Just forget you ever had a mother. After the wedding you wont bother me, and I wont give you any wedding money. If I didnt choose your wife, I wont fund this charade. Harry bowed playfully, Got it, Mum, and closed the door behind him. That day he moved into his own flat.
Six months later he invited his mother to a restaurant to announce his upcoming marriage. And who is she? Maggie asked indifferently. She wont please you, whatever she looks like, Harry replied coolly. Just so you know, her name is Elizabeth, twentysix, from a long line of doctors. A very respectable lady. Good heavens, what gives you such confidence in her merit? Maggie rolled her eyes. Show me a photo. Harry produced his phone; the image displayed a girl with delicate, Eastern features. Maggie pursed her lips, shook her head. Is this the future mother of my grandchildren? What a horror! She muttered, She looks more like a Gulchatai than a Liz. Harry replied, Liz is halfKorean. Even better, Maggie sneered, a mix of bulldog and rhinoceros. Youll like her once you get to know her after were married, Harry smiled. Maggies breath caught. After the wedding? Youre really going through with this, just to spite me? Why would I do it out of spite? Its for my happiness, he chuckled, calling over a waitress to place an order. Maggie sat in stunned silence, trying to picture the grandchildren that would result from such a unionan image she found utterly dreadful.
On the wedding day Harry warned his mother sternly, No drama. If Liz leaves me because of you, Ill never forgive you. Maggie was forced to sit quietly, lower than the grass, watching the radiant bride and her son exchange vows, receive congratulations, partake in games, and dance with gleeful looks. The next morning the newlyweds arrived with a gift for Maggie, but she barred them from the threshold. Listen, boy, she said, Ive done everything you asked. Now hear me: never bring that mixedblood woman into my sight again. Do you understand what youre doing? You could have a thousand wives, but Im only one mother. The couple left, and Maggie tossed the present into the bin, declaring, I wont take anything from this halfbreed.
Soon Maggie fell ill repeatedly. Liz, ever dutiful, tended to her, hiring night and day caretakers so the old woman would not be left alone. Maggie never accepted the daughterinlaw, hating that her son had dared compare her to a woman who now cared for her. You said youd find someone like me, she grumbled. Where does she resemble me? Realising she now depended on Lizs care, she was forced to keep her tongue in check, a fact that infuriated her. Ive found a gem for my own head Whenever the phone rang, Maggie answered in a singsong voice, Hello, dear Lizzie. How are you? My pressures a bit up. Could you pop over and have a look? Splendid, see you soon.
