No more mother for you! snapped my motherinlaw.
Forget you ever had a mother. After youre married you wont bother me, youll act as if I never existed. And I wont put a penny towards your wedding. If I didnt pick your bride, I wont fund this whole charade.
Emily felt a surge of joy whenever her little son, Sam, wrapped his arms around her and said, Mum, youre the best in the world. Ill do everything to keep you smiling. Sam had no idea how his words turned his mothers heart inside out. She swelled with pride at having raised such a wonderful boy, whom she called her little angel. Golden curls, blue eyes, a perfectly aristocratic face everything about him screamed upperclass. When he grew up, his mother took great pleasure in evaluating any potential daughterinlaw: she insisted on a fine pedigree, a tidy appearance, a slender figure. A university degree and flawless manners were nonnegotiable, not to mention a respectable job in a prestigious firm and a wellconnected social circle.
My son already has a flat. Now we need a proper lady to keep it immaculate and to welcome guests at three in the morning, because thats her duty as wife and housekeeper.
Time went on and Margarets demands only grew harsher.
No middleaged woman over twentyfive. Shell only bring a frail child. And we must be absolutely sure the child is Sams.
Margaret, have a little fear of God, her relatives warned her. In this day and age there are no girls who meet your standards. If you want Sam to marry on time and have children, drop the fantasies. Otherwise hell stay a bachelor forever.
Sam graduated with honours from both school and university. He landed a wellpaid position at a London finance firm, but his love life was a disaster. Whenever he introduced a girl to his mother, she found a thousand reasons to push the prospective daughterinlaw away.
At each meeting shed say to Sam, Love, go into the kitchen and slice some fruit while we have a chat.
The first girl Margaret had to meet was Anne. Anne came from a modest background: her mother a clerk, her father a boilerroom operator, and two younger brothers. Anne worked as a pharmacy assistant, which made Margaret uneasy.
So she has constant access to medicines. What if she poisons my son? Or me? No, shes out. And her family are labourers; we dont need that.
Sweetheart, you realise you cant marry Sam, dont you? Margaret whispered when they were alone. Youre too different. He grew up in privileged circles you could never imagine. Forget him and find someone more suited.
Anne didnt need any explanation. She stood up silently and left without even saying goodbye to Sam. When he asked what was wrong, she replied coldly, Ask your mother, who raised you in those privileged conditions. She says youre too good for me, so Ill look for someone simpler.
Mum, why did you hurt Anne? I like her, truly like her. What did you tell her?
Son, youve forgotten something, Margaret said slowly. Im your mother; I know best who will make you happy. But it wont be Anne, thats certain. Where did you even find that sort of clod? As if there were no respectable families left.
Sam realised arguing with his mother was pointless and walked away. He would occasionally mention a new girlfriend, but never brought her home. Margaret would offer to help him start a family, and he would politely decline.
Ill choose my own wife, not you, hed say.
I know who youll pick, Margaret muttered. Youll bring home a housekeeper with nothing on her mind but mops and buckets.
At least shed scrub the floors till they shine, Sam would grin, halfjoking.
Dont talk to me like that, you hear! Margaret would snap.
Eventually Sam moved out of his mothers flat, taking the property she owned and had been renting out.
His relationship with his father, who had left his mother years before, was strained. The father had not spoken to Sam since the divorce when Sam was six, but recently agreed to meet.
You know why I left Margaret? Because she never gave me space, always monitored where I went, what I did, and what I said about her. When I tried to spend time with you, shed scold me, saying I couldnt teach you anything without a degree. Why should she have been the one to bear my child? I was just a cattlelike producer for her do the job and walk away. Then I thought, why waste my life on a madwoman who never cared about me? I spat her out, divorced, and she refused maintenance, stripping me of parental rights.
And youre happy about that? Sam frowned.
Why are you like this? his father retorted. I bought you a flat and handed over the keys. Did she not tell you?
What? Sam stared.
I saved for ten years to give you a place of your own. Heaven forbid you stay with her; youd have no life. She doesnt consider anyone a person.
Why didnt you talk to me? Sam asked tentatively.
I didnt want you to get into trouble. Margaret threatened to take you to another city, and Id never see you again. So I watched from afar.
His fathers words made Sam see his mother in a new light. She was still the best woman he knew, and he often said he wanted a partner who reminded him of her. Margaret smiled condescendingly: shed never find such a woman. A woman like her was one in a million, if not a billion.
After Anne, Sam met other girls, but none satisfied Margaret. Finally he gave his mother an ultimatum:
Either stop interfering in my life, or Ill cut you out.
You ungrateful brat, Margaret snapped. Who do you think youre talking to? I bought you a house, paid for your education. How dare you?
Mum, enough, Sam pleaded. I know who really paid for that flat. I spoke to my father; he told me everything.
And you believe him? she exploded. Not my mother, but some loser?
If you must know, that loser is my father. Or not?
Margarets face flushed with indignation. She gave him a contemptuous stare and shut herself in her room. The next morning she didnt come down for breakfast. Sam knocked, but heard a shouted voice:
Leave me alone and go back to your worthless dad!
Mum, why are you like this? Sam opened the door and entered. She lay on the bed, hair in disarray, a crumpled dress, staring at the ceiling. It was a stark contrast to her usual immaculate appearance, perfume, and elegant attire.
You know, son, Ive realized one thing, she said slowly. Marry whoever you like, I dont care. Even a halfPapuan with a penguinrhino mix. Just forget you ever had a mother. After youre married, you wont bother me, and youll act as if I never existed. And I wont give you any wedding money. If I didnt pick your bride, I wont fund this farce.
Got it, mum, Sam joked with a bow and closed the door quietly. 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? Margaret asked indifferently.
Whoever she is, you wont like her, Sam replied coldly. I just want you to know my future wifes name is Lucy. Shes twentysix, from a long line of doctors. A very respectable girl.
Good heavens, and where does that confidence come from? Margaret rolled her eyes. Show me a photo.
Sam pulled out his phone and displayed a picture. Margaret pursed her lips and shook her head disapprovingly.
And thats the future mother of my grandchildren? What a nightmare.
The woman in the photo had an exotic look.
Thats some Asianlooking Gul, Margaret muttered. Why call her Lucy?
Lucy is halfKorean, Sam explained patiently.
Even better, Margaret sneered. Like a bulldogrhino mashup.
Youll come to like her once you get to know her after the wedding, Sam smiled.
Margarets breath caught at his words.
After the wedding?! You really plan to marry? To spite me?
Why would I do it for spite? For my own happiness, Sam grinned and called the waitress over to place the order.
Margaret sat in a stunned state, trying to picture what her grandchildren would look like. The mental image was nothing short of horrific.
At the wedding Sam gave his mother a stern warning:
No drama, please. If Lucy leaves me because of you, Ill never forgive you, understand?
Margaret had to sit quiet as a mouse, lower than the grass. She watched the radiant bride and her beaming son exchange congratulations, join games, and dance happily. The next morning the newlyweds arrived with a gift for Margaret, but she refused to let them cross the threshold.
Listen, son. Ive done everything you asked. Now hear me out. Never bring that strange mix into my house again; I dont want to see her. Do you understand? You could have a thousand wives, but a mother is only one.
The couple left, and Margaret, still fuming, tossed the gift into the bin.
I wont take anything from that halfblood, she hissed.
After that she fell ill often, and Lucy took care of her. Sometimes Sam hired a night and day carer so the elderly woman wouldnt be left alone. Margaret could never accept the daughterinlaw she despised for daring to be compared unfavourably to her.
You said youd find someone like me. Where does she resemble me? Margaret complained. Realising she now depended on Lucys help, she was forced to keep her tongue in check, which infuriated her beyond measure.
Ive found a beauty for my head
When the phone rang, Margaret answered with a melodic tone:
Hello, love. How are you? My blood pressures spiking a bit. Could you pop over and check on me? Alright, see you soon.
