All clear, I get it, Victor sighed, his voice heavy. They’re kicking us out of our own house.
Victor, Mum and I are on our way to you! Poppy shouted into the phone at three in the morning.
No need to come, Victor answered groggily, we’re still asleep!
Victor, this isnt a joke! Get a proper bed for Mum and find some sort of cot for me! Poppy complained.
We dont keep cots, and every bedroom is already taken! he replied, yawning contagiously.
Are you having a laugh? his sister shrieked.
Sister, what do you want from me? And why are you showing up at my door at night? Youve got your own flat, go spend the night there! Victor retorted.
Victor! Poppy snapped, cutting him off. You have to let us in for the night! Weve nowhere else to go!
What happened? Victor asked innocently, pushing his wife aside. Covering the receiver with his hand, he added: Anne, Mum and Poppy are at the door! Theyre desperate to crash with us!
Couldnt you have called at a better hour? Anne asked sleepily.
Im glad were on the same page! Victor smiled.
All the while Poppy was rambling on, punctuating her speech with sighs, groans and occasional shrieks.
Lets get to the point! Victor demanded.
Victor! The doors jammed!
Really? he asked.
First the lock stuck, then the hinges warped and wouldnt close, and when I gave it a shove the whole thing seized up. The lock wont turn at all! Poppy wailed, beginning to sob. And we were out on the estate in our housecoats! Were neighbours, you know how nosy they are.
How fascinating! Victor grinned widely. The payback door finally caught up with you!
His wife, who had been listening, shook her head theatrically, covering her mouth to stop herself yawning. She wanted to laugh out loud, but didnt want to interrupt him.
Victor, well have to wait until morning and then call a locksmith! So order us a black cab and pay by card; weve got cash in the flat!
So are you staying or waiting? Victor tried to clarify.
Dont be dense! Poppy shouted. Were sitting like two hens on the playground under these cursed doors!
Only in early childhood do parents love their children equally and give them everything they can. As the kids grow, favourites appearsome get more, some get less. The same goes for care: the beloved receive more, the rest get whatevers left.
When Victor decided to get married, his younger sister Poppy immediately raised the issue of whether he and his new wife should share the family flat.
Victor, shes your wife, Im just a sister! And I have my own house! I want to come and go as I please! Poppy declared, borrowing wisdom from the internet.
And why not? Victor asked, surprised.
Just the thought of a stranger in the house makes me uncomfortable! she replied.
Uncomfortable? Victor frowned. Anne and I are at work during the day. In the mornings you and Mum are still in bed, and at night well be back in our room after dinner!
Of course! Poppy snorted. And you wont even use the loo? I might be doing yoga in the studio at that time!
Trust me, theres nothing exciting for us here! Victor noted. Whos going to watch you?
Victor! Poppy cried, then dragged Mum into the call. Tell him! Why do we need a foreign woman in the house?
Poppy, said Nina, the mother, shes Victors wife, and were the inlaws. Thats practically family.
Thats distant countryside kin, but legally shes a stranger! Mum, I dont want to live like in a council flat!
Nina, who favoured her daughter because Victor reminded her of the husband who had once abandoned her and their two children, took her side gently.
Victor dear, we love you, but we barely know Anne. Well meet her, just not start by moving in together. Youre a man, you cant live on Mums apron strings forever! Your kids will come, and Poppys still young. If you invite friends over at night, the kids will get upset, and youll be family anyway!
All clear, I understand, Victor sighed again. Theyre kicking us out of our own home!
Victor, nobodys kicking you out, Mum said. We just want to avoid trouble where we can.
You can live without a wife, Poppy remarked, but with a wife, go your own way!
Anne quickly realised something was off between Victor, his mum and sister, since theyd planned to stay together after the wedding to save for a deposit. Yet three weeks before the wedding Victor had already moved his belongings into a rented flat and brought Anne along.
Anne understood but didnt interfere. She wasnt thrilled about sharing a roof with Victors relatives, but for his sake she was willing to endure whatever was needed.
It didnt work out, and thats fine, she told a friend. Victor looks miserable.
Anne, stay out of it! her mate Kathy warned. Youll go mad if you keep worrying!
Ill manage, but Victors really having a hard time! Kathy replied. Thats what a wife is for, to support him! In effect, youre now his family, and the rest are just relatives.
Victor may have been easygoing, but he quickly forgot any grudge once his own familys issues piled up. He needed to sort out the house, the mortgage and the everyday grind. Then Anne gave birth to a son.
No point dragging us further, Victor said gloomily. Well never manage to save anything. Well just scrape by.
I think the same, Anne agreed. When the payments due you cant dodge it.
They took out a thirtyyear mortgage. They had hoped for twenty, but a longer term meant fewer luxuries.
Four years after little Toby was born, the joy faded. Their second boy, Rory, arrived with a triumphant cry.
Nothing! Victor declared. Well get through it!
Of course, love! Anne encouraged. Where shall we go?
When the younger son turned five, Victor managed to snag two vouchers for a holiday resort.
They rarely went on holidays, at most visiting Annes family in the countryside. Working the garden wasnt exactly a break either.
Then the brochure arrived:
Anne! Theres a pool, spa, disco for thirtysomethings, five meals a day! Pure royalty!
The kids?
We can add them for a small extra, or maybe well give them a break?
Should we lock them in a room or send them to my mums village? Anne asked with a grin.
The locking them up and mums village jokes were just thatjokes. Shed never actually mind the children; shed feed them on a schedule and keep the TV on.
Mum, Victor pleaded, can I take the kids for a week? Anne and I want a break.
And where do you think youre off to? Poppy asked, not letting her mother speak.
To a spa outside town, Victor answered. We havent really rested in eight years.
So youre off to a spa and were left to guard your little bandits? Poppy snapped. Brilliant plan!
Mum, Victor insisted, theyre wellbehaved! Just feed them, check theyre dressed properly and put them to bed on time. Otherwise theyre practically independent.
Hmm, Nina mused.
No! Poppy, speaking for her mother, retorted. Weve just finished a renovation, new furniture! It costs a fortune!
And your kids will wreck it all? Youll have to compensate us later? Besides, occasionally my husband drops by. The flat was empty of kids!
Mum! Victor cried, losing his last shred of hope.
Son, the renovations fresh and Poppys sorting her life out. You and Anne are a family, so sort your own problems! Nina said.
Thanks, Mum! Victor managed to say, syllable by syllable.
They went to the spa with the kids, and Victor didnt speak of his relatives for a while. He was sulking.
Then disaster struck: their salaries were delayed, and the mortgage instalment was due. Victor called for help.
Mum, Poppy, Annes salarys been held up. We need threefour days of cash, please!
Son, we dont have any, Im afraid, Nina replied, looking at her daughter.
We do have some, Poppy slapped her mothers hand. Dont worry!
Youve saved my life! Victor exhaled in relief.
No! Poppy declared firmly. Youll have to rescue yourself; our moneys earmarked for the front door! The installer is due next week, we need the deposit for the doors and the work fee!
Poppy, what are you talking about? Victor was baffled. Im only asking for four days!
Thats not enough to cover the bill! I need to pay the installer in a week, then hell fit the doors in five days and Ill have to settle everything!
Youll sort it out yourself! Victor protested. Its an emergency! The loans due tomorrow, the salary arrives the day after! Ill bring the cash straight away or transfer it now!
You talk nicely, but Im not going to fly in with doors! If they hold you up again, what will I do?
Lets at least go to the solicitor now and get everything proper! You can even draw a penalty of a thousand percent!
Ill wait for your penalties, the door promotion will end! So, brother, off you go, dont cough!
Victor, of course, managed to get to an old friend who was a solicitor, and even paid the money before the deadline. His mother and sister, however, ended up on his blocked list.
He told Anne everything, and she replied with a line shed once read:
A wise person doesnt seek revenge; they wait for life to settle the score.
The waiting didnt last long
Here we go! Victor announced. My cards empty! I dont feel like looking for ways to help anyone, let alone family!
Youve gone mad! Were your family!
And the doors! Victor added. Your doors are the final chord after which I have no desire to speak to you again!
How shameful, son, to stoop so low! his mothers voice rang.
Im not revengeful, Victor replied. Ive finally started paying my debts!
You never took anything from us? Poppy asked, missing the hint.
I took your attitude, Victor said. Your love, care and kindness, the very things you gave me. Now Im giving them back in equal measure!
He hung up, the call ending as the phone clicked off.
It wasnt vengeance; it was a debt repaid.
