30September
I woke up to the usual clatter of the kitchenhalfempty mugs, crumpled wrappers, a pile of unwashed plates. The house feels like a battlefield after a day of war. Yesterday, Mum, Margaret Collins, called me in a panicked tone. James, the landlord has suddenly asked us to vacate the flat. Pack up the spare room and make as much space as you can. Well be there this afternoon with the whole family. I could hear the strain in her voice.
I tried to reassure her. Mum, you cant be thrown out that easily without a proper tenancy agreement. They should at least give us a notice period to find somewhere else. She replied, sounding more bewildered than before. They wont give us any time. Natalie argued with the landlord yesterday, and now shes overreacting.
Thats why Natalie needs to learn to keep her tongue in check and treat people with a little respect, I muttered, halfamused, halfannoyed.
Mum, dont start that again! I snapped, annoyed. Sort the room, were coming over with suitcases this evening. The call ended with a short, grating buzz and Mum collapsed onto the floor, stunned.
My day at work was a nightmare too. Two new clerks started, and our boss insisted we train them from scratch while I prepared two reports for senior management. By the time I got home, I was exhausted and barely shuffled into the flat.
I had grand plans for the weekend: catch up on sleep on Saturday, stroll through the park in the evening, and meet a friend for a shopping trip on Sunday. Then Mums emergency shattered everything. Our twobedroom flat, already cramped, now had to accommodate four peopleMum, me, Natalie, and my sevenyearold grandson Oliver. The weekends ambitions evaporated. I was forced to clear out the spare bedroom, shuffle a few boxes, then dash to the supermarket for groceries and start cooking a proper dinner.
Mums mood was understandably sour. She loved us, but her relationship with Natalie has always been tense. Shes tried hard to stay courteous for my sake, avoiding any flareups that could explode at any moment.
Despite the ruined plans, Mum tackled the cleaning, then headed to the store and prepared a modest supper. By evening the house was noisy and chaotic when Natalie, Oliver, and I arrived. The flat buzzed with laughter, a TV blaring cartoons, and the clatter of plates. Mum slipped away to her own room early, hoping for a quiet night.
Goodnight, love. Youll tidy the table yourselves, right, Nat? she said as she left the kitchen.
Sure, Natalie murmured, eyes glued to her phone.
Sleep was shallow; I could still hear the giggles and footsteps. I assumed wed only be staying for a night or two, just a temporary roof over our heads. Natalie, however, seemed intent on making a bigger mess of things, shrugging off Mums gentle reminders to behave and cooperate.
The next morning, I shuffled into the kitchen to find a mess of tea cups, candy wrappers, and apple cores. The sink was piled with dirty dishes.
Mum, whats for breakfast? I asked, still halfasleep.
Make some toast and tea. Ill just have coffee, she replied.
Im stuck in traffic, Ill be famished by the time I get back, I grumbled.
Mum, can you ask Natalie to whip up something? Im not here to be your servant, I said, trying to keep the tone light, but the words came out sharper than intended.
Natalie appeared, rubbing sleepy eyes. I knew it. Its half eight and youre already complaining, she snapped.
Im not complaining, Im just talking to James. Could you at least make him breakfast? I cant be washing dishes forever, Mum replied, her patience wearing thin.
The next five days stretched out in a tense haze. I hoped the week would give Mum enough time to sort a new place and return to a normal routine. By Friday night nothing changed; no signs of the landlords notice being resolved. Saturday morning Natalie and I slept like the dead, and by lunchtime I realized there was no plan to move at all.
On Sunday I asked directly, James, have we found a new flat?
Ive been looking. Everythings either too pricey or too far. We might be here another week, I admitted, resigned.
I couldnt throw you out onto the street, Mum, so I decided to bear it for a while longer. But the week turned into two, then three, and the family seemed to settle in as if the flat were theirs permanently.
Natalie made no effort to help around the house. She left dirty dishes in the sink, tossed her clothes in a basket, and left me to do all the washing, ironing, cooking, and cleaning each weekend.
Nat, could you please mop the floor? I asked.
Youre the lady of the house, arent you? Ill do it later, she replied dismissively.
Dont you have a headache? Honestly, this is absurd, I snapped.
Its your fault! she shouted back.
I let the argument dissolve. I went to the shop, cleaned the flat, made tea, and tried to rest.
Later that afternoon Oliver was bouncing a ball inside the flat. Oliver, you should play outside, its getting late and the neighbours might hear, I warned.
Grandma, I want to play now. Mum and Daddy wont take me out, he protested, dribbling the ball across the floor.
Stop that, I ordered.
James came out of his room. Dad, tell Oliver to stop, I said.
Before he could answer, Natalie erupted, Youve been nagging us all morning and now youre attacking the child! What do you want, to throw us out?
If you cant respect my rules, perhaps you should find somewhere else to live, I replied calmly.
A tense silence fell. Fine, were leaving! By the way, Im pregnant and cant handle this stress! Natalie shouted, then stormed off.
That evening Natalie packed a bag and announced they would move to a nearby town to stay with her parents while James searched for a new place.
Three days later James finally secured a flat and, with his family, moved out. Mum gave the house a thorough deepclean, took a weeks holiday, and life slowly fell back into its familiar rhythm. The bitterness lingered, though, and my relationship with Mum became strained; I only learned about the birth of my granddaughter through a mutual acquaintance.
Mum now spends half the year at a health resort, sends money to the grandchildren on their birthdays, and receives birthday calls from me over the phone. No amount of resort stays or financial gifts can replace genuine family time, but Ive come to understand that you can only give happiness to others when you are completely happy yourself. Thats the lesson Im writing down today: before demanding others to change, first look inward and secure your own peace.
