“You let them in, and they took advantage!”
“You kicked a child out on the street! Left him alone in a strange city!”
“First of all, he brought it on himself,” Nadine cut in, interrupting her sister. “Second, you dont turn someone elses home into a free-for-all. If hes bringing guests overespecially the sort hes been bringingthen its time he grew up.”
“Hes going to get expelled because of you, or worse! He rang me, said there were no spare beds in halls, they made him sleep on the floor!”
Nadine rolled her eyes and sighed deeply. She had to take a slow breath to keep her temper in check.
“Listen, Helen… This isnt my problem anymore.”
“It should be! Youre his godmother! Hes just a kid!”
Nadine went quiet. Was there even any point arguing? Maybe she *had* acted horribly.
She and Greg hadnt been at the centre of family drama like this in years. After their own kids grew up, life had settled into a quiet, predictable rhythmalmost boring. Their eldest, Jake, lived in Manchester with his own family now. The youngest, Tom, was at uni in Birmingham.
It felt like theyd already lived through everything exciting. Now there was just this strange, hollow emptiness, like life had turned into *Groundhog Day* and lost all meaning. At first, it had been niceNadine and Greg thought theyd finally have time for themselves, for each other. But as time passed, they realised something was missing.
Then, like clockwork, Helen showed up with her request.
“Nads, you know Mikeys just started uni in your city? No space in halls, and you know what its likemore drinking than studying. Maybe you could help? Youve got all that extra room, its quiet, good for him to focus Plus, youre family. Keep an eye on him?”
Nadine didnt object. She remembered babysitting Mikey when shed visit their mum. Hed always clung to her, begging to come stay. She wasnt just his auntshe was his godmother, practically a second mum.
She even got excited about it.
“At least therell be someone to cook for again,” shed gushed, convincing Greg. “And youll have someone to play those video games with.”
At first, it *was* perfect. Mikey was the ideal housematewashed his own dishes, even cooked dinner a couple of times. Sure, it was just pasta and sausages, but still sweet. Up with his alarm, home by nine, constantly thanking them.
“Wish our two had been this well-behaved,” Nadine joked to Greg.
But as weeks passed, things changed. Clothes started appearing everywheretrainers under the kitchen table, his jacket dumped on the sofa. Dirty plates piled in the sink.
Nadine gently pointed it out. Hed grumble but clean up. No big deal.
Then came the late nights. First eleven, then midnight. Once, she woke at 3 AM to crashing in the kitchenMikey, drunk, trying to pour water in the dark and smashing a glass. She watched, arms crossed, as he fumbled with the shards.
“Why are you back so late?” she asked sharply.
“Aunt Nads, Im an adult. Its my life. Im not skipping lectureswhats the issue?”
She bit back the urge to say *your life starts when you pay your own rent*. But he *was* an adult. She had no right to control him. Still, the noise, the messit grated.
“At least keep it down. This isnt halls; people are sleeping.”
“Fair, my bad. Sorry.”
“Just go to bed. Ill clean it.”
No way was she letting a drunk kid handle broken glass. Helen would never forgive her.
Greg made jokes, but he was annoyed too.
“Brilliant. Now its like having a third son. Even wakes us up at nightjust like Jake and Tom used to.”
Mikey wasnt *bad*. But he was sinking into their home like a weedfast, stubborn, uninvited.
The late-night talk bought them two weeks of peace. Mikey still came home late, but quietly. Nadines light sleep meant shed still wake, but what could she do? Living together meant compromises.
Then came the food. A loaf of bread vanished in a day. Eggsgone in two. The freezer, once packed with homemade meals, was empty. Nadine noticed but said nothinggrowing lad, student life. Greg snacked at night too, sometimes.
But thenclues. Strange hairs in the bathroom. The guest bed rumpled, like someone had slept there. Nadine ignored it.
Then they went away for a weekendfriends cottage by the coast. A break.
That night, their neighbour called.
“Are you *trying* to rattle the windows? Musics been thumping since six! Fine in daylight, but its nearly midnight!”
Nadine apologised stiffly. They packed up and drove home in silence, her fists clenching. Greg didnt even turn the radio on.
The flat was chaos. Stale beer, cigarette smoke, four ladstwo barely coherentlounging in the living room. Mikey among them, bottle in hand.
He grinned sheepishly.
“Ohyoure back early! Just a little get-together.”
Nadine snapped.
“EveryoneOUT. Now.”
Some argued. Some apologised. Greg helped shove them out.
Mikey slunk off to bed. Useless talking to him drunk. In the morning, she let him have it.
“No more guests without asking. Were getting cameras. Everywhereexcept your room and the loo. If you cant remember where you live, the lenses will remind you.”
Mikey muttered about “tyranny” but didnt fight back. Even scrubbed the juice stain from the carpet himself.
That shouldve been the end.
It wasnt.
Two weeks later, Mikey brought someone home mid-day. “My girlfriend,” he announced. She darted into his room before anyone got a proper look.
Nadine assumed shed leave by evening. By ten, no movement.
Greg knocked. Nadine stood behind him, arms crossed.
Mikey opened the door reluctantly. “Its my private life, whats the big deal?”
The “girlfriend” hid under the covers. Face-wise, she couldve been anywhere from fourteen to thirty.
“How old is she?” Nadine demanded.
“Didnt check her passport.”
They exchanged glances. Same thought.
“Get her out. Now. We dont need legal trouble.”
Mikey foughtshouting, accusing. But eventually, he left.
Then came the backlash. First Helen. Then their mum. As if Nadine was supposed to babysit a grown man.
“You raised a rude little git, Helen. Not our fault,” Nadine said coldly.
“How can you say that? Hell fall in with a bad crowd, drink himself into”
Nadine hung up. Rubbed her temples. Headache pounding.
Greg sat beside her.
“Let them in, and they take over. Now Im the family villain.”
“Is this even family? You helped her son for months, and she turned on you in a second. Thats not family. Just relatives.”
Time passed. Mikey got kicked out of uni, predictably. Even had a brush with the police.
Nadine and Greg returned to their quiet lifeno longer empty, just peaceful. *Earned*.
