Oh, youve got to help meyoure my mum!
“Katie, youre back again,” sighed Valerie, shrugging off her coat as she watched her daughter rummage through the fridge. “Why did you even move out if you keep coming back? Maybe it wasnt the best idea…”
Katie spun around, clutching a packet of ham to her chest. “Mum! You scared me half to deathsneaking up like that!” she huffed, but then broke into a disarming grin. “Just popped in to see how youre doing.”
Valerie set her grocery bags on the table and studied her daughter. At twenty-four, Katie looked every bit the grown woman, but there was still something childlikesomething helplessin her eyes.
“Here to see me, or raid the fridge?” Valerie asked gently.
Katie flushed, staring at the floor. After a beat, she blurted out, “Look, Mum, my wages just… vanished suspiciously fast. Ive got a week till payday, and theres nothing to eat. Thats the long and short of it.”
Valerie held back a sigh. Katie had rushed into moving out, desperate to prove she could manage on her own. But could she really have stopped her? Young people always charge headfirst into independence without a second thought.
“Save the I told you so,” Katie cut in, raising a hand. “I just miscalculated, thats all. Next month will be betterIll be the one bringing *you* gifts and ordering your groceries. Cross my heart!”
Valerie shook her head. Her daughters stubborn optimism hadnt faded one bit.
“Take what you need, love. Dont worry about it.”
She watched as Katie methodically emptied the fridgeham, cheese, cream, vegall vanished into her oversized tote. From the cupboards went packets of pasta and rice, and from the pantry, a hefty bag of potatoes.
“Thisll last me the week!” Katie cheered, planting a loud kiss on Valeries cheek. “Thanks, Mumyoure the best!”
Valerie walked her to the door, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Silence settled over the flat. Leaning against the wall, Valerie thought back to herself at Katies agejuggling work, a husband, and a toddler. How had she managed it all? These days, even a trip to the shops left her drained.
*Where did my youth go?* she whispered, catching her reflection in the hallway mirror. Wrinkles at her eyes, streaks of grey in what used to be rich chestnut hair. Time was relentless. Her best years had slipped away in a blur of work and raising Katie. She didnt regret a thing, but sometimes the weight of it all made her want to howl.
A week later, Valerie called her daughter. A mothers heart never rests.
“Do you need money? Anything?” she asked the moment Katie picked up.
A carefree laugh echoed down the line. “Mum, Ive been paidstop fussing! Im a big girl now.”
“Big girl, my foot,” Valerie muttered. “Who ran out of grocery money last week? Katie, listenmaybe you should just come home. Itd be easier.”
Silence. Then Katie exhaled sharply, irritation simmering.
“Mum, Im *grown*. I want my own place. So what if its not perfect yet? Ill figure it out. Why dont you believe in me?”
Valerie faltered. She hadnt meant to upset hershe just worried.
“Sorry, love. I only want whats best. To me, youll always be my little girl.”
The call left a sour taste. Valerie sat clutching her phone, lost in thought. Raising Katie had been hardbut letting go? That was harder.
Three days later, Valerie came home late from a friends. The moment she stepped inside, she heard clattering in the kitchen. Her heart leapt*burglars?* But noit was Katie, leaning into the fridge, devouring a sandwich.
“Back already? Just helping myself. Paid the rent today and realised Im skint till payday. Same old story.”
Katie smiled, but the warmth was gone. Something calculating had crept into her gaze.
“Who was it saying they were all grown-up and independent?” Valerie asked wearily, sinking onto a chair.
Katie tossed her hair, shoving groceries into her bag. “I *am* grown. But youre my mum. That means you have to help me. Its your *job* to take care of your kid.” The way she said it made Valeries stomach twist. “Just giving you a chance to be a proper mum.”
Into the bag went fruit, veg, a tub of pasta salad, and five yoghurt pots. Valerie watched in silence. *A job?* Since when was love an obligation?
Katies visits became routine. New shoes blew her budget. Her phone broke. Rent went up. Always a reason to swing by and strip the fridge bare.
Valerie bit her tongue. How could she scold her own child? But with each visit, the weight grew heavier. Katie didnt even pretend to visit anymoreno asking after her mums health, no chat. Just in, out, and gone.
One evening, Valerie came home drenched. Autumn rain had caught her halfway from the shops. Shucking off her sodden coat, she headed to the kitchen.
“Need to defrost the chicken,” she muttered, yanking open the freezer.
Her hand froze. The compartment was empty. Four shelves, packed that morning with meat and veg, now barren. She flung open the fridge door. A lone jar of mustard sat untouchedKatie hated the stuff.
Hands trembling, Valerie dialled her daughter.
“Mum, what?” Katie answered, annoyed.
“Did you take *all* the food?” Valeries voice cracked.
“Yep!” Katie chirped. “Thought Id save myself the trips. No point wasting time, right?”
Valerie shut her eyes against the sting of tears. How could she be so thoughtless?
“Katie, I just got homeI was going to cook”
“Mum,” Katie cut in, exasperated. “Just nip to the shops! The walkll do you gooddoctors recommend it. Anyway, gotta dash!”
The line went dead. Valerie slumped into a chair, staring at her phone. Bitterness pooled in her chest. Had she become nothing but a free supermarket to her own daughter?
After that, the emptied fridge became a biweekly event. Katie didnt even bother with excuses.
Then one night, the shatter of glass jolted Valerie awake. She bolted to the kitchenKatie knelt on the floor, mopping up spilled mustard, shattered jar everywhere.
“Even took the mustard? The one thing you hate?” Valerie snapped.
Katie glared up.
“Oh, *Mum*, dont start. Just help me clean this!”
“Why didnt you wake me? What are you doing here in the middle of the night?”
Katie flung the cloth down, yellow streaks smearing the tiles. She stood, arms crosseda mirror of Valeries own stance when cross.
“I have a *key*, Mum. Remember? This is my home too! Why should I announce myself? Or am I not allowed here anymore?”
Valerie shook her head.
“Youre always welcomebut you dont come to see *me*. You come for the fridge. Katie, Im not made of money. I cant feed both of usespecially when you take everything!”
Katie slammed the fridge door. Fury flashed in her eyes.
“You *begrudge* your own daughter food? *You* said I could take what I needed!”
“I meant *once*!” Valeries voice rose, breaking. “But you treat this place like a free supermarket! I never know if Ill have dinner or go to bed hungry. Thats not right, Katie!”
Katie backed toward the window, stepping over glass.
“Regretting helping me that first time, are you? Just say it! And I thought you were my *mum*! Youre supposed to *help*! You *owe* me!”
“Katie, youre twenty-four!” Valerie snapped. “I dont *owe* you meals! Youre an adultfigure it out! If you cant, move back home! Pay your share. At least youd save on rent.”
Katie went still. Then her face twisted.
“I dont *want* to live with you! Get it? Me and Anthony are seriousweve moved in! But I didnt realise hed eat like a *horse*!”
Valerie froze. Her daughter was living with a manand hadnt told her. Yet shed been stealing food to feed him.
“And thats *my* problem?” Valeries voice turned icy. “Hes your boyfriend. *Your* family.”
“But youre supposed to *help*! Youre my *mum*!” Katie near-shrieked.
“Let Anthony raid *his* mothers fridge!” Valerie dropped into a chair, exhausted. “Or get a second job. If you two cant feed yourselves, thats *your* failing. Ive burned through my savingsfor what? To feed your greedy boyfriend?”
Katies face blotched red.
“How *dare* you? Anthonys *wonderful*! Youre just a *terrible* mother! A good one would *support* her daughter!”
Valerie cradled her head. The hurt was a fist around her throat.
“Katie, leave. Please,” she said thickly. “For six months, Ive just been a free fridge to you. I need time. You lied. You *used* me. Take whatevers left. Consider it a parting gift. And go.”
She didnt look up as Katie filled her bag. Only the slam of the front door made her flinch. The kitchen clocks ticking was the only sound.
Valerie rose slowly, walking to the window. Somewhere out there, her daughter was heading back to Anthony, her final haul from Mums house in tow.
“Ill change the locks tomorrow,” she whispered. “Time they learned responsibility. Let them live within their means.”
Valerie changed the locks. Katie didnt call, didnt text. Fine. Better that than being a free larder for her grown daughter and her freeloader boyfriend.
A month later, Katie finally rang.
