They’d forgotten to ask me first! Take in the guests and dont object! my motherinlaw declared to me. This time, however, she got what she deserved.
Im not a stranger here, I snapped, standing in the hallway of my flat. I live in this house, this is my flat too, so Im saying no! I tried to keep her and her party out.
My dear, youve forgotten whom were lodging and where! Clara Stead retorted with a haughty grin. Just welcome the guests and keep quiet. Come in, Lydia, Peter, thats what she means to joke about.
With a forced smile, Clara squeezed past the people shed arrived with, dragging an elderly couple behind her.
Do I really have to argue with you? I asked, exasperated.
No need for any quarrel, she replied, still smiling bitterly. If Matt were home you wouldnt have a word against our relatives. My son is hospitable and respects his kin. You could learn a thing or two from him, since youre so illbrought up.
Five minutes earlier, Clara had rung the buzzer downstairs. Standing by the entrance, shed asked me to let her in. I pressed the intercom button without a second thought, letting her in, even though I barely understood why she should be here while my husband, Matt Harper, lay in St. Thomas Hospital with an inflamed appendix.
When I opened the flats door, I was both surprised and indignant. Beside Clara stood a man and a woman Id never seen before, each holding a travel bag.
Meet my cousin Lydia and her husband, Clara announced. Theyve come to visit family.
Hello, I replied curtly, bewildered by their sudden appearance and the bags they carried.
Theyre here to stay with you and Matt, Clara continued, as if the decision had already been made. Id house them at mine, but I already have my longtime friend Zina from Brighton and her grandson staying here. So, Nell, make yourself a hostess. Lydia and Peter have kindly agreed to live with you.
Now, with these strangers practically storming my flat, I didnt know what to do. Call the local constable to evict them, or first phone my husband in the hospital?
Meanwhile the uninvited guests began to sniff around, unpacking their luggage.
How cosy you have it, and how spacious, Lydia said, looking about. Tell me, Nell, is the tube far from here? Wed like to go into the city tomorrow, wander around, and admire the monuments and historic buildings.
I hadnt even opened my mouth to answer before my motherinlaw interjected.
Its not far at all. Ten minutes walk, nice and easy. We chose this flat with my husband and Matt, making sure the park, the tube, and the shops were all within reach, Clara boasted.
Bravo, Clara! Youve provided education for your son and helped buy the flat, Lydia chimed, as if I werent present.
Ill call Matt. Its simply unheard of to behave like this! I muttered, the thought of sharing my home with complete strangers grinding my nerves.
Call him. Let my son be glad that his aunt and uncle have finally visited he hasnt seen them in ages. Its a pity Matt cant receive them properly now, Clara retorted, looking at me with thinly veiled contempt.
I dialed Matts number while the guests chatted amongst themselves. He didnt answer, likely sleeping after his painkillers. I didnt redial; I decided to call later.
It wouldnt have been so hard to welcome my husbands relatives if Clara had asked beforehand, if shed shown a modicum of humanity instead of barging in and insulting me. She seemed to think the purchase of this flat a mortgage taken out by Matt and me, with a first payment borrowed from both our parents was entirely her and my fatherinlaws achievement. In truth, every grandparent contributed, but Clara liked to put herself at the centre of the story.
She never hid her dislike for me, believing Id never be a worthy match for her son. I tried again to call Matt; the line only rang with a long, empty tone. I didnt persist, remembering he was still in the hospital, not a holiday resort.
Alright then, my dears, Ill leave you to yourselves, Clara said sweetly, My own house is full of guests, and they need my attention as well. Settle in, have a rest, and tomorrow well arrange a meeting. With that, she departed, leaving me alone with the intruders.
I realised Id have to let these strangers stay the night. Throwing them out would have been easy, but I feared how Matt would react, and I didnt want to argue with him while he was ill.
Weve already had dinner, the guests said. Just give us a place to sleep for the night, thats all.
Later, Matt finally called back. I stepped onto the balcony, closed the door behind me so the guests wouldnt hear, and, on the verge of tears, told him everything.
Its a nightmare! I exclaimed. Your mother has again caused a scandal! Shes brought some distant relatives to us!
What relatives? Matt asked, still groggy from his medication.
She brought Lydia and Peter, her cousin and husband, from some backwater town. She forced them into my flat, saying theyd live here. Ive never seen them before, Matt! She shoved them in, called me names, and then left.
Matt sounded confused. I thought they were supposed to visit, not move in.
I think she simply didnt want to deal with guests herself cooking, entertaining. She shoved the burden onto me!
Ill call her and ask her to take them back, Matt said. Theyre strangers to us. Its probably too late for tonight, but they can stay until tomorrow and then go back to her.
Im not keen on letting them stay the night, but theyre your family, so Ill oblige, I replied reluctantly.
The next morning, as I left for work, I told my husbands relatives that they could simply shut the front door when I was gone.
Wont you give us a spare key? they asked. How will we get back in? Should we wait by the lift until you return from work?
No, you wont be returning, I answered curtly, and walked away, no longer willing to listen to their complaints.
Clara called immediately. Why didnt you give Lydia and Peter keys? You said theyd live here, yet youre refusing again.
Didnt Matt call you? I asked my sisterinlaw.
He did, but I told him that greeting guests, especially family, is your direct duty. Dont annoy him with your whims. Let him recover! Nothing will happen to you, Clara huffed.
I hung up, hoping that once they left my flat, they would never return. I certainly would not open the door to anyone else again.
That evening, however, I walked back to a disquieting scene. Peter and Lydia were at the kitchen table, nibbling on cold sausage, cheese, and whatever theyd found in the fridge. The most shocking part was that theyd been drinking ale for hours.
Ah, Nell, youre here! Lydia slurred. Whip us up something quick, were starving. We cant work out how to use your fancy new cooker.
Yes, weve been here all day by your grace, havent gone anywhere. You didnt leave us any keys! Peter added, his words thick with drunkenness.
I fled to the police and reported that strangers were refusing to leave my home.
Clara Stead, fetch your drunken kin before the constable arrives, I told my motherinlaw. If you havent seen the mess theyve made of my kitchen, youll owe me for the cleaning.
What? You called the police? Clara gasped.
I havent yet. I was advised to call the local constable first. If you dont collect your shameless relatives within half an hour, theyll be spending the night in a cell.
When the flat was finally cleared, I breathed a sigh of relief. The harsh words and looks from my husbands mother still rang in my ears.
Ungrateful wretch! Clara shouted. We welcomed her into the family and she behaves like the most selfish creature!
Alone, I resolved to give Clara a lesson she would never forget. I rang my own mother.
Mum, hello! How are you and Dad doing? Could you give me the numbers of our relatives back in TiddleyWood?
What for? she asked, surprised. Theyre probably up to their usual mischief. What would you even talk about with them?
They love a good old-fashioned rumrun! I want to invite them over, I replied, determined.
My dear, perhaps you shouldnt be so drastic, my mother warned.
No, Mum, it has to be done, or this will never end.
A few days later, Clara answered the door to find me surrounded by a ragged group of men and women, looking more like vagrants from a distant moor than respectable guests. They smelled faintly of cheap whisky.
Good day, they said politely, the odor of stale ale trailing behind them.
I pushed the startled Clara aside and invited my own relatives into the flat.
Come in, make yourselves at home. These are my kin, straight from the country. They may be a bit rough, but theyre hardworking, arent they?
Yes, we love a good bit of labour, they chorused.
Theyll stay a few days, I told Clara, whose face twisted in disgust.
What have you brought into my home? she snapped.
Im away on a short work trip, Matt is still in hospital. By your own words, greeting guests especially family is your duty. So, forward! I replied.
I stepped out, leaving my relatives in Claras care. For the first fifteen minutes she called me nonstop, then fell silent.
Theyve been coaxed, perhaps with a bit of homebrew. Judging by the wellpacked bags, they brought plenty of fuel, she muttered with a grim smile.
I explained the plan to my own kin, asking them to help me out.
If things go bad, dont wait for the police clear yourselves out, I warned.
Dont worry, nothing can break our spirit, they laughed.
The next day Matt called from the ward, telling me his mother was furious with me and would no longer speak to me, insisting we should not let us have a place in the flat.
Wonderful, I thought. Exactly what I wanted. Let this be a lesson for the future.
Ill make her respect me, I whispered, a faint grin playing on my lips.
And so my own relatives lingered at Claras house for a full day, while the memory of that nights chaos lingered long after the doors finally closed.
