“Arent you ashamed to ask my son for money?” snapped Margaret, her voice sharp as she overheard the mention of food.
“Emma, did you buy this cream?” asked Katherine, examining the jar on the bathroom shelf. “Its so expensive.”
“No, Oliver brought it,” replied her daughter-in-law, drying her hands on a towel. “He says it helps with wrinkles.”
Katherine set the jar back and pursed her lips. Her son wasted money on nonsense while essentials went lacking. Just that morning, hed called to apologisegroceries wouldnt arrive till tomorrow.
“What are we making for lunch?” she pressed Emma. “The fridge only has potatoes and carrots.”
Emma shrugged. “I dont know. Maybe soup?”
“With what? No meat, no chickenjust vegetables.”
“Then vegetable soup,” Emma said, opening the fridge. “Theres onion and cabbage too. Itll be fine.”
Katherine shook her head. In her day, women managed betteralways planning ahead, keeping supplies.
“What about Lily?” she asked, referring to her four-year-old granddaughter. “She wont just eat soup.”
“Ill make porridge,” Emma said, pulling out oats. “Or pasta with butter. Kids love that.”
“Do we even have butter?”
Emma checked the fridge. “Barely fifty grams left.”
Katherine sighed. They were scraping by while her son splurged on creams. Young people had their priorities all wrong.
“Listen, Emma,” she said, sitting on a stool. “Could you pop to the shop? At least get bread and milk for Lily.”
“With what money? Im completely broke.”
“How? You work.”
“Yes, but paydays not till Friday. My purse is empty.”
Katherine paced the kitchen. The situation was dire. Oliver was late with money, Emma had none, and the family needed food.
“My pension went on medicine,” she muttered. “Blood pressures been dreadfulhad to buy expensive pills.”
“Then well wait till tomorrow,” Emma said. “Well manage one day.”
“And what will Lily eat?” Katherine snapped. “Starve the child, will you?”
Emma froze, ladle in hand. “What do you suggest? Frying air?”
“I dont know! Think of something! Youre her mother!”
Footsteps pattered in, and Lily appeared in her teddy bear pyjamas.
“Nana, whens dinner?” she asked, rubbing her eyes.
“Soon, sweetheart,” Katherine said, lifting her. “Mummys cooking now.”
Emma silently peeled potatoessmall, sprouted, unappetising.
“Mum, can I have biscuits?” Lily peered into the cupboard. “Theres a box.”
“Only crumbs left,” Emma said. “After soup, okay?”
“What kind of soup?”
“Potato.”
Lily grimaced. “I dont want potato. I want meat, like at Aunt Sophies yesterday.”
Katherine exhaled heavily. The child was rightkids needed proper meals, not just vegetables.
Emma set the pot on the stove, hands trembling with fatigue.
“Emma,” Katherine said quietly, “could you call someone? Friends? Your parents?”
“Why?”
“To borrow money. For food.”
Emma turned sharply. “No. Theyve got their own problems.”
“People understand emergencies.”
“I dont beg,” Emma said coldly.
“Where are your parents? Theyd help.”
“Mums in hospital. Dads with her. Medical bills are piling up.”
Katherine stared at the simmering potwater and potatoes, no aroma, no appeal.
“Right,” she said firmly. “Ill call Oliver. Ask him to bring something.”
“He said he cant today.”
“Well try.”
Katherine dialled. “Ollie? Its me… Were fine… Listen, any chance you could stop by? Weve no food… What dyou mean no money? Where is it?… Fine. Tomorrow, then.”
She hung up. “Says hell come in the morning. Claims hes skint too.”
“Then we make do,” Emma said, stirring the soup.
Lily, meanwhile, climbed a chair and grabbed the biscuit boxempty save for crumbs.
“Mum, can I eat these?”
“Of course, love.”
The child licked her palm clean. Katherines heart ached.
“Emma, please,” she urged. “Just ask someone. For Lily.”
“How many times? No!”
“Why? Too proud?”
“Its not prideits decency. I wont mooch.”
“Mooch? Theyre friends!”
“Whove got kids and bills too.”
Katherine paced. The crisis deepened.
“Ask the neighbours, then. Mrs. Wilkins would help.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Its awkward. We barely know her.”
“Shes kind. Shell understand.”
Emma ignored her, stirring the sad souppotatoes, carrots, nothing else.
“Mum, whens Dad coming?” Lily asked. “He promised ice cream.”
“Tomorrow, sweetheart.”
“None today?”
“Not today.”
Lily pouted. “Why doesnt Dad come? Doesnt he love us?”
“He does. Hes just busy working.”
Katherine couldnt take it.
“Lily, go watch cartoons. Mummy and I need to talk.”
Once the child left, Katherine turned to Emma.
“Listen. That girl needs proper food. Not just soup.”
“And whats your solution? A magic wand?”
“Youve a phone. Friends. Cant you swallow your pride?”
“I said no!”
“Who do you think you are? Princess Whatsit? People help each other!”
“I wont grovel!”
“Grovel? Asking for help isnt grovelling!”
Emma turned off the stove. “Maybe for you. Not for me.”
“So whats your plan? Starve her on principle?”
“Youve no money either, yet youre lecturing me!”
“Because youre young! Youve connections!”
“Connections? I work at a factory, not a bank!”
Katherine rubbed her temples. The argument pounded her head.
“Emma, be reasonable. If not friends, then family.”
“They live far.”
“No one nearby?”
“A cousin in the next town.”
“There! Call her!”
“We barely speak.”
“Why?”
“Fell out over Grans will.”
“Who cares? This is about Lily!”
Emma dished the watery soup. Katherine eyed it with disgust.
“She wont eat this.”
“She will. Hungers the best sauce.”
“Hear yourself? Youd let her starve before asking for help!”
“Im not starving her! Theres food!”
“Food? Its dishwater!”
Lilys cries rang from the bedroomshed heard the shouting.
“See?” Katherine jabbed a finger. “Youre upsetting her!”
Emma stormed off to comfort Lily. Katherine stayed, glaring at the pathetic pot.
“Mummy, Im hungry,” Lily whimpered later.
“Almost ready, love. Soups cooling.”
“Will there be meat?”
“No, darling. Just soup today.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow Daddyll bring meat.”
Lily cried again. Katherine scooped her up.
“Dont cry, sweetheart. Nanall sort something.”
At the table, Lily picked at her soup.
“Nana, why does Aunt Sophie always have burgers, but we dont?”
Katherine exchanged a look with Emma. How to explain hardship to a child?
“Everyones different, love. Well have burgers tomorrow.”
“Why not today?”
“Daddys working hard for us.”
Lily nodded, forcing down bites. Katherine choked back revulsion at the tasteless slop.
After lunch, Lily played while the women cleaned up.
“Emma, Im begging you,” Katherine said, washing plates. “Call someone. Explain.”
“Enough! I wont!”
“Whatll Lily eat tonight?”
“Leftover soup.”
“And breakfast?”
“Olivers bringing food tomorrow.”
“And if he doesnt? If something else comes up?”
Emma didnt answer, stashing the pot in the fridge.
Come evening, Lily refused the reheated soup.
“Its yucky,” she whined. “And cold.”
“Ill warm it,” Emma offered.
“Dont want soup. Want nuggets.”
“No nuggets, Lily.”
“When, then?”
“Tomorrow.”
Lily wailed. Katherine rocked her.
“Dont cry, sweetheart. Nanall fix it.”
Emma spun around. “Fix it how?”
“Ask the neighbours. Mrs. Wilkins.”
“Dont you dare!”
“Whats wrong with asking for help?”
“Charity, you mean?”
“Charity?” Katherine exploded. “Who
