Nobody really needs her. Today is her 70th birthday, but neither her son nor her daughter have shown up.
Mary sat on a park bench by the care home and wiped her eyes.
It was a big dayher 70th birthdayyet her son and daughter were nowhere to be seen. The only people who remembered were a kindly porter from her floor, who gave her a gift, and a nurse, who handed over a single apple with all the fanfare of a lost school lunch. The care home itself was decent enough, though the staff were friendly only in that way you cant really complain about, but wouldnt write home about either. Everyone knew the story: elderly folks like Mary ended up here because their children shuffled them off, hoping for a bit of peace.
Marys son had brought her, promising shed get some rest and recover her strengthbut the real reason was that shed become a nuisance to her daughter-in-law. Mary had owned the flat, until her son persuaded her to sign it over. Hed assured her nothing would changeshe could live there as always.
Naturally, it didnt work out. As soon as the paperwork was done, the whole family moved in and a domestic cold war eruptedher daughter-in-law perpetually dissatisfied, serving up questionable casseroles and leaving the bathroom looking like a swamp. At first, her son would stand up for her, but soon, even he was scolding her. Mary noticed them whispering in corners, only to stop when she entered the room. One morning, her son suggested she go somewhere to relax and get proper care. Mary, bitter, looked him straight in the eyes:
Youre putting me in a home, arent you?
Red-faced and squirming, her son insisted,
No, Mum! Just a lovely convalescent home! Youll be there a month, then youll be back with us.
He dropped her off, signed the forms, and made a quick getaway, promising to visit soonwhich, funnily enough, he never did.
Shed been there two years. After a month without a visit, she called her old home; strangers answeredher son had sold the flat, and she had no idea how to find him. For nights, Mary sobbed, knowing shed never return. The worst part was, shed once hurt her daughter for her sons so-called happiness.
Mary had grown up in a village, married her old school friend, John. They had a big cottage and a few farm animals. Then, a slick-talking old neighbour visited from London and rhapsodised about city lifegood pay, a flat straight away. Charmed, they sold everything and moved south.
As it happened, the neighbour hadnt exaggerated; they did get their flat. They even bought some second-hand furniture and an old Ford Cortina, which promptly came to a tragic end in an accident with her husband behind the wheel. After the funeral, Mary found herself alone with two kids, taking up evening jobs cleaning stairwells just to keep them fed and dressed.
She pinned her hopes on her children, but it turned out wishful thinking isnt legal tender. Her son fell in with a bad lot, and she found herself in debt just to keep him out of prison. It took two years to pay it all off. Her daughter married, had a baby, and for a while things settled. Then her grandson fell illMary gave up work to care for him, but the doctors dithered for ages, only finally diagnosing a rare illness treatable at a distant specialist centre, and with a waiting list as long as the M1.
While her daughter was stuck in and out of hospitals, her son-in-law scarpered, leaving just the flat to his family. Later, in the hospital, Mary met a widower with a daughter suffering the same illness. They got on, started living together. Five years later, the chap fell ill himself, and needed money for surgery. Mary had some set aside for her sons flat deposit, but when her daughter asked for help, Mary refused, wanting to save the money for her son. That broke her daughters heart. As she left, her daughter said, Youre no mother to me. When youre in trouble, dont expect me to call.
If Mary could rewind, shed play things differently. But time, annoyingly, only goes one way.
Mary got up slowly and trudged to her room.
Suddenly, she heard,
Mum!
Her heart somersaulted. She spun around, a bit too quickly, and nearly toppled over, but her daughter dashed across, catching her just in time.
Ive finally found you My brother refused to tell me where you were, but I said Id take him to court for flogging the flat!
They headed inside and settled onto the sofa.
Im sorry for staying away so long, Mum. First I was angry, then I kept putting it off, ashamed. But last week, I had this dreamyou were wandering the woods, crying. Woke up in pieces. Told my husband, and he said, Go find her, make it right. When I reached your old home, strangers answered. But here I am. Pack your things, youre coming with me. Wait till you see our place. Its hugeright by the seaside. And my husband says, If your mums not well, of course she comes to us.
Mary hugged her daughter tightly, tears streaming againbut this time, happy ones.
