THE SO-CALLED BEST FRIEND Stories of husbands running off with their wives closest friends are all too
Paradise in a Flat When Simon handed her the keys to his flat, Emily knew shed finally crossed the finish line.
Daughter Chooses Love, We Pay the PriceI recall those days as if they were only yesterday, though they
Im sitting in the cramped kitchen of our little flat in Manchester, clutching a mug of tea that went
No one seemed to care what had happened, who my son was with, or how I felt. I don’t like to think
No one these days bats an eye when they hear someone they know has split up after twenty or even fifteen
– Wheres your mum? She told me to wait here for her, but she hasnt come back yet. The train station
My parents deserve nothing but contempt. I truly regret being born into this family. I know full well
The girl discarded her father like a useless trinket: a heartbreaking truthRichard Bennett never imagined
Mum, stop hassling Dad every evening!
“Mum, I need to talk to you, woman to woman.” The six-year-old girl looked at her mum seriously. All her mum could do was nod and say, “Alright, what shall we talk about?”
“What about?” her daughter asked, surprised. “About men.”
“Then, about whom?” her mum replied, correcting her. “Men are living beings, not things.”
“Why is that?” The girl didn’t understand. “If you’re talking about people, say ‘whom.’”
“Brrr…” the girl replied, clearly annoyed.
“I haven’t even said anything yet and you’ve already confused me…”
“Sorry. Go on. What is it?”
“I’m worried about Dad.”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“I think you’re giving him a hard time at night.”
The mother broke out in a cold sweat.
“Sweetie, don’t you sleep at night?”
“Of course I do.” The girl’s face was sincere.
“It’s just, I always hear you nagging Dad: ‘That’s enough, it’s late, time to go to bed, turn off the laptop!’ Mum, he’s working on his laptop. He earns money for you and for me. For me, to buy toys. For you, to buy nice things. Why are you bothering him?”
“You’re right. I’ll do better, I promise. Is that all? Is our talk finished?”
“Yes, of course.” The girl nodded.
“I’ll go warm up dinner. Dad will be home soon.” The girl ran to the window to watch for her father. He always waved to her when he arrived home. Mum, stop pestering Dad every night! Mum, I need to have a chat with you. Woman to woman. Six-year-old
