З життя
Don’t Go, Mum: A Family Story of Love, Judgement, and Redemption
Dont Go, Mum. A Family Story
As the old saying goes: you cant judge a book by its cover.
But Margaret Thompson firmly believes thats nonsenseshe prides herself on reading people like an open book!
A year ago, her daughter, Grace, got married.
Margaret had always dreamed that Grace would find a good, reliable English lad, theyd have children, and shed become the matriarch of a big, happy family, just as shed always wanted.
James, her son-in-law, isnt daft, and hes certainly not hard up either. In fact, he seems quite chuffed with himself. The newlyweds moved into James flat, and clearly, they have no time for her advice!
Margaret is convinced that James is a terrible influence on Grace!
None of this fits in with Margarets plans. She finds herself constantly on edge whenever James is mentioned.
Mum, you just dont get it, James grew up in care. Hes built everything by himself, hes strong and incredibly kind, Grace says, her voice brimming with frustration.
Margaret only purses her lips and hunts for new flaws in James.
Now he seems nothing like the man he presented himself to be when he was wooing her daughter! As her duty as a mother, she feels compelled to open Graces eyes to this empty suit before its too late!
No degree, stubborn as a mule, and not interested in anything!
He just loafs in front of the telly on weekends, says hes tired from work!
Is this really the sort of man her daughter wants to spend her life with? Absolutely notone day Grace will thank her.
And when children arrive, her grandchildren, what on earth will a father like him teach them?
Margaret is deeply disappointed. Unsurprisingly, James, picking up on her frosty attitude, begins to avoid speaking to her.
They see each other less and less, and Margaret has point-blank refused to set foot in their home now.
Graces father, ever the peacekeeper and knowing his wife all too well, chooses to keep out of it.
But then, one evening, Grace rings Margaret, her voice on edge:
Mum, I never mentioned it, but Ive had to nip away on a two-day work trip. And Jameshe caught a chill at the building site, came home early from work feeling ill. I tried to call, but hes not answering his phone.
Grace, why are you telling me all this? Margaret snaps, You lot live your own lives, don’t seem to care about us! No one checks on how I feel, does that bother anyone? And now you call me in the dead of night just to say James is ill? Have you lost your senses?
Mum, please Graces voice trembles, shes clearly worried, I just wish you could understand we love each other. You think James is no good, but he really isnt like that! How could you ever think that I, your daughter, could fall for someone bad? Dont you trust me?
Margaret falls silent.
Mum, Im begging youremember, you still have the spare key to our flat. Could you please check on him? I think somethings really wrong with James! Please, Mum!
Finejust for you, Margaret mutters, getting her husband up.
They let themselves in with the key since no one answers the door. The flat is dark and stillperhaps no ones home?
Maybe hes not here after all? her husband suggests, but Margaret silences him with a stern glare, her daughters worry seeping into her bones.
She steps into the loungeand freezes in horror. James is sprawled on the sofa in an odd position, his skin burning with fever!
The paramedic rouses the young man and offers reassurance:
Dont worry, hes got complications from his cold. Hes been working too hard, hasnt he? he says kindly, looking at Margaret.
Thats right, he does work a lot, she admits.
Hell be fine, just watch his temperature and ring us if anything changes.
James drifts into sleep, and Margaret finds herself sitting in the armchair next to himby the bedside of the son-in-law she never wanted.
He looks so young and vulnerable, his hair sticking to his forehead with sweat, his face far softer than shes ever seen.
Mum, James murmurs in his sleep, grasping her hand. Dont go, Mum.
Margaret is so startled that she cant bring herself to pull her hand away.
She sits by his side all night.
At first light, Grace phones again:
Mum, thank you so much. Ill be home soon, you dont need to stayhell be all right, Im sure of it.
He already is, love, Margaret replies with a gentle smile, were waiting for you, everythings fine.
*****
When her first grandson is born, Margaret is quick to offer her help.
James, grateful, kisses her hand: See, Grace, you said your mum wouldnt want to help us!
And Margaret, proudly cradling little Thomas, walks around the flat talking quietly to the baby:
Well, Thomas, youre a lucky lad the best parents and a loving gran and granddad! You really are a fortunate little fellow!
So perhaps that old saying rings true after allyou cant judge a book by its cover.
And love is the only thing that truly helps you understand a person.
I Took a DNA Test and Lived to Regret It: How Doubt Cost Me My Marriage, My Family, and My Future with My Children
I did a DNA test and I regretted it I ended up marrying my girlfriend when I found out she...
Putting Dad in a Care Home: Elizabeth’s Struggle Between Guilt and Self-Preservation in the Face of a Lifetime of Cruelty
What nonsense is this? A care home? Over my dead body! Im not leaving my house! Elizabeths father hurled his...
After My Parents’ Divorce, They Cast Me Out: How I Was Forced to Leave Home, Lost My Family, and Began a New Life—Until a Twist of Fate Brought Us All Back Together
I pleaded, yet my mother stood firm. She hurriedly tossed my belongings into a rucksack, handed me a bit of...
Don’t Go, Mum: A Family Story of Love, Judgement, and Redemption
Dont Go, Mum. A Family Story As the old saying goes: you cant judge a book by its cover. But...
She Was Never Truly Alone: A Simple Tale of Grandma Violet, Her Loyal Dog George, and Felix the Cat with a Financial Past
She Wasnt Alone. A Simple Tale It was a late winter morning, and the sky over London barely began to...
After Turning Seventy, She Was Forgotten—Not Even Her Son or Daughter Remembered Her Birthday, But When Her Son Betrayed Her and Sold Her Home, an Unexpected Reunion with Her Estranged Daughter Changed Everything
After turning seventy, she found herself unwanted by anyone not even her own son or daughter remembered her birthday. Margaret...
I Will Always Be With You, Mum: A Heartfelt Story You Can Believe Grandma Valerie couldn’t wait for evening to come. Her neighbour Natalie, a single woman approaching fifty, had just confided something so astonishing that Valerie’s head was spinning. To prove her point, Natalie had even invited her round later to show her something remarkable. The story began quite simply. That morning, Natalie had dropped by as she was on her way to the shop: “Is there anything you need, Valerie? I’m popping to the corner shop to pick up bits for a pie and a few other things.” Valerie smiled. “You’ve always been so good and caring, Natalie. I remember you as a little girl. It’s a shame things haven’t worked out for you—but you never seem sad or complain, not like some.” Natalie laughed. “What’s there to complain about? I do have a man I love, it’s just we can’t be together for now. Would you like to hear the reason? I’ve never told anyone else, but I want to tell you. Well, partly because you probably wouldn’t be believed if you repeated it!” She grinned. “Just let me know if you need anything from the shop. I’ll pop in on my way back, and over a cup of tea, I’ll tell you all about my life. Maybe then you’ll be happy for me and stop worrying.” Valerie didn’t really need anything, but asked Natalie to fetch a loaf of bread and some sweets for tea, her curiosity well and truly piqued. Later, as they sat together over tea and cake, Natalie began: “Valerie, you remember that thing that happened to me twenty years ago? I was nearly thirty. Met a bloke—nice enough, so I thought I’d marry him even if I didn’t love him. At least I’d have a family. He moved in and I got pregnant. When the baby came, a little girl, she lived just two days and passed away. I thought I’d go mad with grief. My husband and I split up soon after. A couple of months later, once I’d stopped crying, something happened. It’s hard to explain, Valerie. I’d got everything ready for my daughter—the cot, bedding, toys, the lot. They say it’s bad luck to buy these things early, but I didn’t believe that. Then one night I was woken by the sound of a baby crying. I thought I was imagining it, but the crying came again. I went to the cot—and there she was. My little girl. I picked her up, my heart nearly bursting with happiness. She looked up at me and then drifted peacefully to sleep. And from then on, almost every night, she would come to me. I even bought formula and a bottle, but she hardly ever fed—just smiled, closed her eyes and slept in my arms. Is that even possible?” Valerie leaned forward, utterly enthralled. “I know it sounds mad, but it’s true,” Natalie insisted. “It just went on—we got used to those nightly visits. I knew my little girl was living in another world, with her own mum and dad, but she never forgot me. She would visit, and one night she said to me: ‘I will always be with you, Mum. We are bound by an invisible thread, and nothing can ever break it.’ Sometimes I wonder if it’s a dream, but she even brings me gifts from her world. They don’t last long here though—they fade away like snow in spring.” That evening, Valerie finally visited Natalie’s flat. No one else was home—just the two of them. Suddenly, a gentle light shimmered in the air and a sweet young woman appeared: “Hello, Mummy! I’ve had such a good day, I want to share it with you. And here’s a present for you.” She placed a small bouquet on the table. Turning to see Valerie, she smiled again. “Oh, hello! Mum said you wanted to meet me. I’m Marianne.” After chatting a while, Marianne faded away like morning mist. Valerie sat silent, absolutely stunned. “Well, I never… that really happens!” she whispered. “Your daughter’s a beauty, Natalie, just like you. I’m so happy for you. You really are a lucky woman—maybe luckier than anyone I know. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t seen it myself. Thank you for opening my eyes. The world is so much bigger than I thought; life goes on everywhere. I’m not afraid anymore.” The flowers on the table became paler and then vanished altogether. But Natalie smiled, full of hope. Tomorrow would be a wonderful new day. She was going to meet Arkady, the man she loved and who loved her back—she just knew it. And someday soon, she’d introduce him to the two people she loved most in the world: Marianne and Arkady.
Ill always be with you, Mum. A story you might believe Granny Margaret waited for evening with restless curiosity. Her...
The Friend I Sold: Grandpa’s Tale of Loyal Companionship, Hard Times, and a Hard Lesson Learned
A Sold Friend. Granddads Story And he understood me! It wasn’t fun, and I realised it was a foolish idea....