– “Hold On, My Daughter! You’re in a New Family Now, and You Must Respect Their Ways.

Hold still, love! Youre now part of another family, so you have to live by their rules. You got married, you didnt just pop in for a visit. What rules, Mum? Everything here is topsyturvy! Especially the motherinlaw! She clearly hates me! Have you ever heard of a kind motherinlaw?

Hes out gallivanting again! Always out! Dorothy Parker stands in the middle of the kitchen, her face flushed with fury and her eyes blazing. If a man has a night out, the wifes to blame. What more do I have to explain to you?

Dorothy is in a fury, shouting at her daughterinlaw Ethel as if she were unhinged. All because Ethel has begun to suspect her husband Brians infidelity.

Ethel, a young, delicate girl with wide, innocent eyes, leans against the wall, trying to calm the raging woman.

Dorothy, thats absurd. He has a family, children Ethel begins to protest, but Dorothy cuts her off with a sweeping hand, like swatting an annoying fly.

Is this your family? Or that child of yours who wont let us near? the motherinlaw snaps contemptuously. Your upbringing, by the way!

What upbringing, Dorothy? Tommys only a year old. Hes still a tot, Ethel whispers.

A toddler? Dorothy huffs. The Egerton lads are even younger. Hes handson, not rehearsed, like that you she gestures toward the nursery.

Actually, hes your grandson, Ethel manages, her voice trembling. Children can sense bad people. Maybe thats why he stays away from you.

Were the bad ones? What a load of rubbish! Dorothy raises her voice. And whose house are you living in for free? Whose groceries do you eat? Whose money do you spend? Ungrateful!

Ethel stops trying to argue with her fiery motherinlaw. She has begged Brian a thousand times to move out of his parents house, but Brian, a pampered mamas boy, sees no need. He loves living with his parents; its as comfortable as a warm hearth. He drifts to work while the elderly handle the laundry, cleaning, and cooking. It feels more like a fairy tale than a real life.

At first, Ethel tries every trick to get along with Dorothy. She helps around the house, supports her in everything, and even listens to endless complaints about neighbours and the local shop. Over time, however, she realises her efforts are in vain.

No matter how dutiful Ethel tries to be, she cant hide her hatred for Dorothy.

You dragged this clumsy girl into the house as if decent girls didnt exist, Dorothy tells her neighbour while Ethel gathers the toys Brian scattered, listening from the doorway.

She even trekked to the next village for her! If anyone could be better, itd be our own grandmothershardworking and clever.

Tell that to anyone, adds the gossiping neighbour, Mrs. Mona, whos already heard every village rumor.

I know what youre capable of, Dorothy mutters. As you said yourself, your hands just arent right for this. Nothing will ever be proper.

You cant imagine how badly it is! You cant trust her with anything. Shell lose it or break it. And that child of hers not right.

The Egerton grandson is a different storycalm, sensible. This one keeps rehearsing, whining. Must be a bad gene.

When life becomes unbearable, Ethel calls her mother in the neighbouring hamlet, pours out her woes, and cries. Her mother answers:

Hold your tongue, love! Youre now in another family; you must respect their ways. You married, you didnt just drop by.

What ways, Mum? Everythings a circus! Especially the motherinlaw! She despises me, its obvious!

Have you ever heard of a kind motherinlaw? We all went through it, and youll have to too. The key is not to show how hard it is. Endure.

Realising her timid mother wont help, Ethel threatens to call her father.

Dont you dare bother your dad! her mum snaps. You know his conditional sentence. One step wrong and theyll lock him up!

Ethel knows her father, Arthur, loved his only daughter fiercely. He received a suspended term for a fight that broke out after someone insulted Ethel in the village shop. Arthur would not stay silent if he learned how his daughter was being tormented.

I wont tell him, Ethel says, but if they keep this up, I dont know what Ill do.

Everything will work out, dear, her mum tries to soothe. In a few weeks you wont even remember this chat.

Ethel hopes to forget it, but the relationship with Dorothy only worsens. Dorothy seems convinced Ethel is the cause of every misfortune. Even her husband, Albert Jones, a weary old man, finally loses patience.

Why are you always shouting at the girl? Albert tries to intervene one morning as the argument peaks. Shell leave us! Shell do the right thing!

Ill make her go! Dorothy erupts, aiming all her anger at Albert. Ill take her to court, get back every pound weve paid these years! Ill take her child away so she wont raise it in this wretched family!

Ethel knows Dorothys tirade is nonsense, yet shes terrified. She still loves her husband Brian.

Rumours that Brian secretly meets his former sweetheart, Ophelia, turn out to be just village gossip, spread by women like Dorothy.

The abuse could have continued forever if not for Dorothys loose tongue. After a fresh victory over Ethel, she boasts to her best friend, Mrs. Mona, embellishing the tale each time, then passes it to another neighbour, then to her husband and so the story of the shrewish daughterinlaw spreads to Arthur.

Arthur, a towering, broadshouldered man, grabs his axestill wet from chopping firewoodthrows on his work jacket, hops onto his aging motorcycle, and without a word to his wife, rides off to the neighbouring village to rescue his daughter.

Meanwhile, in Dorothys house a real scandal erupts. The young mother steps away for a moment to fetch a fresh diaper, leaving baby Tommy on the brandnew, bright orange sofa. When she returns, theres a small brown stain on the fabric. To Dorothy, that spot swells into a black hole ready to swallow the whole room. She storms in like a thunderstorm and shouts at Ethel.

Youve ruined my sofa! My favourite! Do you know how much it cost? Ill tear your arms off and stitch them back if you dont fix it!

Ill clean it, Ill sort it out, Ethel says, trembling, clutching a cloth.

What will you clean? Its brand new! And you never bought anything yourself!

Do you think we ever bought anything? Ethel snaps, finally daring to reproach the woman whos spent her whole life leaning on a husband.

Look at her! How bold to speak back to a motherinlaw! Dorothys face reddens.

Now get that stain off and then march out with your son! Youll keep living here, scaring us, until you learn proper behaviour!

Ethel, tears streaming, scrubs at the stubborn brown smudge, which clings to the orange upholstery as if mocking her helplessness. Little Tommy, sensing his mothers panic, wails loudly, his cries amplifying the tension.

Dorothy looms over Ethel, hurling a fresh volley of curses. She doesnt notice a stranger slipping through the doorwayArthur, standing like a statue, axe handle clenched.

For a split second Dorothy turns, sensing a presence, and her eyes lock on the weapon. She knows Arthurs hot temper, his suspended sentence, and the danger it represents. Fear shoots through her like ice.

Realising the stakes, Dorothy tries to keep her composure, voice trembling.

Oh, hello, Arthur! I was just looking after little Ethel here

Ive heard how youre raising her, Arthur growls, stepping into the kitchen barefoot.

He lifts the axe above his head, forcing Dorothy to blink and step back. Instead of a swing, he rests the axe on his shoulder and offers his hand to Ethel.

Come on, love, you dont belong here any longer, he says, leading her toward the exit.

Wait, Arthur! Dorothy, recovering from shock, tries to regain control. What will I tell my son?

Let him come to me when hes ready, about his wife. Ill talk to him like a man, Arthur replies with a cold, steelglint in his gaze.

Arthur carries Ethel and baby Tommy out. Brian, hesitant to confront his father, finally musters the courage to visit, fearing a clash with his dad. After a long, calm talk, Arthur promises Brian they will live separately, that his mother will no longer meddle, and that hell protect his wife and child.

When Arthur shakes Brians hand firmly, Brian feels the weight of the promise and knows he must keep it.

From that day onward Dorothy avoids Ethel and the grandson. She no longer greets them on the street. Brian and Ethel move out, finding peace and understanding. Perhaps the old fatherinlaws advice finally takes effect, or perhaps love simply wins.