The Great Family Saga

Mother, Dads borrowed money again
Laura sprinted to the wardrobe, dug out the hidden cash, and counted it. Two hundred pounds short, as usual! Its not much, but its for firewood, and Stephen knows that better than anyonehe never puts a penny in the piggy bank himself!

She gathered every note, folded them, and slipped the bundle under the rug in the childrens bedroom.

Dinners ready, she called. She ladled soup into bowls, poured tea, and set two biscuits for each.

Mom, why dont you have any? asked Mike, looking at her solemnly.

First, I dont like sweets, and second, Im watching my figure.

He stared at her.

Mom, youre beautiful anyway!

She laughed. Eat up!

After the meal Laura washed the dishes, then peeked into the childrens room. Mike was reading a story to Sophie, while Jack was drawing.

Ten minutes, then lights out, she announced, planting kisses on each forehead before leaving. I need to mend Jacks jackethes had a school tiffand then I can finally go to bed.

She grabbed a needle and thread.

—

Ten years earlier shed married Stephen. She was only eighteen, naïve and clueless. He was slick, flashing cash left and right. Laura, a gullible fool, thought he knew how to earn it. It turned out Stephen was squandering the proceeds from the apartment hed inherited from his parents.

Do you still have a place to live? Laura asked, bewildered.

Why bother? You have that huge flat.

Wait, you sold the only home you owned just to throw away money?

Come on, Laura, dont be such a killjoy! Well live on one salary!

For a while she blamed everything on fate, refusing to believe a decent man could act so badly. When Mike and Jack were born, Stephen even got a shortterm job, but it didnt last. By the time he was looking for work again, no one seemed to value him.

Then Sophie arrived. Laura had always dreamed of a big brood, but after the baby came she realised theyd starve if they didnt tighten the purse strings.

The decision was made: rent out the flat and move to a village. An empty cottage, inherited from an aunt, had been standing vacant for five years.

Stephen took the suggestion with a grin:

Fine, go! Im happy in the city.

Laura fumed, You can stay, just not in this flat. New tenants move in tomorrow.

Are you mad? Tenants? You ask me?

I have to ask! Its my flat!

Nose in the air, Stephen still drifted to the village. He spent six months hunting for workfarm, sawmill, anythingbut nothing suited him. The only thing he was good at was flirting with the village girls.

Mary, Lauras friend and coworker, often warned, Stephens a drifter. Laura waved it off: Maybe one day hell settle down with a young lass. Mary shook her head: Youre bonkers, Laura! Who needs you with three kids?

But Laura knew life would be easier without Stephens chaos.

A sudden bang at the door announced a stranger. He shrugged off his coat, sat at the kitchen table, and Laura kept stitching.

How? Youre home earlyare you here to feed me?

She set aside her work and faced him.

Stephen, why did you take the money?

Got a knock? Heres my share! The lads invited me for a pint, not a free ride.

Earn it then! Support the family, not just yourself.

Im trying! Why cant I just come home, have dinner, and go to bed?

You can, but tonight youll eat what you bought. I need firewood, and Jacks jacket is ripped!

Stephen stared, bewildered. So I go to bed hungry?

Laura shrugged and walked away. After a while Stephen got up, dressed, and with a dramatic Youll regret this! vanished into the night.

Laura sighed. Ten years had passed, and Stephen seemed forever twentysomething, still handsome. She examined her own handsshort nails, rough skin. Better rinse them in cold water than in a hot tub! she muttered.

When she arrived in the village, she discovered the highest wages went to milkmaids. Shed never tended cows, but there was no choice. She learned fast.

Her favourite pastimepaintinggot tossed aside. She rose, fetched a canvas from the stove, and her children peered at the halffinished work. She sighed, covered the canvas with a sheet, and headed to bed.

The next morning, returning home, Laura found two large suitcases in the middle of the sitting room, the children calmly seated on the sofa, and Stephen perched on a chair. He stood as she entered.

Well, youve had enough? Now youll be chewing your elbows, but its too late. You left the kids fatherless because of your bad temper!

Laura felt oddly light. She smiled and asked, Is there anyone dumber than me?

Stephen flushed with rage, grabbed the suitcases, and bolted for the door. He tripped on the loose board shed warned him about a dozen times. He staggered, the doorframe shaking, and Laura, despite herself, felt a pang of pity.

The door slammed, shutters rattled, and Sophie asked, Mum, is dad not coming back?

Probably not, love.

She thought about her sweets. So nobody will eat my candy now?

Exactly.

Laura felt as if she, not Stephen, were devouring the sweets.

The next day she learned Stephen had left the village. Goodclean air at last. Who hed end up with in the city was irrelevant.

A week later, Laura grew anxious: the council hadnt sent the money for two days, and the phone rang unanswered. She needed to travel to the town for a day off. While she was sorting her schedule, Mike shouted, Mum, look, someones broken down just outside!

Laura peered through the frosty window. A car sat by the roadside, a shivering man in a coat stood beside it.

Its freezing his engine wont start?

No, mum, it wont start. Ive been watching for half an hour. Should we call him in for tea?

Sure, lad, shout for him, Ill get the kettle on.

Two minutes later Mike ushered a thirtyfiveyearold stranger in. He whispered through chapped lips, Thanks! I just need to warm up. Im Max.

Come in, have a cuppa. Im Laura.

While Max sipped tea, the kids watched him from the sofa. He asked, Youre so youngare they all yours?

Mine, of course.

Lucky you! I always dreamed of a big family.

Did it work out?

Max shook his head. Wife didnt want kids. We split, and nothing else followed.

His phone rang. What? A tow trucks delayed because of the snowwont be until morning.

Laura offered, Stay on the sofa, you can leave in the morning.

Hell be angry.

Its fine, my husbands already off.

Max was astonished, You mean I left three kids?

Laura shrugged, Were fine without him.

That night Max woke to a small hand slipping a candy under his pillow. It was little Svieta, the girl hed met yesterday. He almost wept, realizing how much a candy meant to a family with three children and a single mother.

The whole family saw him off, and Max felt certain hed find a reason to return, even though he never reached his intended destination.

Two days later a familiar car halted at the gate. Mike, ever the scout, announced, Uncle Max is here!

Mike beamedlast time theyd secretly arranged for Max to bring an old gaming console, and now the boy was racing to meet him.

Max arrived with the console and two gift bags. Inside the house, Laura wasnt alone; a woman stood, curious about Max. Laura, already dressed for the day, said, Sorry, cant offer tea, Mary will handle itIm about to catch a bus.

Are you heading to town?

Yes.

Then teas off. Ill give you a lift.

Mary nudged the bewildered Laura aside.

On the road Laura, halfaccidentally, explained why she was going into town. Max said, Ill come with you. Its not much, but its support.

Thanks a lot. I dont think people are that decent, but

Laura, lets be on a firstname basis!

The woman laughed. Sure! By the way, you never told us what you do around here.

You wont believe it. My uncle runs a small furniture workshophandmade, all oak. I was checking out a plot we were offered to buy. He bought it on a whim.

They pulled up to Lauras cottage. She unlocked the door and stepped inside without ringing. In the hallway lay Stephens boots, a pair of womens shoes a step further, and Stephen himself, wrapped in a towel, wobbling toward a room with a bottle of champagne.

Laura? Where are you coming from? he stammered, almost dropping the bottle.

From where? Where are the tenants? I need a roof!

My flat? Its mine too!

Whats the fright?

I lived with you ten years! I dont even have my own corner!

Laura entered the living room. A young woman sprang from the bed.

Stephen! Whos this?

Laura handed her a dress.

Get out of my flat! And take Stephen with you!

What? This is Stephens flat! Stephen? Youve fooled me? Im the idiot here!

The woman hurriedly dressed and bolted. Stephen plopped on the sofa.

Im not going anywhere. If you wanted me back, you shouldve done something more exciting. You think Im naïve?

He glared at Max, who smiled, Security guard. Youve got five minutes to pack, then Ill remember why I spent fifteen years boxing.

Laura slipped into the kitchen, grateful for Maxs help, though she knew she couldnt solve Stephens mess alone.

Soon the door slammed open; Max entered, dialing a number. Give them a moment. The locksmiths on the way.

Thanks, Max. I dont know what Id do without you. Fate mustve sent you.

Laura, were on firstname terms, right?

Oops, sorry

Maxs stare made Laura blush.

—

Three years later, Mary and Laura sat sipping tea. Mary glanced around.

Lucky youyour husband smashed that house!

Yes, Max does everything for us.

Isnt that wonderful?

Mary turned to the portrait of the children Laura had finally finished.

Could you paint me too?

Mary! Of courseIve got plenty of free time now!

Laura looked surprised.

You know what? Its been two months

She didnt notice her husband had just entered, hearing everything. Suddenly strong arms grabbed her from the chair, spinning her around.

I want a boy! And a girl too! Well finally have a big family!