At 25, I built my own house, and at the housewarming, my mother pulled me aside
— Learn to earn yourself. — What’s with you? — Ethan flared. — Used to be kind, now like flint.
Money spoiled you. — Not money spoiled me, family did. You taught me not trust people.
We’re blood. Exactly, if blood can do that, what about strangers.
Ethan stood more, saw pleas useless, left empty-handed.
But week later, back, more stories. Girl sick, need treatment money; bribe for job; something else. David refused each time, Ethan left more bitter.
Emily Johnson active too. Found Olivia’s number, called her, trying influence son through wife. First call tearful, pitiful.
— Olivia dear, talk to David. He listens to you. Ethan and I in such trouble, nowhere live, no money, he won’t hear us.
Olivia listened, gently replied. — Emily, can’t interfere family matters. David adult, decides himself.
— But you can influence. Woman always can on man. Ask, let him at least money help.
He’ll decide who when help. — Olivia, why so cruel? Emily’s voice more demanding. — Turning husband against mother.
Sin. — Not turning anyone. David told me what happened.
What happened, we loved him, raised, fed, clothed. Now like stranger. — Emily, let’s not talk more.
— We will. Mom lost it. — Think I don’t know you turn him.
Young pretty wife leads husband by nose. He’d come himself, help. But you won’t let.
— Goodbye, — Olivia said, hung up. But Emily didn’t stop. Kept calling, more aggressive each time.
Accused Olivia ruining family, turning son against mother, Ethan suffering because her. Olivia endured awhile, then stopped answering. Then Emily decided radical action.
Found where David worked, showed at site. Security let elderly woman, said family matter to son. David meeting clients in trailer office when door flew open, mother on threshold.
Eyes red from tears, hair messy, clothes wrinkled. Looked on nervous breakdown edge. «Son!» she screamed, bursting in.
«Finally found you! Hiding from me? Won’t take phone!» Clients—solid men in suits. Surprised at scene. David flushed shame anger.
«Mom, out now!» he said quietly. «Won’t!» Emily approached table where clients sat. «Help me, good people! Own son turned from mother, won’t help! Mom, stop shaming me!» «Shaming?» — she wailed loud.
«I bore you, raised you, you see me as shame? No money, nothing eat, son rich, built house, won’t give mother penny!» Clients glanced, uncomfortable. David knew reputation tanking, unlikely new orders from these after scandal. «Gentlemen, sorry incident,» he said, standing…
«Let’s reschedule tomorrow.» «Of course,» main client agreed hastily. «Understand, family matters.»
They left quick, leaving David alone with mother. Emily triumphed. She’d got attention to her problems.
«Why do that?» David asked alone. «How else reach you? Won’t listen, won’t help?» «Might lose order because you.» «Big deal, order,» Mom waved, «find another; family one.»
«Not family,» David said, «punishment. How say that?» «Easy. True: family doesn’t blackmail, scandal at work, demand impossible.»
«Impossible,» Emily flared again. «Help brother find home—impossible for rich like you. For me impossible give money to those who think right.
But we’re blood. Blood care each other, not parasite. You seven years no interest my life, now demand help.
Not kin relations, extortion.» Emily saw tears screams no good. Wiped face, fixed hair, changed tactic.
«Fine,» she said, «fine. Won’t help voluntary, help forced.» «Mean what?» «Mean I have rights, your mother, can demand alimony through court, you must support disabled parent.»
David looked amazed. Even knowing her, didn’t expect. «Alimony?» he repeated, «sue me?» «Will if not voluntary, law on side.»
«And conscience?» «Conscience?» Emily smirked. «Conscience son’s who left mother in need, I have rights.» «Then go court,» David said, «see what decide.»
«Will and win, then whole city know what son make mother sue support.» «Let know, also learn what mother kick son out at 18, now demand alimony.» Emily saw threats no work.
Stood bit, thought, turned sharp, headed out. «Regret?» she said parting. «Still regret how treat me?» After leave, David sat office long, recovering.
Knew mother won’t stop, invent new pressure ways. Worst, she could sue alimony, law formally her side. Home he came gloomy, tired. Olivia saw something wrong.
«Mom came work,» he told, «scandal with clients, now threatens alimony.» «Can she?» «Can, if prove needs help, she does: lives in old building, small pension.» «What do?» «Don’t know, talk lawyer.»…
