How Could You Leave My Son Hungry?
Whats for lunch?
Emily jolted and spun around. In the doorway stood a familiar figureAlex, her husbands twelve-year-old nephew. The boy fixed her with a look that was both demanding and pleading. After a month, shed grown accustomed to that expression. To the same question.
She set aside the jumper shed been foldingMarks, not hers.
«Come on, lets see what weve got,» Emily said, fighting back the irritation creeping into her voice.
Alex trailed obediently behind her into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and sighed. Her sister-in-law, as usual, had left nothing for her son. Emily pulled out a container of soupleftovers from last nights dinnerheated it in the microwave, and set it in front of him. Next to it, she placed mashed potatoes and a leftover roast.
«Thanks, Aunt Em,» Alex muttered, not meeting her eyes.
As the boy ate, Emily returned to the bedroom, resuming her folding, but her mind wandered far from laundry. How had she let it come to this? Two months ago, life had been entirely different…
She remembered the evening that changed everything. Mark had come home grim-faced, sat beside her on the sofa, and taken her hands.
«Em, Ive got a favour to ask,» he began carefully. «Lisa and Jamestheyve been kicked out of their flat. The landlord kept the deposit. Theyve got nowhere to go. And our place is big enough…»
«Its *my* house thats big enough,» Emily cut in sharply. «Mark, Im not used to living with other people. Yes, its spacious, but that doesnt mean theres room for them.»
«I know, love. But theyre family. Lisas my sister, Alex is my nephew. Just a couple of months, until they find somewhere. Give them time to save up. Then theyll leave.»
His voice was soft, persuasive. He spoke of how hard it was for his sister, how the boy needed stability before school started.
«Mark, I work from home. I need quietfocus…»
«Come on, love. Lisas quiet, tidy. Alex is a good lad, hardly makes a peep. And James is always at work anyway. Its temporary.»
Shed relented then, seeing the desperate hope in his eyes. How could she refuse?
Now, folding yet another pile of shirts, Emily knew she only had herself to blame for not standing her ground. The first week had been fine. Lisa helped with cooking and cleaning. James kept out of the way. Alex did his homework without fuss.
Then Lisas holiday ended, and she went back to work. And everything changed.
Since then, Lisa cooked only once a dayfor dinnerand barely enough for her own family. She didnt seem to care that her son went without a proper meal at lunchtime. So, every afternoon, the boy came home from school and sought Emily out with that same question.
*Whats for lunch?*
The words sent a flash of anger through her. She wanted to scream, to demand why this was her burden. But the child wasnt to blame.
That evening, she tried again with Mark. She waited until he settled in bed with his book, then sat beside him.
«Mark, we need to talk,» she said firmly. «This situation with Alex isnt right. Lisa only cooks dinnerhe comes home starving, looking to me.»
Mark set his book down, frowning.
«Whats the problem, Em? Youre homeits not hard to feed him.»
«Mark, I *work* from home. Yes, I *can* cook. But my salary doesnt stretch to feeding someone elses child daily. And more than thathes not *my* son. His parents should care for him. This is about principle!»
Marks frown deepened. He didnt understand her frustration.
«Em, were family. Lisa and James are swampedtheyre struggling. Youre here. Whats the harm in helping?»
«You dont get it. This isnt helpits outright disrespect. Lisas dumped her responsibility on me!»
«Youre overreacting.»
She knew thenhe didnt see the problem. To him, it was natural for his wife to shoulder his familys burdens.
She didnt know how to fix it. She couldnt kick them outthey had nowhere else. But living like this was unbearable.
Then, a small miracle. Over coffee, her old university friend Sarah offered:
«Em, why not come to my cottage for a fortnight? Peace, quiet, great Wi-Fi. A break from all this.»
Emily lit up. Two weeks without *Whats for lunch?* Without tension in her own home.
«Sarah, thats perfect. I need a change. Mark wont mind.»
The next morning, she packed a bag. Mark, buttoning his shirt, noticed.
«Going somewhere?»
«To Sarahs. Two weeks. Work in peace, recharge. Shes just had a breakupneeds company. You dont mind?»
He kissed her goodbye. She left for Sarahs.
At lunch, as they relaxed on the cottage porch, her phone rang. *Lisa.*
«Emily!» Her sister-in-laws voice was sharp. «How could you leave my son hungry? Hes home from schooltheres no one here! Whats he supposed to eat?»
Emily answered calmly.
«Lisa, Im busy. Your sons meals arent my concern. Youre his mother.»
«How can you say that! We had an arrangement!»
«We had nothing. You decided Id feed Alex.»
Lisa raged, calling her selfish, cold-hearted. Emily hung up. For the first time in months, she breathed freely.
The fortnight flew by. Emily returned refreshed, full of plans with Sarah.
But at home, fury awaited. Lisa sat stone-faced on the sofa. Mark looked torn between guilt and confusion.
«Finally!» Lisa snapped. «Do you know how weve lived these two weeks? My sons been eating ready meals! You betrayed this family!»
Emily set down her bag, removed her coat.
«Who is this child to me?» she asked quietly. «Hes Marks nephew, not mine. Im not obliged to feed him. Lisa, I dont expect you to care for *my* family.»
«How can you? Were *family!*»
«Lisa, I dont mind heating food for Alex. But I wont cook for him again until Im shown respect.»
The air grew thick with tension.
From then on, Emily bought food only for herself and Mark. He ate at work or cafés. Alex gave her pleading looks, but she didnt relent. The cupboards stayed empty for him.
By the third day, Lisa learned. She woke early, cooked meals, left them simmering. She was furiousbut the food was there.
Before leaving for work, she gritted out:
«Heat up the stew and potatoes for Alex at lunch.»
Emily nodded. «Was that so hard?»
Lisa stiffened but said nothing. Peace returnedfragile, but peace. Soon, theyd save enough to leave.
And Emily would make sure Mark understood: she wasnt a doormat. She was a person.
