You wont get a single penny from me! Youve buried yourselves in debt youll have to dig yourself out! the daughter shouted, slamming the door of her parents flat.
The commuter train lurched toward the familiar platform, and Emily pressed her forehead against the cold pane of the carriage window. She hadnt set foot in this Yorkshire town for five years. Five years of building a career in London, slogging twelvehour days, scrimping on everythingincluding the coffee from the office machine. Every penny went into her dream fund: a flat of her own. She was so closejust a little longer, six months, and the deposit would be ready.
And then this. A call in the middle of the workday, her mother sobbing and babbling about collectors, threats, and an impossible bill. Emily took an unscheduled break and hopped on the first commuter train home.
The house that had raised her greeted her with the scent of cabbage soup and worried faces. Her mother, who seemed to have aged ten years in the meantime, fluttered about the kitchen, dabbing her hands on a flourdusted apron over and over. Her father sat at the table, staring at a single spot. And on the sofa, as serene as ever, lay her younger sister Mabel, leafing through a bridal catalogue.
Emily, love, her mother rushed forward, thank heavens youve come. Were completely tangled up in these debts
What debts? Emily sat opposite her father. Explain properly whats happened.
Her father sighed heavily and produced a thick folder of papers from a drawer.
It started three years ago. Mabel got a job at a beauty salon. The pay was tiny, but she said it was just a stopgapuntil she found a suitable husband.
Dad, not that husband story again! Mabel protested without looking up from the catalogue. I just want to live beautifully, not like youdenying yourselves everything your whole lives.
Go on, Emily prompted her father.
Mabel took a credit card. Then another. She said the minimum payments were nothingjust a few pounds a month. At first we didnt worry. Then she began asking us to chip in. A tenner here, a twentypound there. We thoughtour daughters young, inexperienced; well help.
And you started taking out loans?
A consumer loan, her mother interjected. A small one, to clear Mabels cards. And then She waved helplessly.
Mabel finally set the catalogue aside and sat up.
Listen, Emily, dont make a mountain out of a molehill. Its not that much money. Youve got savingsyou were always bragging about how frugal you are.
How much? Emily asked quietly.
Her father handed her a list in silence. Emily skimmed the figures, and the colour drained from her face. The total debt was even larger than what she had saved for the flat.
Have you lost your minds?
It all piled up gradually, her father said defensively. We covered one loan with another, the interest just kept climbing
And what was Mabel doing all this timewasnt she working?
I was working, the younger sister interjected. But you know how wages are here. At the salon I earned twentypound weeks. Try surviving on that! Then I got a job in a clothing shopfortypound weeks, but the schedule was horrendous, I quit after a month. Then a café
And how many jobs did you hop through in three years?
I dont recall exactly. Maybe ten. I cant stay where I dont like it!
Emily felt anger begin to simmer.
And what did you live on? Dads pension and Mums parttime wages?
Mabel kept saying shed be married soon, her mother whispered timidly. She has plenty of admirers
Admirers! Emily exploded. In three years not a single serious man! Yet a mountain of debt!
Why are you so harsh? Mabel pouted. Are you jealous that I have a personal life and you only have work?
Emily inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself.
Fine. Tell me exactly whats happening now. What threats, what deadlines?
For the next hour she poured over the documents, phoned the banks, and extracted details. The picture was bleak. Her parents had truly dug themselves into a debt pit they could not climb out of alone. Collectors called daily, threatening to seize assets.
What exactly did you buy with this money? Emily asked after the last call.
Mabel needed a car, her father began. Not newusedbut on finance
Why does she need a car?!
Well, she wanted to be like everyone else, her mother defended. Everyone has one, and she was walking everywhere!
Then it needed repairs. We bought it with mileage, her father continued. A new phone, she bought furniture for her room
With that kind of money?!
Emily, look how beautiful it turned out! Mabel exclaimed, pulling her sister toward her bedroom.
Emily stared, dazed, at Mabels bedroom. A huge canopy bed, a vanity fit for a Hollywood star, a walltowall slidingdoor wardrobe, a flatscreen TV, an airconditionereverything in rosegold tones.
Its like a palace! Mabel said proudly. And I needed decent clothes, too. I had nothing to wear in front of people. Mum also bought herself a fur coat
A fur coat?
A mink one, her mother whispered. Mabel said it was shameful to go around in an old coat
And we bought Dad a suit, gave me some jewellery, new dishes for the kitchen, a refrigerator, a washing machine
Emily sank onto a kitchen chair. Everything around her had been bought on credit. Expensive appliances, furnitureeven the curtains looked pricey.
So you were basically burning through life on borrowed money, she said.
We thought Mabel would get married, her father said quietly. She had several serious suitors
Yes, she did! Mabel confirmed. There was Andrew, a company director. He turned out to be married. And Simonhe runs a business, but he moved to Manchester. And Michael
What about Michael?
He was okay, but he lived in a oneroom flat. I cant live in a oneroom place! And then it turned out it was mortgaged, too.
Emily closed her eyes. She herself rented a oneroom flat and dreamed of owning oneeven if it meant a mortgage.
Mabel, youre twentyfive. Its time you earned your own living.
Why? her sister asked, genuinely surprised. Im going to get married. Normal men provide for their wives.
And if you dont?
I will. Im pretty and young. And look at youalways working, a grey mouse. Thats why youre alone.
Emily felt her fists clench.
Fine. What do you plan to do about the debts?
We were thinking her mother stammered, maybe you could help? You have the money, youve been saving for years
Mabel, Emily cut in, what does it cost you? You live alone anyway, no kids. Why do you need a flat? I, on the other hand, need to start a family.
So you want me to give you all my savings?
Not givehelp the family, her father corrected. Were not strangers.
Emily stood and paced the kitchen. Numbers flashed through her mind. Her savings were almost the entire amount of the debt. Shed be left with a few hundred pounds. Everything shed earned over five years would vanish into Mabels whims.
What about my flat?
Youll save again, Mabel said lightly. Youre good at making money. And I dont have time, I need to get married.
No time? No time for what?
I cant work until Im forty! I need to marry while Im still young and pretty. After thirty itll be too late.
So Im supposed to work till Im old to pay for your entertainments?
What entertainments? Mabel objected. These are necessities! How can I be without a car? Without nice clothes? You understand yourself
I understand that youre used to living at someone elses expense!
Children, dont fight, their mother intervened weakly. Were a family. Emily, love, we know were asking a lot, but we have no other way out. The collectors are threatening
And what, did you think loans dont have to be repaid?
We thought somehow her father said, flustered. Mabel promised shed get married
Emily sat back down and pulled out her phone.
All right. Let me call the banks and see what can be done, what options there are.
She spent the next two hours negotiating. It turned out they could restructure the debt, stretching payments over a longer term, but the monthly instalment would still be about £500. With a combined family income of £800, that meant nearstarvation.
Theres another option, she said after the final call. We need to sell everything that was bought on credit. The car, the furniture, the appliances. That will cover about half the debt. The rest we stretch over five years in small payments.
What do you mean, sell? Mabel was horrified. My car? My furniture? Well lose so much that way!
And what do you propose?
You should give us the money! Mabel snapped sharply. Were relatives! Or are you too stingy for your family?
I dont owe anyone anything, Emily replied coolly.
You do! her father burst out unexpectedly. We raised you, fed you, clothed you, sent you to university! And now, when we need help, you turn your back!
Emily looked at her parents, at the people who had let their younger daughter live off them, who had sunk into debt for her whims, and who now demanded that their elder daughter pay for their irresponsibility.
You raised methat was your duty. I got an education and a job, I support myself. And she Emily gestured at Mabel, what has she been doing all these years?
She was looking for a husband! her mother exclaimed. Thats not easy either!
Does husbandhunting cost this much money?
Emily, enough! Mabel exploded. Do you think youre the only smart one? I have a right to be happy too! And if I need money for a beautiful life, why shouldnt the family help?
Because it isnt your money!
Whose, then? Yours? You earned it by working like a horse and forgetting your personal life. And what good did it do you? Youre alone and miserable, but rich. Ill be happy in marriage, and the money will come.
Come from where?
My husband will earn it! Normal men provide for the family!
And while theres no husbandIm supposed to provide for you?
Who else? her father interjected. Weve got no one but you! Cant you seewere desperate! Theyre threatening us!
Emily felt everything inside her begin to boil. These people werent askingthey were demanding. Demanding her money, her dream, her future.
You know what, she said, standing, Ill think about it.
Theres nothing to think about! Mabel snapped. Either you help the family, or youre not our sister!
Or our daughter, her father added.
Emily slipped into her old bedroom, untouched by any modern overhaul. It was as beforewriting desk, narrow bed, shelves stacked with textbooks. Modest and simple.
She lay down and closed her eyes. Five years of austerity. Five years of denying herself every small joy. Five years of dreaming about a home of her own. And all of itjust to pay for Mabels outfits and amusements?
Maybe she should help? After all, they were family. And if the collectors took the case to court, her parents might be left roofless.
But then her dream flat would be postponed another five years. Perhaps morewho knew if her parents and Mabel wouldnt accrue new debts once they saw their eldest daughter willing to pay?
Emily got up and went to the window. Children were playing in the courtyard. Somewhere out there, in London, stood her future flat. A oneroom place on the outskirts, but hers. And for it she was ready to work another five years.
She returned to the kitchen. The family sat waiting for her decision.
Fine? Mabel asked impatiently.
I will not pay your debts, Emily said firmly.
What do you mean you wont? her mother couldnt believe it.
Exactly that. Youre adults. You got yourselves into thisget yourselves out.
But how will we manage without your help? her father clutched at his chest.
Sell everything you bought on credit. Let Mabel find a proper jobnot peanuts at a salon, but a decent position. She could earn as a courier with her car, or sell the car and get an office job.
Im not becoming a courier! Mabel protested. And Im not selling the car!
Then youll stay in debt.
Emily, were perishing here! Dont you feel sorry for your parents?
I do. But not enough to surrender my whole life to pay for Mabels whims.
So youre an egoist! Mabel shouted. You dont care about family!
Youre the egoist, Emily replied calmly. You lived off others for five years, racked up debts, dragged our parents into them, and now you want me to pay for everything.
Who else then? You have money!
I have money that I earned for my own goals.
What goals? A flat? Mabel scoffed. Youre thirty, living alone like an old maid! What do you need a flat forto sit in it by yourself?
Emily! their mother scolded.
What, Emily? Let her hear the truth! She thinks if she buys a flat, happiness will fall from the sky? Who would even want a grey mouse like her!
Emily felt a cold, icy contempt rise within her. Not angerworse. A detached scorn.
And youre the beauty and the brains, I suppose? she asked quietly. In five years you didnt find a single decent man, couldnt hold onto any job, dragged our parents into debtand thats success?
Ill find someone, Mabel snapped.
You will. Just not someone wholl pay your debts. Any decent man would run from a wife like that in a month.
Hed run from you! Im the pretty one!
Beauty without conscience is a cheap commodity.
Mabel leapt to her feet.
How dare you! Mum, do you hear what shes saying?
Children, calm down, their mother said weakly. Emily, perhaps not all the money, but at least some of it?
Not a penny, Emily cut off.
Then were finished, her father whispered.
Nothing of the sort. Youll sell your things, restructure the remaining debt, Mabel will get a joband in a few years youll pay it off.
And if we dont?
Thats your problem.
But you could help! her mother persisted. Dont you really pity us?
Emily looked at her mother, the woman who had watched Emily board the train to London five years ago in tears, and who now demanded that she hand over every savings to her younger sister.
Im sorry you let Mabel become an egotist and a freeloader. Im sorry you fell into debt for her whims. But I will not pay for your mistakes.
Mistakes? Mabel flared. Whats wrong with wanting to live beautifully?
Whats wrong is living at someone elses expense, not working, and demanding that others solve your problems.
I did work!
You worked for months and spent for years.
So what? Money isnt the most important thing in life!
Then why are you demanding mine?
Mabel fell silent, thrown off balance.
Emily, her father said quietly, we thought you would help. Youre our daughter.
I am your daughter. But I am not obligated to foot your foolishness.
And if we have nowhere to go?
Youll sell the flat and buy a smaller one. Mabel will get a job. Mum, Dad, youre not that oldyou can pick up extra work.
Sell the flat? her mother gasped. But this is our home!
And the debts are your debts.
So youre abandoning us! Mabel cried. Some daughter you are!
Emily stood and grabbed her bag.
Where are you going? her mother asked, frightened.
To the station. Im leaving early tomorrow morning.
Wait! her parents rushed toward her. Lets talk it over again!
Theres nothing to discuss. My decision is final.
Emily, at least half! her mother begged.
You wont get a single penny from me! Emily said sharply, turning to them. You got yourselves into debtyoull pay it back yourselves! I am not going to support you!
She reached the door and looked back.
And dont call me again. Ever. Live by your own wits.
The door slammed so hard the windowpanes rattled.
On the stairwell, Emily stoppedShe stepped onto the platform, the trains lights swallowing her silhouette as the night dissolved into the promise of her own untouched future.
