The next day, Mother came into my room early and told me to get up. “From now on you will not lie in bed beyond 7.30am, including weekends. Do you hear?” She barked at me. I protested but got nowhere fast, before storming out of my room, down the stairs and out of the front door. It was early Saturday morning and therefore I had nothing to do, no one to meet up with and all the shops were still closed. I returned home around 8am.
“In here young man!” Shouted Mother as I closed the front door. “I honestly do not know what to do with you!”
“Sorry.” I mumbled, as I entered her study.
“You’ve been thrown out of school, you’re throwing your life away, you’re disobeying me, and I’m the one who’s expected to pay privately for your education or I’ll be the one facing prosecution if you don’t pull your socks up!”
“What!” I said, surprised “They can’t prosecute you.”
“Oh yes they can young man.” She insisted. “You’re under 16 and therefore I’m responsible for you.”
I slumped in the chair, head in my hands. Not knowing what to say or do. I didn’t want Mother to get in to trouble because of my behaviour.
“Now, I’ve removed your hi-fi and all your cd’s from your room.” Mother told me as I sulked on the chair. “If you want them back you’ll have to earn them. Do you understand?”
I nodded.
“Good, now go to your room and stay there. I need to try to find an affordable private tutor so you can complete your course work and hopefully do half well in your exams!”
I got up from the chair and headed for the door.
“Why you can’t be more like your sister I don’t know, you’ll never end up at university at this rate young man.”
I paused as she spoke, not wanting to upset her any more than I had already. Mother always wanted us both to end up at uni. I guess it was a status thing, being able to tell her friends and clients all about how well her children are doing. My sister, Catherine is 3 years older than me and studying criminal law & psychology at Bristol. I guess Mother always assumed I’d end up in higher education too.
Mother gave me a stern look over her glasses as if to ask why are you still here? I knew I’d better continue to my room, so I did.
We lived in a large Victorian terraced house near the centre of town. The lounge, kitchen & Mother’s study were on the ground floor, Mother’s bedroom, the bathroom and my sister’s old room were on the first floor, and my room was on the top floor, along with a spare room we used solely for storage. I entered my room and my heart sank as I noticed where my hi-fi and cd collection used to be. “At least my computer is still there.” I thought to myself as I slumped on my bed and flicked through a magazine.
A few hours passed before Mother shouted for me to come down stairs. I moped my way down stairs to find Mother in the hallway. “Right, I don’t see why I should do all the cleaning around here so can you do the washing up and then hoover the ground floor? Tomorrow you can do the first floor.”
My sulk was never ending so I agreed with a grunt and did as asked. It was rare Mother asked me to do any chores. Only when she was really pissed with us (my sister and I), would we have to help around the house. Mother had some errands to run so left me alone in the house. Once I’d finished my chores I headed back to my room, but for some reason I tried the front door as I passed. I was surprised to find it locked at the deadlock. “Bitch!” I thought, “She’s locked me in!” I tried the back door and that was locked also, with the key removed. I sulked up to my room, switched my pc on and spent a few hours surfing. But my thoughts were filled with the fact that Mother had locked me in. I was furious.
