I remember when I was working three jobs, 14 hour days, 7 days a week, paying the rent and bills for two households (my parents and my own) when my sister decided it would be a great time to become a teenager.
Overnight, she went from a clever nerd to a hormonal adolescent. Gone was the excited, little face who looked forward to revision guides that I used to bring home as her ‘special presents’ each week and in her place, there was a sulky, moody brat. The school trousers were replaced with skirts which rolled up shorter and shorter as the years progressed.
Luckily, she was naturally very clever. So although the truanting started in Year 11, she got straight A*s at GCSE. It was when she was in Year 13, and I was at work, that I got the phonecall.
B: You have to come to my parents’ evening.
Me: Obviously, your parents will go to your parents’ evening.
B: No. Take time off work. I will explain when I see you. Meet me there in two hours.
Because I’m a p***y, I took the afternoon off work and went to the parents’ evening.
The teachers were irate. 17% attendance. I asked why they hadn’t written to us and informed us – they had. The brat had given her friend’s address.
I sat there, ashamed, humiliated, worried, wondering how she was going to make the grades for her medicine offer. She sat there rolling her eyes, yawning loudly with a complete lack of remorse.
On our way home, in the car, I asked her where she had gone, instead of college, as our father dropped her everywhere.
“I saw all of London,” she declared. “It’s all of your fault as you never let me out.”
So, after working three jobs, 14 hour days, 7 days a week, and not having £5 left at the end of the month to buy new underwear, I decided urgent intervention was needed to save the brat I call my sister. I got her a Chemistry and a Maths tutor and took out a small loan in order to prioritise the last few months of her education. She sat down in the living room with the tutor and I went off to make a cup of tea.
As I walked back, I did think it was oddly quiet in the room, but that didn’t stop my utter amazement and horror when I opened the door as saw her…
Asleep on the sofa.
Whilst he continued to teach..blissfully oblivious.
Who Fucked Me? 