**Diary Entry**
I shouldve known better.
*”I warned youwherever you took the money, thats where youll be eating dinner! Breakfast too, for that matter,”* my wife declared, settling into her armchair with her knitting.
*”Linda! Are you home?”* I called as I stepped into our flat.
*”In the kitchen,”* Linda replied. Shed come home early today and started dinner.
I took off my coat, washed my hands, and joined her. *”Arent you going to brag?”* I asked.
*”Brag about what?”* She looked puzzled.
*”I bumped into Rita from your department on my way home. She mentioned they transferred your quarterly bonus today. A nice one.”*
*”They did. And why should that make you happy?”*
*”How can you ask? Just yesterday, Mum rang, asking us to help Zoe with her mortgage. You said we had no money. Well, now we do. Lets send Zoe ten grand.”*
*”For what reason?”* Linda arched a brow.
*”Dont act oblivious. You know Zoes struggling alone with the mortgage. Ill call Mum now and tell her well transfer the money.”* I reached for my phone.
*”Stop! Hold it right there. Did I say I was willing to pay your sisters mortgage?”* Lindas voice was sharp.
*”Why not help if we can?”*
*”First off, the money isnt oursits mine. A bonus I earned working myself to the bone for three months! Did you think I slaved away just to please your sister? That was my only goal?”*
*”Linda, she has kids!”*
*”So do we, John. Or have you forgotten? Our daughter, Emma, is at universitysecond year, living in halls in another city. I send her money every month. Have you given her a single pound in two years?”*
*”I knew you were sending her”*
*”Maybe shed like a thousand from her father for stockings, hmm? And your sister? Before diving into a mortgage, she shouldve calculated if she could afford it.”*
*”The bank approved her,”* I argued.
*”Exactly. Banks employ clever people who know maths. They decided Zoe could manage. If she cant, shes spending wrongsalons and cafés instead of paying the mortgage. I wont fund her whims!”*
That evening, I overheard Linda telling her mother shed just transferred eight thousand.
*”Funnyno money for Zoe, but plenty for your mum?”* I scowled.
*”Yes, John. Mums dentures brokeshe needs a dentist. Her pensions small, and unlike Zoe, shes my mother, not a stranger.”*
*”Zoes my sister!”*
*”Yours, not mine. Why demand anything from me?”*
*”Fine. Ill send Zoe my next paycheck.”*
*”By all means. Just deposit ten grand into the household account first,”* Linda said sweetly.
*”Isnt that too much?”*
*”Not if you want more than pasta with ketchup for dinner. Or we could skip the washing powder, the utilities”* She smiled.
*”Cant we budget better?”*
*”Feel free to try. If you succeed, Ill learn from you.”*
The conversation ended there. Stubbornly, I assumed Linda wouldnt follow through and sent nearly my entire salary to Zoe.
I was wrong.
The next evening, I came home to an empty kitchen.
*”Whats for dinner?”* I asked.
*”Check the fridge.”*
Inside: a lone bottle of ketchup and two wrinkled apples.
*”Theres nothing here.”*
*”Really? Did you put anything in there? You know, food doesnt magically appear,”* she said, picking up her knitting. *”I warned youwhere you took the money, thats where youll eat. Breakfast too.”*
I had no choice but to go to Mums.
The next day, my mother, Margaret, marched in to lecture Linda.
After a long tirade, Linda sighed. *”You wasted your breath. I already know Im a terrible wife. Maybe John should move in with you?”*
*”Dont be absurd! You married himlive with him!”*
*”Ah, so only Im the problem? My flats nice, my salarys excellent, my bonus is generousbut I wont share with you or Zoe. Since youve emptied his pockets, you feed him this month. Oh, and no sausageshe turns his nose up at chicken too. Dinner should be steak, roast potatoes, salad. Maybe stuffed peppersextra meat. And do his laundry.”*
*”Have you lost your mind? You managed before!”* Margaret spluttered.
*”We did. Until you meddled. You nagged Zoe till Greg left hernow its our turn? Well, Im not Greg. I wont suffer long. You can have John backhis own mother should care for him best. Right, John?”*
*”Linda, no! I never wanted to leave!”* I protested. *”Mum just suggested helping Zoe”*
*”Help all you like. Live with Mum or Zoe till paydaytheir choice. Ill think things over.”*
Linda wasnt joking. I spent the month at Mums.
On payday, I returned home. *”Linda, Ive transferred my salary. And sent Emma three grand.”*
The kitchen smelled heavenlypork in sweet-and-sour sauce.
*”Wash up. Dinners ready,”* Linda smiled. *”Or are you going back to Mums?”*
I shook my head frantically, too scared to speak.
Linda just smirked. Some lessons stick fast. And if I forget, shell remind me. They picked the wrong woman to cross.
