“I knew it was a mistake letting him run off to Africa like that.”
“Whom are you talking about, Mother?”
“Hank. He called his mother yesterday.”
“Oh. How’s he doing?”
“Never mind that. It’s your fault, you know.”
“What’s my fault?”
“That he’s fallen for some African girl half his age.”
Ashley stared at her. “Oh.”
“Is that all you have to say?”
“What else can I say?”
“If you’d followed my advice, you two would be engaged by now.”
“Mother, Hank wasn’t interested in me—“
“That could have changed—eventually.”
“Mother—“
“In your thirties and still unmarried.”
100 Words
This post is for the Friday’s Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. You can find this week’s prompt here. To read other stories or to participate, click here.
Notes to Women 
I am SO glad my family is not the sort to go down that road. Being pressured to get married, to have kids, etc. Ugh.
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My family wasn’t that sort either.
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Good! 🙂
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🙂
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Families will so often drive each other crazy
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Yes, they do.
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Oh dear…. or is it Mother, Dearest? Well told.
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Thanks, Bill 🙂
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You’re welcome.
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Mothers, hey? Still, the daughter sounds fairly grounded.
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I know. I thank God that mine wasn’t like that. Yes, the daughter is grounded.
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mothers know best. maybe, but not always. 🙂
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Not in this case. As her daughter rightly pointed out, the man she wanted her to snag wasn’t romantically interested in her.
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Better single than a slave.
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That’s not marriage where one of the people feels like a slave. Singleness is a choice just like marriage is. This mother shouldn’t make the daughter like something is wrong with her because she isn’t married as yet. Some people get married in their forties or fifties or not at all. Marriage isn’t for everyone just like singleness isn’t for everyone.
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Dear Adele,
I have a friend who didn’t get married the first time until she was 62. A lovely lady who was happy with her singleness until the right man came along. The mother in your story really needs to back off. She sounds like a domineering bigot to me. Nicely done.
Shalom
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
Good for your friend. She married not because she was pressured to do so but because she met the right man. And she was happy with her singleness to boot. Your description of this mother is spot on and she needs to let go and just let her daughter be. Thanks 🙂
Shalom,
Adele
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I’m sure she’ll get married if and when she wants to. Pushy parents!
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I’m sure she will too. Marriage is not something you rush into because you’re pressured or the clock is ticking. Thank God, my parents weren’t pushy like this mother.
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Having a loveless marriage is better than being single? No, I don’t think so.
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Preposterous, isn’t it, Linda? Parents should want what is best for their children. Being happy and single is far better than being married and miserable. Besides, the man in question wouldn’t have married this woman’s daughter because he didn’t have any romantic feelings for her.
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“fallen for an African woman half his age”….that’s a VERY graceful way of putting it….aside from mother dear, I think he is not the type of person I would like to see in my area!
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Why wouldn’t you want him in your area, Ain?
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‘Area’ is a bit vague but covers a lot of other words. I know too well this type of ‘man.’ Your writing was superb because for me it opens that issue: Africa is one continent where it is possible to “fall in love” with someone half your age, for a nan. Ukraine is another place. So are parts of Asia. I have friends very much in love, her 25 and him 40 something. It does happen but in the circumstances I am thinking of it is a power play. And who could blame the young woman, often struggling. Perhaps he brings some financial benefit. I don’t know, but I utterly dislike this use of male power, have seen it too often.
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Thanks for clarifying, Ain. And I’m delighted that you thought my writing was superb. You’re right, there have been situations where power play is involved. And many of these young women are vulnerable to unscrupulous characters. It’s sad when people take advantage of others and abuse their power. Fortunately, the character in my story isn’t like that. He’s a pastor who left Portland to go to Cotonou to pastor a church there. He met this young woman and fell in love with her. He has been spending time with her, talking to her about the Bible and other things of interest. Thanks again for your comment. I completely understand where you’re coming from.
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A very sad conversation that leads to the daughter feeling her only worth is in getting married and having grand babies. Oy! Very well told!
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Yes, I imagine that there are real, sad conversations like this one. No woman should feel that her self-worth comes from getting married. Singleness is a choice too and no one choosing this should be made to feel inadequate or ashamed. Marriage isn’t for everyone. And if the daughter does get married, it should be for all the right reasons. Thanks, Brenda 🙂
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I enjoyed the way this unfolded. I suppose many woman still feel
that they need to be married in order to be whole. It’s a shame.
Nicely done … Have a wonderful weekend … Isadora 😎
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I’m happy you enjoyed it, Isadora. Yes, it’s sad that women still feel that way. No woman should be made to feel like something is wrong with her because she’s still single while most of her friends are married. Thanks 🙂 You have yourself a wonderful weekend too.
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Oh dear, mothers! My daughter is 30 and single – definitely admire her independence and slightly envy her!
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I’m so thankful that my mother wasn’t like this mother. Good for you, regarding your daughter. And being a single and independent woman is definitely something to be admired for.
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You sketch in the details of the dysfunctional mother/daughter relationship with skill, and leave us plenty to imagine. Well written! The comments show that you have stimulated some thought about what makes a good marriage. I wholeheartedly agree that nobody should be forced to marry against their will, but I don’t agree that romantic love is necessary for a long and happy – and I mean happy, not just secure or contented – married life. I know people who have been in arranged marriages, and they seem, on the whole, to be at least as happy as those who have made a choice through romantic love.
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Thank you so much for your comments. I hoped to convey a lot in 100 words. Ideally, most people would prefer to marry for love but you’re right, I have heard of people in arranged marriages who are very happy. And sometimes, love isn’t always enough for two people to remain together or to remain happy with each other. People fall out of love as well and grow apart. I have heard people say that companionate love in a marriage is what maintains its longevity and happiness. I’m so thrilled that my story has stimulated discussions about marriage and singleness. It was a pleasure reading all of the comments.
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