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Gertrude

5th February 1981

"Cynthia! Cynthia! How could dirty dishes be left undone like this?" I moaned, not masking my displeasure at all.

"Well, Gertrude"

She then mumbled something pathetic while smiling that sheepish smile. Oh, I don't know what Johnny sees in her. It must be that smileseductive maybe, but utterly insincere. She must think I'm quite senile I cannot see through that.

My Johnny is as good a boy a mother could have. Never once has he raised his voice to his mother. And he has always made me proud. An obedient, studious boy who has never (thank heavens) taken to the tattoos and horrendous rock music like the riff-raffs down the street. He has always done well in school and enrolled into the prestigious Preston instead of that common liberal nest of a Dalmary and subsequently graduated with an Accountancy degree with honours; just like his father before him. I guess I will never forgive David for allowing Shears to buy him out of Watson & Shears for if not, Johnny would undoubtedly be the 2nd Chairman from the lineage.

I already have in my savings money for Johnny to set up his own firm, like his father; just waiting for him to ask for it. But he never did and was contented playing second fiddle to that dubious Goldman. It must have been that woman's influence. But oh well, my son would do well in any place at any time.

This Cynthia woman! Don't get me wrong. I am perfectly aware of timid, insecure women who held on to their sons like turtles and I am confident I am not of that breed. But this Cynthia woman is simply incorrigible. I knew it from the night Johnny brought her home to dinner. I've always preferred that Jenny girl and rightly so. Good pedigree and proper upbringing with strong religious background. Well, Johnny choosing her eventually (or the other way round) was not unexpected. You see I'm not always right about human character, but I'm rarely wrong.

What kind of a wife are you if you cause your husband to achieve less than what he could? My darling David, who succumbed to a heart attack years ago, has always acknowledged me as the woman behind his success. Even after my beloved David died, I soldiered on, with the tenacity that befits a well-groomed lady; and made sure Johnny was brought up right. That is what all women should be to their husbands and to their home.

Oh and she couldn't even bake a decent pie! Her housekeeping skills are deplorable. That woman can't even wash sheets properly! Considers herself a career woman and fancies

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