XMAR REALTY
Mum burst out into hysterics. “No way! You haven’t got that sort of money, like Dan and Meryl. I want the money straight away. The other thing, Tam, is you will be closer to David and Jenny as they are in the university near North Kingsland,” said Mum trying to persuade me to think differently on the matter when I could see absolutely no benefit into moving at all.
I showered and changed for bed and thought that, despite my work and university, my life was dull. I unfortunately was stuck in a rut living by Mum’s rules and a manipulating brother. There had to be a way out of this mess. I fell asleep and did not wake up until the next morning.
“Tam, you had better get out of bed and help clean out the shed before the real estate agent arrives and don’t come inside until I say so as Dan is there, as well,” said Mum.
“I beg your pardon? Why the secrecy,” I said. “First of all, I need something to eat and coffee before I get started.”
There was a knock on the door and Mum opened it. “Do you mind, Tam,” snarled Dan.
“Excuse me mate. I have just woken up and haven’t eaten yet. I live here, too,” I snapped, trying to stand my ground.
“That figures, Tam...and why you are such a failure in life in comparison to me? Big house, money to burn, a Mercedes, a pool, everything! And what do you have, Tam? Bloody nothing,” snarled Dan, looking at me with that steely-eyed poker face.
“Do you honestly deem your self worth on the basis of money in the bank, Dan,” I said.
“Hey, you! Don’t talk to Dan like that, Tam! Dan, I think someone is stinking jealous of your success. I’ll pay you $10,000 to sell the house,” whispered Mum as I walked out. “Now where are you going, Tam,” Mum asked.
“That is none of your business,” I said as I slammed the door and went to the local shopping centre to order an egg and bacon roll and then head off to class.
A few hours later, I arrived home to find Dan and the real estate agent from XMar Realty talking to Mum. “Now what are you doing home so soon, Tam,” barked Dan.
“I live here, mate. So you can drop dead,” I snarled.
“Look, is there a problem here,” said the agent from XMar realty as he looked around.
“No not really, Sir,” said Dan seriously. “My sister cannot handle that I am rich and a person of importance and she is nothing but an undergraduate archeology student,” smirked Dan.
“What? You study archeology,” asked the agent, diverting his attention to me, much to the annoyance of my family.
“Yes, I do, and have just done four weeks work for a firm on ancient aboriginal relics,” I smiled.
“Excellent work, Tam,” said the real estate agent.
“Now can we talk shop, as I need this to be sorted out before I leave in an hour on the plane,” said Dan aggressively.
The real estate agent gave me a wink and talked things over with Dan.
“Now why do you have to disrupt things like that, Tam,” smirked Mum.
“Like what,” I said, looking at Mum, bewildered.
“You know and being a smart-aleck to Dan with the real estate agent,” said Mum, clearly annoyed that someone else actually valued me as a person.
“Oh, why don’t you just put a sock in it? I have an assignment to finish,” I said as I went to my room with a cup of coffee.
Soon, there was a knock on my bedroom door and it was Mum saying that Dan was leaving. “Look, don’t disturb me. I am busy. “
“I think someone is having a hissy fit, Dan,” said Mum as they went out of the door.
“Mum, don’t feel guilty about selling your house. Tam can buy her own house. She has had it far too easy all her life. If she put in the hard work, like myself, she could have exactly the same as us…maybe more,” said Dan seriously. Then Dan left and I proceeded to undertake a tedious 4000 word essay.
“Tam, would you be able to help me clean up the shed please,” said Mum, just opening my bedroom door without knocking.
“Do you mind not coming into my room when I am busy?”
“This is my house, Tam, and you have no say,” said Mum. “I am too wobbly to lift up heavy boxes and organize matters.”
“What is in it for me, Mum,” I said.
“How about that new laptop you saw in the computer shop a few weeks ago,” said Mum, surprisingly supportive.
“Okay then. I will do the assignment later.”
I made my way to the shed to sort umpteen numbers of boxes and carry the excess rubbish to the bins.