The Lawnmower Ban

(I live with my elderly mother. She’s extremely proud and stubborn. We have a backyard that is on a steep incline, and per the homeowner association’s rules, we must keep the grass cut. I’m a thin young woman, and lugging our lawnmower gives me a back ache. My brother lives with us, but he’s extremely lazy and refuses to do any work.)

Me: “Mom, please, let’s just hire someone to do it.”

Mom: “No! I can do it myself!”

(In the blazing summer, I watch her mow. I bring her some water.)

Me: “Mom, please. How about we just move to a condo nearby and that way we don’t have to mow.”

Mom: “NO.”

(She and I make enough money to afford to buy a condo, so I don’t understand why she’s being stubborn. She’s really set in her ways. I plead and plead. Years later, I finally move out because I can’t stand to watch her abuse herself. Finally, she passes away from overwork and stress.)

Me: “Too bad that she didn’t listen to me. Why didn’t you help her mow the lawn, [Brother]? You’re a fit guy.”

Brother: “Shut up! Just because I’m a man doesn’t mean I have to do any work.”

(RIP Mom.)