Menage a Trois

Anne was with her daughter Brenda, having a drink at their local pub.

 Anne turned to her daughter. "Talking about men,  I’m thinking of asking Peter, to come and live with us." 

"And how would you dump him when you got fed up of him?" Brenda quipped.

" I’m sure you’ll like him,”  mother said with a frown.

Anne was right, her daughter got on well with Peter. He soon made himself at home. He liked to do odd jobs around the house and he even cooked  Sunday dinner. He was quite a good cook. You’d see him with his apron organizing everything and laying out the table for mother and daughter.

All was well, and everyone was content with the arrangement. Mother regarded Peter as her useful idiot. Peter on the other hand scored points with his friends in having the two women and a grand house. He now had a Mrs and a Miss Jenkins on his hands. While he occupied himself with the Mrs, Miss Jenkings was preoccupied with her studies.

One morning, after Anne had cleared up in the kitchen, she heard the postman drop some letters off. 

There was a letter for Ms. Jenkins, and she absent mindlessly opened it.  There was a photograph inside showing Brenda and Peter a little too close. They were  surrounded by a group of young people. At first she thought nothing of it. It looked as if they were having a good time. Then she looked closer. They were in a tight embrace!

" After all I’ve done for him, I should have known better." She thought.

 Had somebody sent her the photo to warn her? She looked at the envelope again.The letter was addressed to Ms Jenkins and not to Mrs, it was her daughter’s letter!

"I’ll throw him out of my house," she thought. Then she  thought again."What it’s all about? There may well be an innocent explanation."

That night at dinner, she announced that she would be going to see her sister next day and would be  coming back late.  Peter said he'd  eat something at the pub and have a drink with his pals.

"No problem for me either mum, I have some work to catch up on, and will  have something light at the college.”

Late next afternoon Anne got into her car  and drove to her sister’s.

 "I can’t stay too long Claire, I need to be back when Brenda comes home." She said As soon as she arrived.

"No problem" Claire said. "we’ll have a cup of tea and a chat before you leave.”

She was back home by eight, and decided to go in, through  the kitchen door at the back.

"Just as I suspected,  I can hear voices from upstairs," she thought. Her daughter wasn’t alone. The voices came from Brenda's room. Anne was shaking now as her worse fears were soon to be confirmed. She climbed the stairs quietly -  She’d catch them at it. The door to her daughter's room was open, but the light was off. She stood there in the dark for a while looking at the two of them, so busy that they heard nothing even when she coughed.

 “That’s enough” she shouted. “How long must I stand here watching you two?” 

Brenda looked up. She was not surprised to see her mother. 

“Oh mum! What are you doing here? I though you said you’d be going to Aunt Claire’s till late.”

"Well, I’m back as you can see and just as well.  As for him he can pack his things and get out of here. To think I trusted him and took him into my own house.”

"Sorry Mrs Jenkins, don’t know what you’re talking about,” whispered  the boy. I came to give Brenda a hand with her home work and we just kissed that’s all.” 

Anne couldn't believe her ears - she was shocked. Switching the light on, she  saw him. 

"Just get out,” she shouted.

The boy gathered his things  and slipped past her going down the stairs and out of the house.  Brenda asked  her mother. 

“what is really the matter with you? You look mad – we weren’t doing anything that serious, just kissing.

“I’m sorry, I don’t know what came over me, it’s this picture. I opened your letter by mistake yesterday and saw you and Peter….  A terrible mistake by an old jealous woman.  Please forgive me!"

“ Oh mum you shouldn’t have. You know how much I love you?  That picture was quite innocent. I saw Steve at the pub and I invited him over; I was with  friends. One of them took the picture. ” I wouldn’t do that to my mother, OK?  She hugged her mother, and they went down the stairs together.