Tea with the Dragon Lady

Catherine wasn't prepared to let her daughter give up everything for a man she hardly knew!

- Ginny Swart

Catherine Andrews sighed and looked at her daughter. Flushed and angry, she was clearly spoiling for an argument. Again.

‘Tracey, you’re only 22! All I’m saying is you have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t settle for a man who…who…’

‘Who hasn’t been to college like me? You think Matthew isn’t good enough just because he left school so young!’

‘No, darling, I’m just saying you’re very young and you haven’t met enough men to know what works for you. Whatever happened to a gap year and travel?’

‘It wouldn’t be any fun without Matthew! We can go travelling any time.’

‘Doesn’t he have a job?’

‘Of course he’s got a job! He’s just started his own business.

’‘Well then, how can he go adventuring around the world? Oh, Tracey, you’ll be missing out on so much if you give it all up for this man. And someone like him won’t even appreciate your sacrifice.’

‘Someone like him? Mum, I can’t believe your attitude. Never mind the fact that he’s kind, honest and hardworking, you’ve decided you don’t like Matthew without even meeting him.’

‘That’s simply not true.’

But Catherine felt a twinge of guilt. She had to admit she couldn’t bear to see her clever daughter, newly qualified as an accountant, becoming involved with a man 14 years older, who probably had very little ambition.

From what she understood, Matthew fixed old cars for a hobby and did a bit of woodwork. And who knew what this new business of his was?

‘He knows you’re not keen on our friendship, so I doubt he’ll want to come’