I have a friend, let’s call her Macy.
Macy is a mother of 4. Our children are in a long term relationship, and so we met a few years ago and then spent time together. We have known each other for 4 years.
Macy is a very firey woman, I am not. I like solitude and friendships that are not too in-depth. She is very intense and likes to talk every day.
When I first met her, she had quite a few friends and acquaintances, but has pushed them all away. She drinks heavily and always speaks her mind, which can be very upsetting. She is also very clingy-she calls every day, and if I don’t pick up she will re-dial continuously. If I still do not pick up she will start messaging saying things like “why have we fallen out? Why aren’t you picking the phone up? Do I need to call the police? Has something happened?”.
Her mother has always been the same with her, and Macy would always make comments like “you are so lucky that your mother is dead” and then laugh it off. Unfortunately, now her mother has died. It is the funeral this week. I am working, and now live 30 miles away from her. The funeral is at 3pm. My youngest finishes primary school at 3.15pm. Macy has insisted that I take my youngest out of school so that we can help her set up for the funeral and then attend. I never met her mother, but obviously know Macy and feel duty bound to support her, particularly as no one else really seems to be friends with her any more. But in all honesty I just don’t want to. I don’t want to take a 6 year old to the funeral of someone she has never met. I don’t want her to miss school for it. I don’t want to pay £17.50 for after school club and have to leave the funeral 15 mins in to make sure I get back in time for the 5.30 pick up. In all honesty I don’t want to be friends with Macy, but where does that leave our children, who are in a serious relationship and talking about marriage? What a mess!