The Petting Zoo

Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash

I knew before I met Mike’s family, it would be a problem.  Especially since I was not young and blonde and I was definitely not a lawyer. Or a doctor.  I was a public servant and Mike’s parents didn’t approve of low paying jobs.  Librarians didn’t make enough money to make Mike’s parents happy or even pleased. 

My name only came up in passing and when it was brought up in company, it was swiftly swept under the rug.  I knew it when Mike’s mother, Irene, personally invited me to her birthday party, I was instantly suspicious.  She had never invited me to a single party in the three years Mike and I had been dating. 

Irene was everything I didn’t want in a mother-in-law, but I couldn’t give up on Mike.  He was everything I wanted in a partner.  Everything but his mother.  His sister Clare was still up for debate.  She was a trophy wife who had never worked a day in her life, but often got on her soap box about how people didn’t want to work. 

When I showed up for the supposed birthday party, I knew had been set up.  Irene had hired a petting zoo.  And I was the only one who dressed up in costume,