Different Tastes
The young girl had recently started complaining about her mother’s cooking and seemed to dislike the food she made. So much so that her mother started to feel embarrassed in front of her husband.
Whatever her mother fed her was rapidly causing a change in taste. Suddenly, she barely listened to her parents anymore, and they started to worry if they would be able to control her longer. How could they help her return to who she was?
Lively Little Girl
Usually lively, Britanny Fennings had bright blue eyes that sparkled with excitement and a laugh that echoed through her home. But every time she came home from visiting her grandma, Alison, she struggled to keep awake.
First, Bill Fenning, Britanny’s 45-year-old father, had thought it amusing that his daughter was so tired after visiting her grandmother. “You must have had such a blast at Grandma Alison’s,” he jested. But after it became a norm, he grew more concerned.
Weekend With Granny
At just five years old, tiny Britanny was a bundle of joy and energy; her laughter filling her home with warmth. But every Sunday after spending time with her grandmother, Britanny would return home in a state of utter fatigue.
At first Bill, her father, thought it was funny. “Must be all the excitement of visiting grandma Alison,” he’d joke. But he grew concerned as this behavior became a constant reoccurrence. He just couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.
Changing Tastes
The girl’s exhaustion seemed to be more than just the consequence of fun and time spent with Alison. There was a sense of unease in the air at Kensington Ridge, Massachusetts.
Fourty-year-old Katrina, Britanny’s mother and esteemed receptionist, laughed it off. She claimed, “All mom’s food is filled with carbs. With all the pasta and potatoes, she must be stuffed.” Bill indulged his wife; she did know her mother the best out of all of them, after all.
Exhausted
The first time Bill noticed the change was when his daughter fell asleep in the car on the way home. He thought nothing of it at first, assuming it was the long drive making her tired.
However, when he saw Britanny falling asleep at the dining table, he began to worry. “Are you alright, sweetie?” he asked. His wife asked what she ate at her grandmother’s, but she couldn’t recall.
Lack Of Hunger
Bill pressed. “I’m just tired, Daddy,” Britanny replied, her words muffled by a yawn. “Can I sleep earlier tonight?” His daughter didn’t eat a crumb of food, and it was her favorite pasta dish with cheese sauce. “Can I have some of the special juice Grandma gives me?”
Bill and his wife, Katrina, exchanged concerned looks. They felt something was off, and after their daughter went to sleep, Bill called his mother-in-law. He asked if she had seen or noticed anything strange during his daughter’s visit.
Strange
The concerned father dialed Alison. “Did you notice anything wrong while Britanny was visiting?” he enquired. “Not really,” his mother-in-law said. “She seemed in good spirits. Just very tired, perhaps.”
Bill continued asking, “Did she want to sleep more than usual?” there was brief silence. “Well, now that you mention it, she did take more naps than usual,” Alison said. “But I assumed she was just tired from playing.”
Mother Knows Best
Britanny’s father hung up the phone, thanking Aliso for her help. It was important to him that he figure out what was going on with his child.
He asked Katrina if they should take her to the doctor or hospital, but she denied his concerns. She claimed he was being too overprotective, but as hard as he tried, he still didn’t find any answers. Bill often felt like he was a single parent.
Peculiar
That evening Bill watched his daughter as she fell asleep. Her small frame became ever smaller in the cushions as she sunk into them, her eyes fluttering with tiredness. He couldn’t escape the worry that plagued him.
He felt as if there were a secret hiding just beneath the surface of his vision, one that threatened all he loved and his family unit. Britanny was unusually tired.
Mystery Madness
Bill was determined to discover what was plaguing his child, so he decided to do it himself. He purchased a cheap camera off the internet.
Placing the camera in his daughter’s backpack, he ensured that he would capture what was afoot. Would the device tell him what Alison could not?
The Camera Doesn’t Lie
Determined to uncover the truth, Bill took matters into his own hands. He decided to plant a hidden camera in Brittany's backpack before her next visit to her grandmother's house. It was a desperate move, one born out of a father's love and growing apprehension.
The weekend arrived, and Brittany set off to spend time with her grandmother as usual. Bill's heart raced with anxiety as he waited for her return. When Brittany finally came home, he wasted no time in retrieving the footage from the hidden camera.
Alisons Cocktails
When he reviewed the footage, his heart sank. The scenes that unfolded before him shattered his world. There was Alison, his own mother, indulging in day drinking. Cocktails upon cocktails filled with the same orange mango juice, a twisted concoction that masked the bitter taste of alcohol.
But what horrified Bill the most was seeing Alison deliberately switching glasses, giving Brittany the ones laced with alcohol instead. Did she know what she was doing?
Her Drinking Partner
As he watched the recordings, his worst fears were confirmed. Alison, sweet and seemingly harmless, was caught on camera day drinking. She poured herself cocktails, mixing them with what appeared to be innocent orange mango juice.
But then, she would surreptitiously switch glasses, giving Brittany the concoction meant for adults. She knew that mango juice was Brittany's favorite, so why would she trick the innocent child?
Grandmas Drinking Buddy
The hidden camera captured all the footage of Brittany's time at her grandmother's. What Bill saw on the recordings left him horrified. Alison, his mother-in-law, was indulging in day drinking, mixing cocktails with orange mango juice, and inadvertently giving the wrong glass to Britanny.
The realization hit Bill like a ton of bricks – Alison was an alcoholic, and his daughter was unknowingly being exposed to her dangerous habit. She wasn’t tired, she was under the influence of alcohol.
What Is She Teaching Her
Bill's mind raced with a whirlwind of emotions. Anger, betrayal, and heartbreak collided within him. How could his own mother-in-law do this to her own grandchild? The very thought sent shivers down his spine.
Confronting Alison was not an easy task. He knew it would be a confrontation filled with pain and regret, but he had to do it for Brittany's sake. His child was getting sick.
Acting Innocent
The next day, with a heavy heart, Bill approached his mother-in-law, his voice trembling with restrained fury. "Alison, we need to talk." Alison's eyes widened in surprise at the seriousness in her son's voice.
She tried to feign innocence, but the weight of guilt hung heavily upon her shoulders. "What is it, Bill? What's wrong?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly. Her eyes were bloodshot red, she was already drunk.
Tell Me The Truth
Bill didn't mince words. He played the footage for her, watching as realization dawned upon Alison's face. “This is you right? What's in that bottle?” he questioned her.
The silence that followed was deafening, broken only by the sound of Brittany playing in the other room, blissfully unaware of the turmoil unfolding between her father and grandmother. What was he going to do to her?
A Tiny Mix Up
Tears welled up in Alison's eyes as she struggled to find the right words to explain herself. "I... I didn't mean to harm her, Bill. I just... I don't know what came over me," she stammered, her voice cracking with emotion.
Bill told her how good they were to her and that they were working hard to give Brittany a better life. He couldn’t understand why she would want to harm her.
Stop Being A Fuddy Duddy
Alison came up with every excuse in the book. She even blamed Brittany and said that she ‘was an annoying child that wouldn’t shut up.’ The scared old lady begged him to forgive her.
But Bill was beyond consolation. The betrayal cut deep, leaving wounds that would take time to heal. "You put our daughter's life in danger, Alison. How could you?" he whispered; his voice laced with anguish.
Nothing Happened To Her
Alison hung her head in shame, unable to meet her son's gaze. "I'm so sorry, Bill. I never meant for any of this to happen," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper.
Bill's heart sank as he realized the depth of his mother in law's betrayal. How could she have done this to her own granddaughter? Anger and sorrow waged war within him as he struggled to come to terms with the devastating truth.
This Is Unforgivable
The frustrated father went on about how he was going to tell his wife everything, “You caused this problem, and now I must look like the problem starter? What would your own daughter Katrina say? He argued with her.
He confronted Alison, his voice trembling with emotion. "How could you?" he demanded, his eyes burning with betrayal. But Alison broke down into tears and cried.
She Enjoyed It Too
Alison's face paled, guilt flickering in her eyes like a guilty flame. "I...I didn't mean to," she stammered, her voice quivering with shame. "I just...I needed something to take the edge off."
She begged him not to tell Katrina, “Please she'll never let me see her again.” “Didn’t you think of that before giving her vodka or whatever you gave her?” Bill shouted at her.
On One Condition
Bill's fists clenched at his sides as he struggled to contain his rage. Alison begged Bill to give her another chance but Bill told her that she had to go for an AA meeting first.
How could his own mother prioritize her own vices over the well-being of her granddaughter? The realization was like a knife to the heart, cutting deep into the fabric of their family bonds.
Keeping The Family Together
Brittany, oblivious to the turmoil unfolding around her, sat quietly in her room, her innocent slumber a stark contrast to the chaos consuming her family. She was just a child, caught in the crossfire of her grandmother's demons.
As the truth sank in, Bill realized that the woman he once looked up to as his mother was now a stranger to him. The bond of trust between them had been irreparably shattered, leaving behind nothing but pain and regret. His wife wasn’t going to be happy about it.
The Ultimatum
In the days that followed, Bill made sure to keep Brittany far away from Alison, cutting off all contact between them. It was a painful decision, but one he knew was necessary to protect his daughter from further harm.
Slowly but surely, Brittany began to regain her lively spirit, her laughter echoing through the house once more. She forgot all about grandma’s special juice. And although the wounds left by Alison's betrayal would always linger, Bill vowed to do whatever it took to ensure that his daughter would never have to endure such pain. But would Alison allow him to take her grandchild away from her?
A Toddler Had To Tell Her
Bill grappled with the fallout of his discovery. He wrestled with conflicting emotions, torn between his love for his mother-in-law and his duty to protect his daughter. But in the end, there was no choice to be made. Brittany's safety and well-being came first, above all else.
With a heavy heart, Bill made the difficult decision to confront Alison once more, this time with Brittany by his side. Together, they confronted her with the truth, laying bare the extent of her deception and the damage it had wrought. “You need help grandma,” little Brittany told her grandmother.
Telling His Wife
Alison hung her head in shame, tears streaming down her cheeks as she begged for forgiveness. But forgiveness was not easily granted, not when the trust between them had been so cruelly shattered.
With a heavy heart and a mind racing with concern, Bill confronted his wife Katrina about what he had discovered. The denial was swift and vehement, but the evidence was irrefutable. It was a heartbreaking moment for Bill, realizing that someone he trusted with his daughter's care was struggling with such a serious problem. She agreed that they needed to distance themselves from her.
It’s My Decision
Determined to protect his daughter, Bill made the difficult decision to stop sending Britanny to her grandmother's house. It was a painful choice, but he knew it was necessary for her well-being. However, that was only the beginning of his journey to ensure Britanny's safety.
Britanny struggled with the aftermath of her grandmother's addiction. She couldn't understand why her visits to her beloved grandma had suddenly come to an end. Bill and his wife, Katrina, did their best to shield her from the truth, but the impact of Alison's actions lingered.
Grandma Gets Help
Bill knew that simply cutting off contact with Alison wasn't enough. She needed help, and he was determined to see her get it. Despite her protests and denials, he gently but firmly urged her to seek treatment for her addiction. It was a long and arduous process, filled with setbacks and challenges, but Bill refused to give up hope.
As months passed, Alison slowly began to acknowledge the severity of her addiction. With Bill's unwavering support, she took the courageous step of entering rehab. It was a difficult journey, but one that ultimately led to her recovery.
Hope For The Future
Alison sought help for her addiction, embarking on a journey of recovery and redemption. And though the scars of betrayal would linger, Bill vowed to do whatever it took to ensure that his daughter would never again fall victim to the darkness that had once threatened to consume them all.
Through it all, Bill remained a pillar of strength for his family. He juggled the responsibilities of work, parenting, and supporting Alison with unwavering determination. And though the road was long and challenging, the love he had for his daughter and his mother-in-law never wavered.