The New Yorker: "Appreciation" by Rivka Galchen

March 17, 2012: "Appreciation"by Rivka Galchen
This story begins well. It's written as if it were theevidentiary record in a dispute between a mother and daughter over a sum ofmoney. The contributions and faults of each are recounted and it seems that adecision is going to be reached by the end.
The mother, a widow, was making a good salary (until she waslaid off); the daughter began with a small salary but gradually did muchbetter. The mother helped her son buy an apartment and so she did the same withher daughter, although when that apartment was sold, there was a huge profit—theappreciation—to account for. The mother is well meaning, but to her daughtershe appears controlling, and in fact, she retains control of that profit.
For me, the ending was unsatisfying, and the questions areleft unresolved. The climax is too subdued.
The Q&Awith Rivka Galchen isn't much help.