THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 21 – 30
EPISODE 27
Eric walked out in time to see Chuka curving the bend. He didn’t want either Chuka or Kimberly to meet each other… at least not yet.
“Where is our wife?” Chuka asked the moment he parked the car in front of Eric, but Eric didn’t bother to respond as he got into the car.
The moment he was seated he dialed his mother line to return her call, “Tunde, what were you busy with that ended in less than ten minutes?” She asked making him smile. His mother never ceased to amuse him.
“I was just talking with someone. How are things going at home?”
“I hope it’s a lady? How do you think things are going at home? We are still waiting for you to give up this madness. You know you and your father don’t have to do this, right?” She asked making Eric snort.
“You were there when we made the bet, and you didn’t say anything. What were you thinking? That I would back out? You know how my bets with dad always go.” Eric reminded her.
Chuka who was listening to the conversation shook his head. He had always been of the opinion that Eric was from a very strange family. He couldn’t imagine what would prompt a father and son to derive pleasure from bets, or go to such lengths to win.
“I didn’t think either of you would take this one so seriously. Come on, you’re both taking things too far. How are you coping anyway? Do you need me to send you money? Your father doesn’t have to know about it.” His mother asked in concern.
“Are you asking me to cheat so I lose the bet?” Eric asked suspiciously.
“Tunde…”
“Don’t do that Mom, else you’re going to make me avoid your calls all together until the bet is over. Where is Wumi? What is she up to these days?” Eric asked making it clear he wanted to change the subject.
“You know your sister… She is out of the country as usual. That’s why I need you to get married, I’m tired of seeing only your father’s face…”
“As if there is anyway my wife would leave my house and come to live with you.” Eric said dryly.
“Maybe not, but I could always visit, and then there would be grandkids to disturb me.” She said with a sigh.
“I think you spend too much time watching those Nollywood movies. You’re a wealthy woman, why not travel with Wumi or do something else with your time instead of waiting for me to get married.” Eric asked wearily.
“Who are you talking to? Are you cheating on me?” Eric grinned when he heard his father’s voice in the background.
“Your father is here, want to talk to him?” His mother asked.
“Why won’t he want to talk to me?” His father asked taking the phone from his wife, “It’s only been two weeks, I hope you are not asking your mother for money already?” He asked with a grin, making Eric chuckle.
“You wish.”
“How are you coping? You’re sure you don’t want to lose this bet and get back to work?” His father asked, sounding serious now, while his wife moved close to him and pressed her ear against the phone.
“Not when I just started having fun. Don’t worry about me. I’m good.” He assured them.
“I hope you haven’t lost weight? How have you been feeding? Send me your recent pictures on WhatsApp, I need to know how you’re doing.” His mother pleaded.
“Don’t worry, I’m okay. By the way, I’ll be sending someone over to my house, he’ll be living there for the time being… just in case your spies call to inform you.”
“You’re not planning on cheating are you?” His father asked in confusion.
“No. It’s just part of my game plan. Don’t worry about it.” He assured his parents before ending the call.
“Who are you sending over to your house?” Chuka asked curiously.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 21 – 30
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Chuka had never been to Pete’s house here in Lagos. After their graduation from school about seven years ago, Eric had traveled out of the country for his Masters degree, and they had lost contact. And because Eric’s family was based in Abuja, there was no way he could travel all that way from Delta just to get Eric’s contact, so he had just let it be. But as fate would have it, he had met Eric a week ago when Eric came around his neighborhood looking to rent an apartment. He had been more than surprised until Eric had confided in him about his bet with his father, so he had offered to accommodate him instead. Especially after remembering all that Eric had done for him when they were in school.
“You. I need your house to myself, and your cab too.” Eric said thoughtfully.
“But why my cab… That’s how I earn a living. How will you feed if I don’t work? Besides, what about your deal with Kimberly?” Chuka asked in confusion.
“Don’t worry about any of that. I’m working on something.” Eric assured him with a sigh. He was just going to use one stone to kill very many birds. Eric assured himself as he thought about his bet with his father.
The bets with his father had started jokingly from when Eric was a kid. The very first bet had been when his mother was pregnant with Wumi his kid sister. He had been seven then. He had told them it was a baby girl, and his father had insisted it was a boy. He had asked what his father was going to give him if the baby turned out to be a girl, and his father had asked him to name whatever he wanted.
“I will name her.” He had said, making both his parents to laugh.
“Just that? Okay.” His father had agreed. And then a couple of months later his mother had put to birth, and contrary to what the ultrasound had shown, she had given birth to a girl.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 21 – 30
Over the years the stakes of their bets had increased and the bets had become even more serious. Sometimes he won, and sometimes he lost. He had had his tertiary education in Nigeria thanks to a bet he won. Some would say father and son were both gamblers, since outrageous amounts of money was often involved in their bets sometimes. But for them, it has become a family game.
This time around the bet had started out as a joke or rather a minor argument after seeing a movie late one night. He had traveled down to Abuja from Lagos to spend the weekend with his family. And as a family tradition, Fridays was always their family movie night. The movie they had seen that night had been coined from the parable of the prodigal son, but the only difference was that the father had refused to accept his son back and he had ended up commiting suicide.
“No man can survive being poor after tasting wealth.” His father had said after the movie ended.
“I don’t think that is true. He was just foolish and lazy.” Eric had refuted immediately.
“Lazy?” His father had asked with a scoff while his mother and sister had yawned in boredom as they listened to the argument, “You’ve lived a sheltered life so I don’t blame you for thinking this way. I can assure you that you can’t survive a year without all this wealth.”
“I know it might be difficult initially, but it isn’t impossible. All I have to do is cut down on my living expenses and get a job. I’m sure I will be okay.” Eric had insisted, “And don’t forget, there are poor and average people who are even married with kids and manage to live happily. So why can’t I settle for an average life simply because I had the privilege of being wealthy once? I think it’s just a matter of pride. That’s the only thing that would push a man to commit suicide or do illegal things to become rich again.” Eric said confidently making his father laugh.
“You think you can adjust to travelling in buses instead of flying first class? Or you can be stuck in traffic in a taxi without air conditioning, when you can be in your own private vehicle? What about the food? Imagine not being able to leave the country on vacations? Tunde, take it from your father, you’d rather die than settle for less after having everything.”
“What is wrong with travelling in buses? People do it all the time and they aren’t dead. I’m sure I’ll adjust to it sooner or later. Being rich has its own challenges too. For one, you may end up not marrying for love since all the people around you want your money. You also won’t know who your real friends because everyone around you will be loyal as long as you have the money.” He had argued.
“So that is the reason you’re not married yet? You’re scared of marrying a golddigger?” His mother had asked curiously.
“You can just marry someone rich too. You don’t have to worry about that if the lady is rich, right? That’s what I’m going to do.” Wumi had added.
“Even rich people commit suicide, right? I’m just trying to say there is no big deal about any of this.” Eric said waving his hands as though they were not getting his point.
“So are you willing to put your money where your mouth is?” His father had asked with an excited smile, as though he had been waiting for an opportunity to propose a bet.
“Oh no!” Wumi exclaimed knowing what was coming.
“What are you proposing?” Eric had asked, ever eager to take up his father’s challenge.
“I think this will work for us both ways. Be a real life prodigal son. Only difference is you won’t leave the house with half my wealth or yours. You can take say, two hundred thousand naira for accommodation and feeding at least until you get a job.” His father had said while his mother listened disinterestedly.
“What do I get in return?” Eric asked with interest.
“Well, you get to find out if you have loyal friends, and maybe you find true love too since you don’t want golddiggers.” His father added with a grin.
“A disguise?” His mother and sister has echoed excitedly.
“Yeah. That way you can prove to me that you can survive without all this money.” His father added.
“What about the company? And how long will it take?” He had asked curiously.
“We can always have someone else take care of things in your absence. A year should be enough for you to learn your lesson or teach me mine.” His father said with a grin.
“What do I get if I win?”
“Anything. You can ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you. But don’t think it’s going to be easy. You’ll have to leave all your bank cards behind. And I’ll have someone monitor your accounts, your house and cars to make sure you don’t go anywhere near them.” His father added.
“I can ask for anything? Okay. And if I lose?” He asked his father cautiously.
“I’ll have to teach you a lesson. I’ll withhold all your privileges from you and demote you for a year. That should make you appreciate all you have better.” His father said making Eric nod.
“Okay. That is fair.”
So here he was, trying to prove to his father that he could succeed for a year without them. It wasn’t up to two weeks yet the two hundred thousand naira he had left the house with was exhausted already.
.
.
THE MIRACLE I NEED : Episode 21 – 30
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