Three days later, some people came and bought our four-bedroom flat. The buyer gave us six months to move out. He was filled with compassion when my father told him what the money was going to be used for.
“I would have loved to take possession of the house immediately but with the issue on ground, let me give you more time.” The buyer told my father.
Samson was to be flown to India. My father couldn’t meet up with the travel documents. He quickly sold his car and my mother’s own. I was to find out later that what had caused the fight between my mother and father that Monday morning was that my mother had requested for a new car. My father wanted her to wait until the end of the year but she said the time was too far because she wanted to use the car on the anniversary of her club.
Just for a car! My mother had never worked all her life but she had everything she needed. She travelled everywhere she wanted because she belonged to many associations. Twice, my father had tried to set her up in business but she could not manage it well. It was for this reason that my father vowed never again to invest any money on her project again.
My aunt once told me that my father loved my mother to a fault. According to her, my father could do anything to make her happy. But in spite of all the things he did for my mother, they were never at peace. It made me realize that indeed money wasn’t really the solution to our problems. With all the money in the world, if happiness and peace are eroded, then the money meant nothing. Whichever way anyone looked at it, my mother was at fault.
My mother had always lamented to my hearing that she could have married a better and richer person than my father.
The day finally came when my father was to fly Samson to India. There had been argument between the two of them over who should accompany my brother but in the end, my father won. He said he could not leave my brother in the hands of my mother because it was she who had put him in that condition.
It’s been four months now since all these things happened. We lost Samson in spite of all the money that was sunk into trying to give him life. The pain was too much for my father and the rest of us.
As I write this story, my parents have now separated. My mother has returned to her father’s house because my father vowed never to take her back again.
Although I miss her so much, I am very much in support of the decision my father has taken. Let her remain there for now.
When Rita asked my father when my mother would return, he simply replied; “Until she is cured of her madness.”
That was hopeful. It made us to understand that someday, the two might come back together again. But no one knows when it would be. I believe they have both learnt their lessons even though it is quite painful that it had to cost Samson his life.
“Will you ever fight with your wife when you grow up?” it was my sister; Rita. She asks this same question most of the time.
I shook my head and promptly responded; “God forbid! I will never do a thing like that.”
As a child of ten, I have learnt a very bitter lesson about life. In one day, my once happy family lost everything; so much money and a precious life. No! Never will I touch or quarrel with my wife when I grow up.
Never!
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ONE BLACK MONDAY by Japheth Prosper
Please share after reading and help someone before their case becomes like this.
