The Missing Key

Episode 3

I didn't want dad taking out his already ignited tantrum on us. The day was already starting badly. She met my mum in the sitting room. There was no need to speak. They stopped helplessly wondering where the key was. They begin to search between and within the seats. Dad came out of the room and went straight to the door; he stopped and stared at it, as if asking himself 'what should I do now?'

There was no possibility of breaking down the strong metallic bullet proof door. A few months ago, dad had angrily and suddenly relieved the gateman of his duties because of a pardonable mistake. Now there was nobody outside the compound that he could call to help him pull some stunts outside. Dad had no driver; dad was very impatient with drivers. The spare key got lost almost seven months ago, it was Johns fault. We have been managing this single remaining key since then. The back door key which was occasionally used was in the same bunch with the exit door key. There was just no way out. Who would have imagined that this would be our plight on this Monday morning? Time was ticking. I think dad was thinking of who he would call that would help him get some professionals to help him break down the door, because he was busy with his cell phone. "Where could this key be?" Mum whispered. The mistake she made was that she allowed dad to hear it. "You can continue asking yourself such a silly question. But have you taken you time to imagine how you sound with such words coming out of your lips?" Mum looked at him helplessly, she was already getting used to him and the way he talked. "I am not as silly as you take me for you know, I am sure I kept the key on this table, why should whatever happened to it after I kept it be my fault? Why don't you believe me when I say that I kept it here?" "I can only believe you when..." His cell phone rang, his boss. He took a long breath before answering the call. "I can't believe you are not yet in the office, are you okay?" His boss quickly said before dad could say hello. "I just have a little set back I will soon be there sir," dad said. He was trying to sound confident. "Do you know what time it is? This is after eight. You should be here in the next ten minutes, I am waiting." The line went dead before dad could give his fake reassurance speech. He looked at mum, "do you see what you are making me pass through?" His voice was loud. He was now ready to let out the whole anger he felt. You see, the thunder like emotion called anger has a way of obscuring any intent we have. Remember, dad was trying to call someone who would help him break down the door. Instead he spent valuable time calling mum silly, I didn't think mum was the silly one here. "Do you know this might cause me my job?" he continued in a much louder tone.. "What do you stand to gain by doing this? You might think this is a joke but it is not. This morning meeting is one that I cannot afford to miss. I have with me here, important company documents that will be needed for the meeting. If I don't attend it, it will be the greatest catastrophe of all times. Mum couldn't take it any longer, "oh please spare me the lectures. Office this office that. Don't you realize that you are not the only one who is supposed to have left the house by now? Your children also have to attend school you know. How can shouting and blaming me be the solution to the problem we have now?" "Locate the key! Locate it!! That will go a long way in solving the problem you have caused." He retorted. "I don't know where the key is! I have searched everywhere and I can't find it!! You can either stand here and blame me all day or you, for once, start thinking like a manager that you are and solve the problem!!" she returned. I can't remember if I have ever seen mum this angry. Now this was even the first time she was talking back to dad in such a way. "And you can count me out when you decide to involve yourself in any problem solving activity. I won't be part of it. I don't care about your meeting and I don't even care if you lose your job or not!! This is your house perhaps it's high time you sit down here for once!" she walked out of the sitting room, into the bedroom. "Okay, now you are gradually coming out with the truth, so you want me to sit here with you? He replied. Ada also quickly left the sitting room, leaving dad all alone in the sitting room. He seemed shock. He didn't expect such outburst from mum. He dialed a friend's number "Hello... yes, can you help me get someone who can help me break down my door? Yes, a welder or carpenter, but I think a welder will be better since the door is a metal door... okay, I will be waiting. Thank you." He dropped the call and looked at the wall clock, 8.35am. He was exhausted. He sat on the closest leather seat next to him, staring at his phone like his life depended on it. The cell phone rang ten minutes later, he quickly answered the call. "Ya," "The welder I know is not reachable at the moment. But I spoke with a friend who gave me another's number but I called him and he said he is not in town but will forward me a friend's number. I will send the number to you when he sends the number to me." His friend said. "Oh my God" dad exclaimed, "please try and make him send the number immediately, the earlier the better." "I will try my best." "Okay, I will be waiting." His cell phone rang again immediately he cut the call, it was his boss again. "What is going on Mr. Ikedia? Is there something you are not telling me? The guests are already arriving for the meeting and you are not yet here. I need you here with those documents right now." How could dad tell him that he was locked up in his own house? Dad hated sounding silly, maybe because he was fund of calling others silly.