The Missing Key

Episode 9

"I had unprotected sex with... my boyfriend the last time I wasn't safe and it had gotten me scared all these while; I have been anticipating my period even before now." Mum continued to stare at her, but there was no trace of anger in her face. "Ada, I must be honest, I have always suspected that you were sexually active and I am very sorry that I didn't do anything about it. The problem now is that you are doing it without protecting yourself. Why are you taking such risk?" she gently asked. "I... I don't know mum, I didn't know what I was doing." "You are too young to make sex your priority; you obviously cannot handle it. As you can see it is capable of distracting you from your focus in life and by the time you know it, it is already too late as time waits for no one." Mum really felt good saying those words to her. "Now you are not even protecting yourself, you could contact HIV or other sexually transmitted diseases. Presently, pregnancy could be knocking on your door. I am sure that you can now see that the risk you have been taking is not worth it." Mums words were really affecting Ada. Painful tears started to flow from her eyes, "I am very sorry mum, I didn't know what got over me. I didn't think anybody cared and got carried away by frustrations. I allowed myself to be deceived by Mike and..." her sobs couldn't allow her finish. Mum could now see it, there was an unconscious and uncontrollable desire in her that wanted her to hurt her parents for neglecting her, and the best way was by hurting herself. None of this was actually Ada's fault, mum thought, she and dad were to blame. "It's okay now," mum said and held her onto her bosom, it felt good to have her baby back. "I promise that you won't feel neglected again, I will always be here for you. Don't cry." She allowed Ada to cry for some time, "Now I want you to promise me that you will start acting accordingly, No more missing lectures for anything, you party with only my permission, I want to know who your boyfriend is, bring your friends home and make me a part of your life. Can you do that?" "Yes mum, I will try," Ada answered, wondering how she could fulfill the promise. "Don't worry, we will work together to bring you to the right path, and I will also like to learn some new tricks you girls have nowadays, you know I am already old fashioned?" This got Ada smiling, "You are not old fashioned mum, you are still young and beautiful," she said, surprised at how easy that came out from her mouth. This wasn't going to be difficult afterall. Mum sighed heavily, "Ok, I want you to have a rest, relax you mind and allow nothing to trouble you." She stood up and headed for the door, she remembered that Ada's mobile phone was still with her since dad had given it to her to read the dreadful text message. "I wouldn't like to see something that might spoil my day," she said as she handed it back to her. "I will be preparing food for everyone with your dad in the kitchen." Now this astonished Ada, "With dad?" she asked. "Yes, and I will call you when we are through." Mum winked at mum and shut the door behind her. The mobile phone rang in Ada's hand just as mum closed the door; it was Mike. "I really can't talk to you now," she spoke to the phone without interest. Yes, I said I will come but I didn't and you'd better start getting used to that," she rudely spoke to the obviously angry Mike at the other end. Some she felt good, she finally could say how she felt or what she wanted without fear of rejection
John gently raised his head when dad walked into his room. He had been sleeping but was already away minutes before dad entered. To dad, he looked like someone who was tired of life. That wasn't a welcomed development for dad. John slowly sat up as da entered, looking at him suspiciously. He couldn't understand why dad was in his room. But dad wasn't looking angry and that helped calm him down a bit. Dad sat down beside him, an awkward moment of silence lingered. Dad couldn't help but stare at John's childhood picture on mini drawer beside John's bed. He stretched his hand and picked it up, looked at it, smiled slightly and dropped it back. "You know I attempted smoking when I was quite young." Dad was gentle, John listened. "I really didn't want to do it, but then, my friends would think that I was too dull and wouldn't want me to continue to be their friends again. I wanted them to like me. I was so young and inexperienced and my need to belong misled me into putting up with the wrong friends. But then my grades began to depreciate and luckily for me one of my teachers called me to order. He made me realize that I was following the wrong path and I knew that my dad would be very disappointed in me if I didn't change. Do you know that most of those boys were expelled? Some destroyed their bright future just for a few minutes of satisfaction. I even heard one of them became addicted to drugs and is presently in a psychiatric home now." John shifted uncomfortably on the bed. "And if I hadn't changed from bad ways, I wouldn't have been able to have a wonderful family and even be able to carter for them." He stopped and stared directly at John "Why did you do it son?" John looked up into dad's face in confusion. He didn't answer the question. Then in a very soft tone, "Why did you make the choice to start smoking at a very young age?" "I... I don't know dad. My friends were doing it and... just like you, I wouldn't be their friends if I didn't join them." John stammered. "But didn't you know it was wrong?" "I... I knew it was wrong dad but... I didn't have anybody to talk to. I was afraid of losing my friends and doing it felt right even though I knew it was wrong. I couldn't talk to you or mum and my teachers are always mean; I couldn't possibly talk to them without getting my friends into trouble." Dad sighed "I am really sorry son for not being there for you. But always remember that there must come a time when you must make decisions on your own even without the presence of a guardian. You must know how to make the right decision for the sake of those you love and those who love you, the fact that you are just 14years old does not mean you should not be wise in making tough choices" "I am 16 dad," John injected, but with a smile. He was already overwhelmed with the way dad was talking to him. "Sixteen? Wow!" dad was really surprised. When did you get to sixteen? My little boy is almost a man," he said, hitting John lightly on the head.