THE SHORT STORY SERIES

2-I Need To Do This Mum

       I never got the opportunity to see my dad since I came to this fucked up world. It killed all my emotions when I was a kid. The worse is seeing kids play with their dad at the park or their dad picking them from school. But I never cried-I grew with the pain.

My mum told me I should never miss him, cause he was the biggest asshole anyone can ever think of. "Although He was a well respected military officer, but still fuck him." My mum would always say. "Fuck his fucked up life. He kept drinking till he got drunk and would not be able to control his actions" she would cry breaking almost everything close to her.
I knew she missed him down to her soul, even if she was always battered by my dad every time he was drunk, causing her to have internal bleedings.

After his death, frustration lead her to excess smoking. Now she 45 but she's looking like she's in her 70's.

"Hey Daniel" she called. She was on her wheel chair and her ventilator by her side. She was recently diagnosed with cancer of the lungs.

Christ, that shit took all my cash. The doctor had told me that she ain't gonna last long, She had two more weeks to live. I didn't tell her that though.

"mum" I answered walking towards her, squatting by her side then placed my hand on her wrinkled hand. "am here".

She turned her gaze towards me,
her eyes cold, her lips cracked, her hair gray. She grinned "You've really grown. Haven't you?" she said.

"yes mum. Your boy is all grown up. Besides my 20th birthday would be coming up" I said with a little smile on my face. "Is that why you called me mum. I was really busy just now or do need me to bring you anything". I say wanting to leave and continue what I was doing.

She looked away from me towards the blank TV screen. "Am sorry I never told you about how your dad and your junior brother died"

"what do you mean mum. I never had a junior brother. Didn't even see a picture of him. Why would i believe that?"

"I am serious about it. I really wasn't going to tell you. But I can't die without you never knowing that you had a brother"

My eyes widened. Is she joking; she has never made mention of that for over 20 years and she's saying this now. I was pissed but I held it so I could hear what she was about to say.

"go on" I say, my voice shivering trying to hide my anger.
She coughed then started.

"After I and your dad got married, we moved to California where he was posted to continue with his military service.
We both loved each other, and everything went smoothly except the fact that he never wanted kids at that time.

But I did want kids, I loved children. So when I got pregnant I didn't inform him till it was 5months old. He was damn pissed.
Each time he looked at me I squirm knowing  very well I had done something he didn't like."

She choked unable to speak. I put the mask on her face for some minute before I removed.

"Thanks" She breathed heavily. Then continued.

"I gave birth to Adam your late–"

"mum!!!... Just skip that part"

"but–"

"no but's" I said my anger not gone yet.

She sighed
"well he made it clear that he never wanted any other child. And when ever am pregnant, I should always inform him so he could get pills.
Adam was 5 years when I got pregnant for the second time–"

"Jess mum... The Man made it clear to you"

"I had you in my womb Daniel. I had prepared it was going to be the last. The thing is we never got control of self in bed, and he forgets things fast because of the work. So he always relied on me to remind him to get pills. But I wouldn't. He never found out that I was pregnant, until the day I fainted and rushed to the hospital.
He left the hospital after he was told I was pregnant and I had fainted because of malnutrition. He didn't return till the third day.

He drove me back home without saying a word. I saw anger in his eyes, but he kept his cool. We got back home late in the night. Adam was already sleeping. He took me to the room, brought everything I needed, then shut the door not allowing me to say anything. I cried wanting him back, but he  didn't listen.

Few days later he started coming back home late, not eating any food I prepared.
I later found out that he gambles, after seeing lot of cards and tickets In his pocket. I didn't like it because he wasn't that kind of person.

He came back home late, and came to check on me as usual. He was about to close the door but stopped when I called his name.

"welcome back" I say to him, then I adjusted my self on the bed in a sitting position.

"you need rest dear, good night". He says about to close the door.

"You've been been coming home late for sometime now. Please i want to know why?" I asked, my observant eyes fixed on him. He was looking drunk.

"it's non of your concern, Lady. Just go back to sleep."

"but–"

"SHUT. UP!. Just shut the fuck up" He roared in annoyance.
"Don't act like you care. Not now that our relationship is already messed up."

I walked to him placing my hands on his chest.
"I did it for us. Why don't you want to unders–"

"Get the fuck off me" he said pushing me to the wall.
Soon he pounced on me and began beating me. Adam saw us and cried for us to stop but he didn't listen.
Adam ran and left the house wondering on the streets until the unfortunate happened. He was brushed by a car. We never knew until we heard sirens. We rushed to the point, and saw it was Adam. He was dead.

I cried all the time I remembered Adam was dead. As for your dad, he advanced from just clubbing and drinking to smoking and bringing of different ladies to the house. And each time I complained I ended up beaten.
A day he went out, and he never came back that night. I called and my call went into voicemail. I called his office and they said he wasn't there today. I was worried. But I hoped he would come back. But he didn't.
It could not end this way, I must make him love me back even if things has gone rough. Three weeks had gone and he wasn't back.
I heard my door bell ring, and I went down to answer it.

"Good day ma. Are you Mrs Smith"

"Yah" I said looking at the suited men. "Please come in" I said directing them to the living room."Please do have a sit" I said to them sitting on the armchair opposite them.

"well we won't be staying long. We just came to deliver a message"

"is it about Michael"

"Yes. Am sorry to say but he his dead"

........To be continued.