Arthur

Chapter 2

I woke up to the sound of frying pan being banged at my ears. "Arghhhhh," I turned my head to the other side. "Arise and shine my love," sang a voice which I quickly recognize as mom's. "It's a beautiful day isn't it? Too beautiful to not accomplish any task." I quickly recognize this sentence as something my mom will give me a chore to do. "Yes ma. Is there anything you want me to do?" I quickly ask since I hate beating around the bush.
"Aah... Yes! I almost forgot. Your father would like you to go to the market to buy food condiments. We'll eat first before you go since you need to have energy for your journey." 

I almost forgot that we don't have cars like Connor's family. We don't even have a nice house how much more having a car? "Yes ma," I quickly said to end the discussion.

"Charlotte! Arthur! Are we not gonna eat?" yelled an impatient voice of my father. "Yes honey." "Yes father," mom and I answered in unison. 

We sat at the dinning table and said our prayers. "Arthur I'm giving you money to buy food condiments in the market. Make sure to not lose any money." I decided to start chanting my father's words in my mind ........"Understood?" I wanted to tell my father that understanding what he said is an understatement of what he wants me to do. "Yes papa" I quickly said.

After our breakfast which consists of only Gary with milk, my father gave me enough money. "Mom can I just go later because I'm still tired?" "Why later when you can do it now!" boomed an angry voice of my father. "Yes....yes.... I'll do it father"  my voice trembled. "Good. Oya you go nah."

I hurriedly left the house with tears streaming from my face. My father calls me emotional whenever I cry and I don't understand why. I don't also understand why my life revolves around working. Why can't I be like any other child. Why can't I go to school like they do. Why can't I have a stable life like others with a happy family. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really my father's child. I never saw him hug me. I never saw him encourage me. I never saw him desiring for me to achieve the best in life. And most of all, I never saw him look at me in the eye as if I'm the best thing that ever happen in his life. Sometimes I feel as if I'm a burden for him.

"Do you need help in selling those, sir?" I asked the old man. "Aah. Yes,young boy." he answered and I happily obliged. "I saw you crying young boy. Is there a problem?" I shook my head while arranging the packs of bitter leaves. "You don't have to lie to me young boy. I can see it in your eyes." I looked at the man in his eyes to see if he is really genuine. "Have you felt unloved by your father before?" I asked. I noticed the change of demeanor in the old man's face. "Aah.... My father died before he could even show his love for me," he answered sadly. I felt bad for him. He added," Having a father is considered a blessing one must be able to treasure. Not everyone is lucky to have a father. So treasure and respect him young boy while you still have him or else you'll regret one day." I nodded and stood up to bid the old man goodbye. "Always remember my advice boy and you shall prosper. Don't bear grudges or you'll never succeed."

While walking towards the market, I repeated the old man's word while jumping on rocks and counting it. .......16, 17, 18, 19, 20. Others may wonder why I know how to count even if I didn't go to school. I learned it because my mom was a teacher in Europe before. But unfortunately things turned the other way when my mom got pregnant of me. She was accused of teaching nonsense by people there causing her to be sent back to Africa.

I reached the market and went to search for the food condiments in my list. ......"Thyme, Egusi, grinded Ogbono, Coco yam, Ogiri, Ugba, Uzuza seed, Stock fish dust, grinded pepper, Utazi Leaves, Spichily Seasoning and Nutmeg."

AN: For those who don't know those food condiments just search it in Google or ask Africans. Proud African here.
Pronunciations:

Egusi: egg ooo see

Ogbono: o (-in dog) bon o (ditto)

Ogiri: O (ditto) geee ree

Ugba: O (ditto) bah

Uzuza: Ooo zoo zah

Utazi: Ooo tah zee

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I paid the money to the vendor. "Auntie can you please pack these things in a plastic bag." The woman nodded and I thanked her. I exited my way in the market. I wanted to add more adventure in my journey so I decided to take the long way. I was amazed by the view. All I can see screamed green. Green trees, green growing plants, and green moss scattered all around. "Wow!" I exclaimed. "This is absolutely breathtaking. I decided to roam around and have tranquility in my heart. I never imagined being alone can enlighten me. Enthralled by the forest, I lost track of time. "Jeez." I hurriedly ran out of the forest in attempt to arrive home quickly.

As the steps become nearer to my house, my heart thumped faster. Evert step I took I could hear my heart begging to come out of the ribcage. Before I could fully get inside of the house, the door was shut close at my back causing me to panic. I timidly rotated my heels to face my father. The atmosphere was too thick to not identify it as my father's presence. "What. Took. You. So. Long!" he roared. Instead of telling him lies I decided to tell him the truth and only the truth. I narrated the events that took place. "Where are the food condiments?" he asked. I handed him the plastic bag with the change inside . I noticed that while counting the money he furrowed his eyebrows. "What's wrong papa? I asked quietly. "What's wrong? What is wrong is you giving me incomplete change!" I stood there in shock of his outburst."This boy na. This boy is te-rri-ble!" he spat venomously. I swallowed the  tears that are trying to escape. "Papa, I swear" I gulped as I saw his eyes trained at me. "I swear I didn't take your money" he growled. "Papa please believe me." "How would I believe you if your real father was a thief himself!" I gasped as soon as he said those words. My mouth hung open and my eyes widen as saucers. "Papa...." I trailed. "Your father meant that when he was a young boy he used to steal and lie to his parents about it." mom quickly intervened. I snapped my head to look at her and saw a bitter smile in her lips.

Mom dragged me towards the dining table but was abruptly stopped when my father pulled me harshly towards him. "Honey!" " Charlotte this boy won't eat if he can't find the money!" "What!!! No! I won't allow Matthew!" Mom and dad fought for like eternity while I just stood up waiting for whose decision would win. "He will find the money Charlotte and that's final." Dad faced me and said, "You will not go home unless you find my hard earned money."

I went back tracing my steps. When I reached the vendor's place, the lights went off. I was trembling with fear since I'm afraid of the dark. I was sobbing in a corner of the market alone. But I remembered that fear stops you from accomplishing great works. "I will conquer my fear!" I said to my inner self.

I arrived at the forest disregarding the goosebumps I had in my skin. I frantically looked around my surroundings. I decided to break a twig from the tree to help in my search mission. Anyone watching me would think I was a chicken finding for food because I was bent down using the twigs to remove grasses in search for the coin.

Luck really despised me that much because it started raining. It rained so hard that my clothes were stuck like a second skin. Both rain and my salty tears where pouring. Never in my entire life have I felt devastated.

"Lord!" I screamed. "Have mercy on me." I may not go to church but I believe in God. Just like how a car operates with a driver, an airplane flies with a pilot. The earth was created by God and so was me.

Lightning struck over the place near the tree. I was already shivering of cold and was about to give up. I dropped on my knees to cry and brought back my head up. But halfway raising my head, I saw a shiny coin exactly the place the lightning hit.