TOUGH LOVE

By Sainiana Radrodro

Maikali walks into the house wearing just a pair of shorts and no shirt on. He sees his mother sitting in their living room weaving mats.

He sits down some distance from her. His mother does not look up but asks, "What do you want?"

Maikali had prepared a speech to give his mum. But as soon as his mother spoke, he was literally rooted to the spot speechless.

He feared she would be angry. He was beside himself, especially knowing what the unthinkable offence his own son had committed.

"Lai killed pretty. That was her we had for lunch today. I only found out now."

There was silence. He could see his mother's hands now beginning to shake. She still did not look up, but he could see her shoulders heaving and noted the silent tears that started rolling down her cheeks.

He felt awful. He wanted to murder Lai.

How could his son could kill his grandmother's favorite chicken and then cook it for the family lunch, even serving a large bowl of chicken so