THE REJECTED STONE

Barrister Ray had become a new man, clubbing, following ladies up and down. He drowned his sorrows in alcohol, ladies, and clubbing. He became short-tempered. He was no longer interested in his children's academics. He never cared again. He leaves early and comes home very late. He leaves money for their food and schooling but that was all. The emotional attachment to the children had gone, “what’s more! My wife left me and had gone with another man. He blamed himself severally because he knew it was his fault, he had used his hands to destroy his once beautiful home which was the envy of everyone. The joy and peace they enjoyed had gone. The love and care, are all gone. His beautiful daughters and sons were there but highly disappointed in their dad. He had failed his children, he is not worthy to be called their father. He became depressed, always blaming himself for all that had happened. “If only my wife had been a little bit more patient with me”, he would always lament remorsefully. He felt deeply lonely within. The church people tried to help him but he was too discouraged to respond. More so, his wife had left and remarried a richer man who was taking excellent care of her. “Look at me, I am pitiable”. Of course, he had greatly emaciated, a shadow of himself. He vowed never to marry again. He had been stricken by a woman and would not allow another to strike him again. He had lost the jewel in his life. He had taken her for granted. What a shame! Yes, what a deep shame on him.

His chamber also suffered greatly he had lost so many cases that people were no longer patronizing him. He made up his mind to begin again. He did begin again and got revived. He started to win his cases again. Things were coming alive bit by bit. Thank God, it was a big relief.

The children had suffered the attacks severally. They felt like orphans. Mother had left, and father no longer bothered about them apart from giving them money. Who will listen to their pains? They took solace in one another.

Jennifer was badly affected, she was traumatized. It seems as if she had lost everything. By the time she got back to the University, her grades dropped. GP dropped from 4.1 to 3:2, it was very painful. Her lecturers had called her severally to find out what was happening to her but she told them nothing. She felt there was no one to confide in. Her roommates notice her withdrawal from others and confronted her, but they couldn’t make her open up to them. Many on-campus do come to approach her for friendship but she never gave in to any one of them. She kept to herself. Emotionally drained. A once lively, bold, beautiful lady had been torn apart by the divorce saga of her parents. What a world! She reverted to thinking she eats less, skips meals, and drinks less water. No appetite for food or water. As they were reading in the class at about 8 pm in the night, she suddenly shouted and slumped to the surprise of her schoolmates. She had to be rushed to the hospital. She was short of blood. She looked pale and tired. She was given drips of water + glucose. She had to be taking food supplements.

Immediately after she recovered, she received a call that her brother had an accident. He was hit by a vehicle as he was crossing the road. Of course, he was not looking very well. He was thinking of their family problems when he was hit by a car. The car owner came out and rushed Priye to the hospital. Priye was the last child of the family. He was in secondary school about to write his West African Examination Council Examination. He had no choice but to remain in the hospital until he was fully okay.

The first son and of course the first child of the family was in three hundred levels. At the University, he was devastated at first because he was emotionally attached to his mother, Mary, but he soon realized that it is of no use crying over spilled milk. He had a girlfriend named Rita. Rita helped Ray Junior, to overcome his emotional trauma. Her love and tender care put him quickly back in shape. He was doing well in his academics. He had a steady girl who was a blessing to him, especially in the hour of his needs.

The first girl, Janet had a boyfriend that was madly in love with her. He was always there for her. He spoils her very well. He was from a rich family and was willing to spend and be spent. He stood by Janet solidly. She was able to recover from depression. She also was doing very well in her studies, she was in her final year. Her studies also helped. She was buried in her project, though still supported by her boyfriend.

Priye was recovering fast. Her brother and sisters took excellent care of him. Although he missed his WAEC examination, he was willing to do it again the following year. There was hope for him.

Mrs. Jennifer Brown coughed a bit, cleared her throat, and continued her story. I managed to talk, I said “that must have been painful” “Yes it was” she uttered. Thank God that was in the past. I have put it all behind me now. Please continue to listen to my story and learn from my mistakes.

What became of Sandra and her “so-called” pregnancy?” Mrs. Jennifer laughed loud and clear, it was a fake pregnancy. She just wanted to hook her victim, my dad.

My dad got to know me much later through his colleague in the club. He was there, as usual, to drink after my mum had packed out when one of his colleagues a barrister strolled in with his girlfriend. The two of them sat in front of his table. He was still thinking of what to do with Jennifer and her threat. He felt, marrying the lady is out of the question. The only thing he could do was to be giving her an allowance every month to take care of herself and the baby which he had been doing for some time until his friend walked him to the club with his girlfriend.

They exchanged pleasant greetings. He introduced his girlfriend as Joan. They got talking and before he knew it, he had opened up to his friend about Sandra. He told him, he had been giving a girlfriend who claimed pregnancy monthly allowance. His friend asked for the name and he told him it was Sandra. As soon as he mentioned the name, the girlfriend shouted, S-a-n-d-r-a! “is it the same Sandra I know?” she demanded “which Sandra do you know,” my dad asked her. She laughingly declared: Sandra with four children and all four are having different fathers. They all laughed and laughed. Then my dad replied. “It seems so you know.” He explained further and told them she had been threatening him about marriage. She wanted marriage because she claimed to be pregnant with him. The friend, Joan said, “I know Sandra very well. This is her trade. She is not pregnant. She cannot be, because she had told her, she was done carrying babies for men. She had even escorted her to the hospital to remove her womb. Dr. Jack removed her womb, go and ask him if you think I am lying. Although I advised her against it she was adamant until I left her to her own decision. She cannot be pregnant, she just wanted you and your money.’’ “But why me?” Joan laughed mockingly and told him, “because you are gullible. She got you so cheaply’’. Joan later revealed that she was very close to Sandra. Sandra was “her very good friend”.

They separated because Sandra betrayed their friendship. She continued to relate to my dad and how Sandra went behind her to sleep with her own “money bag” a man who had been financially supportive of her. This man was the best of the best of her numerous man friends. He was extremely wealthy. He bought her a very expensive car on her 25th birthday. He also bought a house for her, furnished the house, and gave her the keys to the house. Sandra got jealous and went to backstab her to the man. She went to show the man pictures of her escapades with other men and showed them to him. He got furious and they separated. He collected the key to the car but left the house for her.

You can imagine my dad’s relief. He went to confront Sandra about the issue of her fake claims of pregnancy which she could not deny, knowing the source was from her very close friend whom she had fully betrayed. That was how my father became free or should I say delivered from the hand of his tormentor.