CERTIFIED THIEF

DRENCHED IN THE RAIN

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    The pantalooned men listened painstakingly as Milo talked. He didn’t leave any stone untouched. He talked about the roller coaster he faced in his marriage and why he divorced his wife. He didn’t forget to add that he walked in one day and couldn’t find his son. It was at this juncture that Maverick stood up from the three-sitter chair. His face was covered with tears and he was breathing profusely. “He is my father,” Maverick said when Cameron wanted to know why he was weeping.

    Cameron couldn’t believe his ears, he gazed at Milo and Maverick simultaneously and didn’t say a word. Milo couldn’t believe his eyes. He had lost hope of ever seeing his son again. He stood up and began to bawl. Cameron stood between father and son and pacified them. “Today is meant for jubilation and not for bawling,” he said.

    When Milo had bawled for about five minutes, he pleaded for his son’s forgiveness. Maverick begged for forgiveness too. He was remorseful for running away from home and causing a lot of havoc. Milo smiled and the twosome hugged each other. Cameron, on the other hand, smiled as he gazed at father and child. The bathers saw what was happening, they left the swimming pool for their apartment. When they got inside, they told their mother what was happening outside. Without any hesitation, Ruth rushed outside to see things by herself.

    When she got outside, she could see the men sitting under the marquee. She quickly walked in their direction. She greeted them and Milo replied to her. “Doctor, my children said you were hugging a stranger,” she said, and Milo laughed. “You are laughing? What’s funny?”

“I was only hugging my son.”

    Milo’s words dropped on Ruth like a bombshell. She hadn’t heard Milo talk about having a son before. All they believed was that Milo was stingy, he didn’t want to share his wealth with any woman, so he decided to stay single all his entire life. Milo noticed that Ruth was silent. “At least, you should be happy for me,” he said.

“I am euphoric, but this is strange.” 

“I know you never knew I had a son. A grown up one for that,” Milo said and hovered his eyelashes around his son.

    Milo introduced his son to Ruth in a formal way. Maverick shook hands with her and she walked away exuberantly.

“Let’s go inside, son. We have a lot to discuss,” Milo said.

“Yeah. I will be leaving for home now,” Cameron said and stood up gently.

    The day was initially bright until everything changed suddenly. The clouds began to gather and everyone could see them from the earth. Everyone started rushing home, because they knew the havoc that thunderstorms could cause.

    Maverick clutched the fashion magazine he saw inside Sophie’s cabinet and walked out of the room gently. When he got to the living room, he quickly sat on one of the settees. As he was glancing through the magazine, he heard the footsteps of someone. He raised his head and saw a beautiful lady. “What are you doing with a lady’s magazine?” Sophie said, and sat down beside Maverick. Maverick smiled and said he was only interested in the images of the beautiful ladies and Sophie laughed.

“Don’t be promiscuous, young man. Let me have my magazine,” Sophie said, and tried to collect the magazine, but she couldn’t.

“A man will always be a man,” he said and laughed uncontrollably. He dropped the magazine on the settee and stood up gently. He said some words into Sophie’s right ear and he grasped Sophie’s lips. After they kissed for a few minutes, Sophie sat on Maverick’s lap and they were enjoying the fresh air entering into the living room. 

“We could do a church wedding now,” Maverick suddenly voiced out.

    Sophie was left in uttermost dismay by Maverick’s words. She rose up gently from Maverick’s lap and sat down on the settee. She asked Maverick why he would suggest they have a church wedding. Maverick cleared his throat and talked with a soft voice. “I have found my father, so a court wedding won’t be necessary again,” he said.

    Sophie raised her head and Maverick’s image formed on her retina. “But our wedding is just next month. We spent a lot on invitation cards…”

    Maverick used his hand to cover Sophie’s mouth. “Leave the expenses for me. We will print another card,” he said. Sophie gently removed Maverick’s hand from her mouth, she gazed at Maverick and didn’t say a word.

“Why are you silent? I said I would sponsor the new invitation cards.”

“You amaze me you know. I have told my friends everything about our marriage.”

“It’s our wedding. We can do it anyhow.” These were Maverick’s words before they heard the buzzing sound of the buzzer. Without any hesitation, Sophie walked in the direction of the door. She opened the door and saw her younger sister. Her pink gown was wet and she was shivering.

“Oh, my God, you were drenched in the rain,” Sophie said passionately as Bella walked in, clutching her bag. She cuddled round Bella and they walked in the direction of the settees. Maverick was so compassionate when he saw Bella. “You should have waited for the rain to subside before coming home,” he said. 

“I couldn’t wait for mum because I have an appointment with a friend for 3:00 pm.” 

“You should go into your room now and make use of the house warmer.”

“Thank you, sir,” Bella said and walked away, clutching her bag.

    The twosome ensured that Bella was out of sight before they continued their conversation. As they bantered, Sophie finally agreed that they would conduct a church marriage. Maverick’s joy knew no bounds.

    When Naomi got to the sitting room, she couldn’t see anyone. She dropped her bag beside the settee and sat down gently. When she observed that the cold was getting too great, she held her bag and walked into her bedroom.

    Naomi’s bedroom was the master’s bedroom. It was as wide as a king’s inner chamber. It contained a lot of gadgets. Some of these gadgets were: a television set, radio, house warmer, DVD set, radio, fluorescent lamp and ventilators. Flower vases and framed pictures can also be seen inside the room. It has a marbled floor and yellow-painted concreted walls.

    She adjusted the curtain of the louvre window and walked in the direction of the matrimonial bed. She undressed herself and was putting on only underwear. She quickly dressed up in her domestic attire and sat down on the bed.

    After eating dinner, the family constellated around the television. Silence rented the sitting room as everyone gazed at the actions being displayed on the television screen. They were in the middle of the film when Cameron started the conversation.

“Maverick, when will you be going to Hawaii?” he said.

     Maverick took his gaze away from the television screen. He smiled and told Cameron that he wouldn’t be leaving for Hawaii until the handing over ceremony. Naomi’s hearing was impaired by Maverick’s voice. She took her gaze from the television, because she wanted to hear the discussion clearly.

    Cameron questioned Maverick about why he wouldn’t leave for Hawaii early enough and Maverick replied to him bravely. He had no option than to accept the young man’s decision. The conversations died down and everyone continued to gaze at the actions displayed on the television screen. 

    Cameron wasn’t a fan of films. He seldom watched films. He said he needed to rest, so he walked away, leaving the others in the living room.