With the alarm buzzing so loud, a man in his mid-thirties jumped out of bed in great fright as he ran towards the door, pushing it open, he fled to the kitchen with great speed.
“Andrew!”
The voice of a woman echoed, standing in the passage that leads to the kitchen. The house they live in is a duplex with fourteen rooms. Six down the stairs, eight upstairs. Each is a master bedroom with balconies.
“Why didn't you get up on time, Andrew? Has Alex taken his bath?” the woman voiced in malevolence as she stared daggers at the young man, apologizing with pleading eyes.
Yesterday was Alex's school party he did a grand opening as the best student, and he did most of the work like he is a multitasking robot. He cleaned, served food and drinks and cleared the entire party equipment also, he did the inner chores alone and regarding that he didn't sleep on time yesterday.
“Sorry Mother, I was exhausted, my bones were all broken.”
He apologized, putting on the gas as he placed the kettle with water in it on the fire.
“What haven't you apologized for in this home, loser? So what if your bones were broken? Isn't your future broken as well?”
“No, Mother, my future is all made.”
He replied to her respectfully, hoping she reason things with him.
“You urchin, how dare you reply to me? I feed and clothe you, so, what gave you the nerve to talk back while I'm talking?”
Mrs. Felicia, sneered angrily at him.
“I'm sorry, I didn't mean it that way, mother.”
“He is a trash picker after all, the little money he gets from trash picking, he values it and thinks his future is already made at that.”
An advanced man walked towards the woman and spoke rudely at Andrew.
“Listen, young man, life starts at forty, and you are in your mid-thirties. Hahaha, and you believe your future is made with your trash picking job? I assure you again, my daughter isn't spending her entire life with you.”
“No Father, I will make it up to her, I promise.” Andrew pleaded.
“She can't have a luxurious life with you young man, she lived in wealth all her life so, she will rest in wealth. I can't totally, give my daughter to a woebegone like you.”
Mrs. Felicia fired again while she stomps out.
“Here is the car key, ensure to wash the car before six, I'm taking it out currently.”
Mr. Marvin threw the car key on the floor and left, while Andrew bent down to pick it.
Andrew is the son-in-law of the Dominic family. He has been married to pretty lady, Maryann Dominic, for six years now. They have a baby boy, Alex by name, the only child they have gotten through those years. Being the son-in-law of the Dominic could have been a great fortune for Andrew, but it wasn't. Ever since he got married, his life has been a nightmare.
All the work needed to be done in the home is all done by Andrew, he does school run, cooks some dishes, washes the cars, plates, and sweeps the entire compound including the clothes. He equally runs petty errands. He also, sends lunch to his wife, in her college because, she is completing a business course in school. Nonetheless, Andrew, selflessly, does all that believing his wife loves him a lot.
While he was still standing, his phone rang, and he ran out to answer the call, it was his wife calling.
“ Hello hubby! How are you doing today?”
Maryann asked from the other end of the phone and that sent fireworks through Andrew's body, he was delighted as his mood lightened up.“It gladdens my heart to see you this happy and whenever you are that, I'm always happy too.”
He answered as he brought out a pasta pack from the cupboard, ready to cook it for his son's lunch.
“How is my crown Alex doing, is he still in bed?” she asked and Andrew nodded.
“Well… We will be going on some interns today, I might not be home when you come. So, drop me a message at my lodge.”“Alright my love, love you endlessly.”
He professed, and Maryann gave a heartwarming laugh and hanged up the phone. This one activity gave Andrew great energy as he placed the pasta on the fire and quickly went to bathe his son. He looked at the time once he was done bathing his son, and ran out because, he hadn't washed his father-in-law car yet.
He not only had to wash his father-in-law car, but his wife, son and aunt,
“Alex, kindly put on your uniform and wait at the dining table, daddy has a lot to do, I will attend to you once I'm done.”
Andrew told his six-year old son, and he nodded before Andrew ran out to put the pasta down, place the stew on low heat and quickly made tea for his son.
Once he was done, he ran out to the garage. On getting there, he met Stanley, his wife brother holding some clothes and once Andrew approached, he threw them careless on his body.
“You haven't washed my Daddy's car yet. I guess you don't know what a business appointment is, else, you wouldn't be as sluggish as a snail. Meanwhile, wash these clothes before seven this morning, I need them dried and neatly ironed before two in the afternoon. Be warned a stain on these clothes, you will regret it.”
Stanley rudely spoke and was about walking out before Andrew stopped him on his track.
“I have to take Alex to school, and I will be taking chips to Maryann, today I heard she is…”
He said his wife's name as a smile crept at the corner of his lips, he was indeed fond of her.
“Save those smiles, whatever you do, attend to the work I have given you. Woebegone. The trash picker, silly human being.”
He insulted and walked out while Andrew, without minding, picked the clothes and placed them into a bucket before he began washing his father - in-law's car. He washed the four cars which will be taken to work for the day, and before he was done, it was already 7:15am because he started by 5:16am.
“Where is that demon of a being? Where is he? Andrew!”
Aunt Pearl, called in the most annoying tone ever. By now, the entire neighborhood already knows there is someone named Andrew in the Dominic's mansion for if mere calling of someone's name in a disdain manner makes one famous, Andrew would have become famous.
“Ma! I'm right here.”
He answered as he quickly hung the cloth and the equipment he used in cleaning the car and ran towards aunt Pearl.
“You are a useless fellow who keeps running away from Wisdom each time it called.,”
She angrily scolded and pushed him inside as Andrew was greeted by heavy smoke which found its way into his nostrils. Perceiving that, he ran to the kitchen, it dawned on him that he didn't remove the stew pot he placed on the fire and everything was already burnt.
“Idiot!” Mrs. Felicia insulted and gave him two hot slaps on the face.
“Do you know what it is to build a mansion? Do you want to burn down my house? O yes! I can afford another in a blink of an eye but, do you want to bankrupt me, loser?”
Mr. Marvin raged, and Andrew apologized to them all.
“I was trying to meet to time I did forget that I placed…” before he could say more words, Mrs. Felicia slapped him again.
“My grandson! Are you a wizard ? Were you sent to destroy us?” she scolded angrily.
“Why didn't you feed him? Have your trash pick job influenced you badly that you can't feed our son again?”
Aunt Pearl scolded. Andrew looked at his son and discovered he had spilled the tea all over his sky blue uniform he also sustained a burn at the tip of his pinky finger.
“Alex! Daddy…”
“Shut that trash! You don't even have the capacity, neither ability to father a son!”
Mr. Marvin scolded and hit his hat on Andrew's head while he stretched his hand and gave him a slap and this left him annoyed.
“What Haven't I done? I have been serving this home faithfully for six years and this is what you all say? I have been mute all these while and…”
“Shut your poverty stinking mouth don't speak to my father in that manner.”
Stanley came into the scene and made to raise his hands on Andrew, but he held it.
“You dare not father feeder, until you have something you call your very own assets then come and talk to me.”
He spoke, throwing his hands away and everyone marvelled at his boldness.
“I have, in time past, being greatly humiliated, but to receive a slap by my father-in-law that's the height of it.”
he sounded really bittered.“And what would you do?” aunt Pearl, interjected.“Nothing.” he calmly answered and took his son by the hand, walking out on them.“You dare not walk out on me Andrew!” Mr. Marvin, thundered.“I need to dress my son he need not experience this all drama, his school is vital to me.”He answered and took his son into his room to dress him.“Did he take us for a joke? What effrontery of his.” Mrs. Felicia's voiced in annoyance.“Maryann, gave him that liberty they should sign this divorce already, it has been too prolonged.” Pearl, angrily spoke and stomped out.“I will put Andrew in his place.” Mr. Marvin chided and walked out into his car.Andrew, after taking his son to school, hail a taxi to his wife's school. He remembered she said she was going for an intern so, knowing the location, he quickly, went to her lodge to drop her some clothes which he had washed and a banquet of flowers he bought. Once he opened the door, he was greeted with an orange scent. He admired his wife's sense of fashion and, of course, money enables one to get the right interior design. Not only that, but he carefully dropped the clothes in the wardrobe, went to the kitchen and washed the dishes before he began arranging the bed once he flipped the bedsheets, three packs of condom and already used four, fell out of the bedsheets. Likewise, he didn't know what to think, Maryann stays alone here in her apartment so, what could the condom be doing on her bed.Furthermore, he controlled his emotions and tied it up in a cellophane and proceeded arranging the bed. Once he was done, he took the clothes from the sofa and placed them in the wardrobe an
“What is this?” Andrew, asked immediately he got to the door post.“There is your luggage, of filthy clothes. Sign the divorce and leave our life for good.” Mrs. Felicia said and Andrew, couldn't believe it after facing a humiliation outside, now another drama at home.“Maryann…” He tried to speak but Mrs. Felicia interrupted.“I gave birth to Maryann, so, sign this divorce and set my daughter free. You ain't good for her, you will never be able to give her a luxurious life and a happy marriage.”“But we love each other.” Andrew, responded with a shaky voice. He isn't even sure of what he said, he doubts if Maryann has any love for him after what she did a few hours ago.“What do you know about love and marriage, poverty stinking individual.” Mr. Marvin cursed.“We don't marry for love!” Mrs. Felicia seconded and Andrew's jaw dropped, probably these people have taken excess alcoholic wine.“I need to show you something.”He spoke and forced his way inside there, he played the tape
“Andrew loves you, so I wanted to make him pay for the love. Darling, I needed to get you a heart donor.” She said and everyone looked at her in surprise, seems there is a lot Maryanne has been hiding after all.“How does that relate to Andrew? Were you going to ask him to find a donor or were you going to ask him to pay…” Stanley,questioned curiously and every other person nodded while Alex, kept looking at Maryann, it's obvious he doesn't know what's going on in his life.“I'm I going to die now that Papa has left?” He asked and Sylvester,clenched his fist for the boy kept calling Andrew his father.“No. I wanted to get Andrew, abduct him then, inject him while we carry out the operation.”“You were going to kill Andrew?”. Tom asked, standing to his feet and Maryann, regretted why he didn't send them out before saying all this. She let her anger have the better of her.“Who gave these urchins the liberty to press forth opinion in their master's discussion?”Sylvester queried an
The news all over the city was all about the return of the Pablo heir. The news says the lost son of the Pablo's is back to take over from where his father stopped, and he is yet to review his real identity.“The Pablo has an heir?” Mr. Marvin asked as he watched the news keenly.“They have, all along, been my role models. I can't wait for whoever their son is,so I can extend a hand of friendship to them through business.” Stanley said, as he sipped from the wine, keenly listening to the reporters on the TV.“Who is that?” Alex, quickly said, immediately he saw someone who looked familiar on the TV screen.“Who?” Maryann asked, looking at his son. He has tried his best to calm the little boy down, and it seems like he is calm a bit now, but not completely.“I saw Papa, displayed beside the lady on the screen.” He pointed and Maryann frowned, while, every other family member in the sitting room laughed loudly.“The boy is hallucinating, we have to take out the Andrew syndrome from
“Servant?” Whispered the bodyguards in annoyance, as they made to teach the woman a lesson, but Andrew, kept stopping them. He actually, wanted to know the people on his bad side. He has received much humiliation from the past because, all those are now his past, but he shouldn't take it this time any more,he is now the demigod.“Who did you steal from this time?” “Mrs. Rambo, I wouldn't stand you, pointing your fingers at me or speaking another word to tarnish my image else, I will make you and your household beg in the streets.” Andrew, warned he wasn't joking because, his tone gave off authority and great power.Moreover, because Mrs. Rambo, hadn't learned of who he was, and still thinks he is the same Street man, she didn't take his words to heart.“You thing,dare raise your voice on me? I can make you live your entire miserable life in jail.” She insulted and Andrew, laughed while he went to take a seat in the coolest place inside the store and commanded that a drink should b
In the cool of the evening, was a man in a black suit and black glasses, seated in a corner, in the extravagant party hall. On his table were seated men who mattered soon, he stood from his seat and walked towards a direction in the house and entered a beautiful room. There a boy was standing looking out through the window as though he were expecting someone on his special day.“Hello boy!” The man in a black suit called, and the boy turned to look at him.“Expecting someone?” He asked as the boy paused and looked at him, walking close in sadness.“Papa Andrew has refused to return. I do not know why.”He answered timidly.“Do you love him so?” He asked and the boy nodded.“Why are you here then?” He questioned again, as he squatted to his level and the boy lingers behind.“Mother has told me to sit here quietly, and I should come out when I want to receive my present or when she orders. But, Papa promised to buy me a present on my birthday today. I don't understand why he has to go
Gazing at the skyscraper from the back of the car was Andrew, he whirled down the glass with his black glasses on his face. He wore a pens trousers and a sky-blue long sleeve, complimented with a diamond wristwatch. His hair was neatly styled to the left, and he smiled at himself before he whirled up the glass.“Sir, are you ready to alight?” Asked the young man who stood outside to open the car door for him.“At my convenient.” He answered and made calls before he gently came out of the car mightily. For every step he takes, is a mighty step full of great honor.Approaching from inside the building, was Sylvester mayonnaise, he couldn't hide his face away, and dare not refuse to reverence the personality before him.“Welcome boss.” He said quickly and Andrew, smiled. back then, he was the woebegone son-in-law everyone tramples upon. He was their puppet and slave, they controlled him in any direction regardless. And now, here is the almighty Sylvester mayonnaise, whom Maryann ditc
Maryann, quickly followed Andrew into the room he went in and knelt beside him with one knee as she sat on the sofa. “What do you want?” He asked her. “I was so stupid when I did all that I did and when I said all those things I said. I didn't mean them…” “We are divorced, Maryann and nothing can bring us together.” He plainly said to her as she shook her head in disagreement. “No. Your son! Alex. Alex has a heart problem and needs a heart transplant, you can't just say we are over? He is your son.” She spoke the word that broke the camel's back. She isn't joking, else Andrew would have burst into laughter. “Which is a lie? Alex having a heart problem or he is my son?” He roared angrily and Maryann, trembled within. She isn't going to succumb to his display, she is the fearless princess who knows how to play her cards well. “All is true my darling, Alex is our flesh and blood. I only said that because... Because, I know we couldn't get the money for the transplant at the