THE LOATHSOME SON-IN-LAW

A NIGHT IN THE GUTTER

After changing into a new T-shirt and pants, Andrew stepped out of his room, down the steps and halted suddenly when he realised he was the source of their discussion downstairs.

"We need to be careful and not to be blown away by his new wealth. Let's all go and ask him,"

"That's Madam Alice's voice," Andrew grunted at the hearing of his greatest adversary's voice, took three more steps and then paused when Mary let out.

"I already did. But he won't divulge it to anyone."

"Not even to his wife?" Madam Alice asked back 

"Andrea is no longer his wife but ex-wife," Timothy mumbled."

"Not officially.  I am still his wife on the paper."

"Shh. Let's claim Johnson belongs to him so that we can be able to collect more money." Mary said in a whisper. 

"Why did you like money so much?" Moana asked.

"Because money makes the world go round. "

"So what did you suggest that we do?" Timothy asked, after peering into his wife's face for the directive.

"I say we put our palms on our chins and watched," Mary answered back.

"Did we all agree?"

"Yes.. Or any other suggestions?" Moana asked.

Andrew grunted louder to announce his presence as he took the remaining steps down the stairs.

"Hello, are you guys waiting for me?"

"Come over here, Andrew. Where did you see the money for these clothes?" Madam Alice yelled as soon as he stepped into sight.

"Why are you people worried about me?"

"Because of your connection with our family. O'Connor's family had never been tainted for generations, and I won't be comfortable if an adopted child pulled us into the mud."

"Be at ease. I didn't commit any crime."

"I heard you gave bunches of dollars to your wife and his mother, as the aunt to your wife, I believe you will give me my share as well."

"You are a thief like him, Moana... You are nothing but a dirty scum like him if all you think about is his ill-gotten money."

"Briddle your tongue. You may be my elder sister, but that doesn't give you the right to call me a thief."

"It's okay, please," Timothy cried out to pacify the angry woman. "We should not turn Andrew's case into a war between us."

"Tell him to tell us his source of wealth and I won't have any problem with him."

"I won a lottery."

"How much?"

"That's none of your concern. But be rest assured it will be sufficient to sustain me through my days in this house."

"Since he claimed he won it-."

"Shut up, Andrea, and let mature people handle this."

"Don't tell me to shut up when we are talking about my husband."

"Who is your husband?" Madam Alice asked back, laughing hysterically, clapping her hands thrice and saying, "Because he came into a little fortune, you now claim he is your husband."

"Yes, he is. At least for the next few months."

"Who will you support? If not your daughter."

"Since you know, please let her be."

"Is okay... Is okay, please? Why is our gathering always turned into a war zone?"

"Ask your mannerless wife!"

"And your foolish elder sister should be blamed as well."

"Stop insulting my sister, Mary. I don't joke with my family members."

"Oh, Moana. Now she is your sister!"

"I have something to buy in the city, please excuse me," Andrew announced to the yelling women, cocked a wide smile, and was on his way when Moana cried after him, "Mind dropping this package for me at this address?"

"What is inside it?"

"A gift for my friend's birthday. I won't be able to go, and I will appreciate it if you can help me to deliver the gift."

"Okay... Please excuse me."

Andrew would have rejected her plead, but the thought of displaying his designer shirt, trousers and wristwatch to Moana's friend is the reason why he agreed to help the woman who had hated him since his childhood days.

As common in every city where some areas were always populated by the riff-raff of society, Arkansas City is no exception. 

The address led him to one of the most dangerous areas in the city, and the young man was at the point of turning back when three tough-looking men blocked his way.

"I am looking for this address. Did you -."

His speech was abruptly cut short when the meanest among the trio yanked him off his feet and dragged him into the uncompleted building nearby. 

"What have I done... Please let me go."

His pleading fell into the deaf ear of his captors, and his eyes became bulging when he was smacked on the ground, and six punches descended on him.

"What have I done... Please leave me alone."

"You are unwanted in that villa, and they have paid us to kill you."

"Please don't kill me. I haven't done anything wrong."

'WHACK!'

"Aish... Am blinded... Oh, my stomach!"

"Hit his head and let's see maybe his dead brain will come alive."

"Ahh!"

"Where is my dagger?"

"No... Please don't kill me-. I'm dying."

"We won't kill you, but we will beat you into a comma."

"And you won't be lucky next time."

'WHACK... WHACK!'

As proved by those knowledgeable enough in that field, extreme pains, shock or fear can lead to the soul leaving the body until the situation becomes normal. And this is exactly what happened to the frightened son-in-law of the O'Connor family.

He was disoriented when he woke up, and the fact that he found himself in front of the gate of O'Connor's villa added to his horrific look. 

"Shame on you, Andrew. You got drunk and spent the night in the gutter in front of your in-law's house. Aren't you ashamed of yourself?"

"Why is he covered in bruise?"

"He must have wounded himself during his bibulous state."

"I felt sorry for the O'Connor family. This man is unworthy to be an in-law to such distinguished people."

"That is their curse. Let them bear it."

Andrew heard all the chatters but chose to ignore them. 

Getting out of the four-foot-deep gutter was a difficult task that he only accomplished after several efforts which made it unbearable to try again. 

His clothes were shredded to pieces and he looked like a teenager out of a slasher movie. 

"How did I reach here?"

He felt disoriented and feared he was about to have a concussion. 

"Come and see our son-in-law."

"What happened to him?"

"He gets drunk and forgets his way home."

"I feel sorry for Andrea. She didn't deserve this kind of a man."

"She agrees to marry him because of her covetous for her grandfather's wealth. Served her right."

"It's her mother's fault. She should be blamed for hoodwinking her daughter."

The half-kilometre journey took him several hours, and the sun was already glaring in the day when he reached the door of his section of the villa and fainted immediately.