THE LOATHSOME SON-IN-LAW

DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Andrew walked out of the hospital, and his mind was on the million-dollar credit card in his pocket. 

"Is this one of Mary's plans to send me to jail?" He asked himself, peeked over his shoulder, and then walked towards an ATM close by.

Apprehension radiated over his face as he dipped his hand inside his pocket, and he trembled when he checked the account balance.

"Oh... My goodness!"

The man is right, the account contains a million dollars!

Andrew beamed with excitement and the fear of it being a set-up made him halt for a while, shrug and let out, 'I didn't steal it. Someone gave it to me, and our family doctor is a witness.'

Perhaps, a good Samaritan had seen his suffering in the house of O'Connor, or a grant arranged for him by Brian before his death.

After withdrawing a sizable amount, he peeked over his shoulder as he crossed to the other side of the tarmac, walked with alacrity for a while, and was lost among the crowds. 

Minutes later, he stepped into a boutique, peeked at the designers on hangers and was carried away by the elegance of his environment. 

"Hey, Mister. What did you want?" A lady in a blue T-shirt, and white skirt asked the tattered-dressed man.

"I need a white suit, trousers, and matching shoes."

She eyed her customer from head to toe, whistled at the sight of his worn-out slippers, shook her head when her eyes fell on the rope that served as his belt, and her eyes bulged out at the coloured shirt with different coloured buttons, and as shabby as a rag.

"How much is this set of suits?"

"Get your hand away from those expensive suits!" Her scream was unexpected, and she quickly hurried towards her customers and gestured towards the other section of the shop. "Everything there is expensive and not for people like you... Take a look at that cheaper quality, and let's see if you can afford them."

"I want the costly ones, and how dare you shout at me like that?"

"Someone like you can't afford to pay ten thousand dollars for a pair of suits. Come over here, or I will send you out of this store now."

"Since you aren't ready to sell, maybe I should visit the next store."

"Suit yourself, I don't want a customer like you in my boutique."

"What's going on?" 

"A man that looked like someone out of an asylum is pricing our Gucci suit."

An elder woman, who is probably the owner of the boutique emerged out of the managerial section, looked at Andrew's faded blue T-shirt and torn trousers and let out, "Is okay Betty. Don't judge a book by its cover... What did you want Mister?"

"All the suits, shirts and pants on this line. And I want ten beautiful shoes, two golden wristwatches and designer belts and bags."

The two women looked at each other's faces, back at their tattered-dressed customer, and then suddenly looked shocked when Andrew brought out a bundle of dollars, and let out, "Let me know if I have to add more."

"Oh my gosh!"

"He is rich!"

"Am so sorry, Mister-?"

"Mr, Andrew... Andrew O'Connor." 

"Mr Andrew O'Connor, welcome to our humble store... Em... Em... Bring a chair for our customer."

"Yes, madam!"

"You said you need all of these suits?"

"Yes. And the shirt and pants as well."

"Okay, Sir... Where the hell is this irresponsible girl that nearly made me lose an important customer?"

"A moment, madam. Here is the chair... Please sit down, sir."

"Bring me a bottle of wine while I check the sizes of this clothing."

"Okay, Madam. A moment please."

"I have to stitch some of the oversized clothes. Can I send it to the O'Connor's villa?"

"Yes. Just asked for Andrew O'Connor," Andrew answered back with a feigned annoyance as he sipped the chilled wine. 

"Of course, Mr O'Connor. I am so sorry to bother you."

For the first time in his innocent existence, he felt proud to be associated with that name and seeing the ladies run helter-skelter to arrange his order made him glow with pride. 

"You still have twenty thousand dollars remaining, Sir."

"Use that to buy gifts for yourself."

"Wow!"

"Today is our lucky day."

"He is truly a rich man."

"Where can I change to new clothes?"

"Over here, Mr O'Connor."

"Please take our complimentary card before you go."

Moments later, a new man emerged out of the Boutique, into a chartered taxi and drove into the O'Connor villa.

Because Brian O'Connor wanted all his family around him, he built five bungalows attached but facing different directions. And were shared among all the extended families.

Andrew and his wife live in the rear end of the villa, and he was exposed to the threatening eyes of the O'Connor family members as his chartered taxi drove into sight.

"Is that not our loathsome son-in-law?"

"I bet he is. That son of nobody still come back after stealing from us."

"I sometimes feel pity for him... Did you hear that Johnson is not his son?"

"Yep. I heard from Madam Alice... Served him right, he believes he is part of us because one of us gave birth to a son for him."

"One more year and we will be free of his pitiful face."

"Did you think he would survive if we chased him out of the villa?"

"No, he won't. He is so dependable on us and will commit suicide as soon as he leaves that gate."

"I may have compassion on him and employ him as my driver."

"You are too kind. I can't even employ him as my laundry man."

"Hahaha!"

Andrew heard all their taunts but chose to ignore them. He gestured to the driver to park in front of the bungalow he had been sharing for the past nine years with the woman who made him realise what it meant to be living in hell. 

Growing up, he had understood the literal meaning of being called the black sheep of the family. And as far as he could remember, none among the O'Connor family ever accepted him as part of them. 

Suddenly, all their tongues were tied when he disembarked from the taxi, walked towards the car bout, and into his house.

"Someone should tell me this is a dream!" A woman who just arrived amid the gossipers announced with a squeaking voice when she could no longer contain her shock.

"No, Madam Alice, you aren't dreaming. That's Andrew in a Gucci suit and crocodile skin shoes."

"Did you see the Versace gold on his wrist? Oh my goodness, he must have won a fortune."

"Don't be deceived, Danny. Andrew must have graduated from a petty thief to a robber."

"Should we call the police? We can't be harbouring a criminal in our villa... I mean, what if he is traced down here?"

"Take it easy and let's hear from Mary first before taking any decision. She is a no-nonsense woman, and Andrew will be forced to divulge his sudden source of wealth."

"I support Madam Alice's suggestion," Danny announced as his eyes darted towards the woman beside him, "I wish I had a wristwatch as beautiful as that. I have been saving for almost a year, but my family -."

"Stop grumbling, Danny. You shouldn't be jealous when bad people come into a fortune. Be grateful for the little we have, and let's wait for my dad's shares, and not yearn for sudden riches like our loathsome son-in-law."

"Let me go and see what is happening, " Madam Alice announced and was immediately followed by the rest of her crew.