THE STUPENDOUS MAN

A POOR BOY

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    It’s a rainy day. Silas alights from his limousine car. He walks in the direction of his mansion, using a pink umbrella to cover his head to avoid being drenched in the rain. When Silas got inside, he could hear the sound of thunder. It’s heavy rain.

    A fair-skinned and beautiful lady of about 6 inches tall walks in the direction of Silas. “Welcome, Mr. Silas…,” the lady said with a smile.

“Thank you, Emery,” Silas said, and heard the sound of thunder.

“How is work today, sir?”

“It’s very fine. I hope the household chores weren’t too much on you?”

“No, sir,” Emery said with a smile, gazing at Silas' face.

    Emery moves closer to the table. She clutches Silas’ briefcase from the table and says, “I made fried rice and chicken for lunch, boss.”

“I’m feeling cold. Could you make hot tea for me?” “Do we still have beverages?”

“Yes, we do. I will prepare it in a jiffy.”

“Alright, Emery.”

“Ensure you warm yourself inside the Jacuzzi.”

“Alright, thank you.” Silas gazes at Emery as she walks away, clutching the briefcase. 

    Silas walks into the bedroom. He is wearing a pair of slippers. He removes the purple towel tied round his waist. He drops the towel on the bed. The bed is well-laid and the pillow cases are in order like a palace's.

    Silas wears a brown coat and walks in the direction of the doorway. Silas is sitting on the couch when Emery walks in. Emery is clutching a tray with her two hands. She drops the tray on the table and says, “Here is your tea, boss.”

“Thank you. Help me turn on the house warmer.”

“Alright, I will.”

    Silas removes his Galaxy smartphone from his pocket. He swipes the phone’s screen and begins to listen to a song from the phone. It is one of Don Moen's songs. Silas is a great fan of Don Moen's songs. Silas shakes his head forwards and backwards as the song is emanating from the phone. He dances in the direction of the table and clutches a mug from the tray. He is gulping a mugful of hot tea when the song stops. The phone is ringing instead. 

    Silas drops the mug on the table and hops in the direction of the phone. He glances through the phone’s screen. It’s Rachael. He smiles and picks up the call.

“We talked for an hour via the phone yesterday. I wonder why you are calling me again.”

“So I should not call my husband again?”

“I never said so. How are you doing today?”

“I am very fine. And you?”

“I am good.”

“I hope you went to the office today?” 

“Yes, I did. I had to leave for home in the heavy rain.”

“OMG! It’s raining here too, but it’s subsiding now.” “I hope you are not feeling cold?”

“Yes, I am. I have turned on the house warmer already.”

“That’s good.”

“I could have hidden under your arms.

“I miss you, Silas.”

“I miss you too. Please, I will call you in the night. Someone is knocking on the door,” Silas said, and stood up from the couch. 

    It's Sunday, 13th March, 2022, Silas enters his sedan. He is dressed in a cyan long-sleeved shirt, a pair of blue jean trousers, a blue hat and a pair of blue shoes. He returned from church four hours ago. He had his pork bowl lunch.

    At exactly 2:08 pm, Silas parks his sedan in front of Mr. Alex's mansion. He wears his dark lenses and alights from the sedan. When he gets to the door, he presses the buzzer.

“Hold on! I am coming!” Mrs. Alex screamed from within.

    Silas waits for a minute before the door goes open. He exchanges pleasantries with his mum and they walk in the direction of the couches.

“Have your seat, darling son.”

“Thank you, mum,” Silas said and sat down beside Mrs. Alex.

    The twosome are discussing when they see Mr. Alex walking down the stairs. Mr. Alex smiles as soon as he sees Silas.

“Happy Sunday, dad,” Silas said, standing up.

“Happy Sunday, CEO. These clothes look good on you.

“Thank you, dad.”  

    Mr. Alex shakes Silas and they sit down. Mr. Alex turns to Mrs. Alex and says, “Won’t you serve him anything?”

“Don’t mind him. He said he came for something important.”

“Really? What’s that, Silas?”

“I will be going back to Hawaii tomorrow”

“What happened, darling?” Mrs. Alex screamed, touching Silas on his back.

“Rachael is sick and she is in the hospital. I got her call in the morning.”

“What a fuck! How about the telecommunication company? You know I don’t have enough strength again to supervise all the companies.”

    Silas stands up from the couch and sits beside Mr. Alex. He touches Mr. Alex on the back and says, “Don’t worry, dad. I will make arrangements with Mr. Milo and other staff before I go. Besides, I will come back to California after one month…”

“You will?” Mrs. Alex cut in.

“Yeah, mum. I never said I was going there to stay till eternity,” Silas said with a smile.

“Then you have my permission to go. Hold on,” Mr. Alex begins to press his phone. After a few minutes, he faces Silas and says, “I have sent six million dollars into your bank account.”

“Really?” Silas said and halted. He glances through his smartphone and sees the bank notification. “Thank you, dad. But that’s too much. Remember, I will use only one month in Hawaii.”

“You shouldn’t go to Hawaii as a poor boy. With the money, you can take care of Rachael’s health and meet other expenses.”

“Yeah. Thank you Mr. Alex,” Mrs. Alex said with a smile.

“Silas, should my pilot transport you using one of my jets?” “I don’t want you to get hooked up on the road because of a traffic jam.”

“Don’t worry, dad. I will go by taxi.”

“A taxi?!” Mrs. Alex screamed, perturbed.

“Yeah, mum.” 

“But you have cars. Why not go with one?”

“I am not changing my mind, mum.”

“Alright, darling son.” “Please, ensure you start your journey early so that you can get to Hawaii before midday.”

“I will, mum. Thank you for your concern, mum,” Silas said with a smile.

    It’s 6:50 am, Silas walks in the direction of the dining room. He clutches the cutlery and begins to eat his breakfast of beans and fried plantains. He uses his fork to carry pieces of plantains one after the other. Beans and fried plantains are parts of Silas’ favorite food for breakfast.

     Silas is sitting on the couch when Emery walks in. Silas is dressed in a green polo shirt and black trousers. On the shirt is the inscription: Happy 50th anniversary to the USA.

“I believe you are satisfied with the food, sir…,” Emery said with a smile.

“Yes, Emery. You’ve been a good cook. Please, have your seat.”

“Thank you, sir,” Emery said, and sat down beside Silas.

“I will be leaving the house sooner or later.”

“Alright, sir. I wish you a safe journey to Colorado.”

“Colorado? You’ve forgotten so soon?” “Hawaii.”

“I am sorry for that, sir.”

“Alright. I want you and the guard to take good care of the house. I don’t want any problems with theft or burglary.”

“Alright, sir.” “We will try our best.”

“You are a beautiful lady…,” Silas said, gazing at Emery's face.

“You’ve always complemented me, boss. Thank you though.”

“And I will keep doing that.” “You told me that you were a school dropout.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I would like you to go to university and study home management. I would like you to become a better cook.”

“Wow!” “Thank you, sir. I will appreciate that.”

“Alright. When I come back from Hawaii, we shall talk more about that.”

“Alright, sir.”

    Silas stands up from the couch. He clutches a black bag from the floor and says, “Ensure, nobody uses my cars.”

“Alright, sir,” Emery said with a nod.

“See you guys soon.” 

    Silas is about to open the door when he hears Emery’s voice. “You forgot your smartphone, sir.”

“Thank you, Emery”. Silas collects the phone from Emery and leaves the sitting room.

    When Silas gets to the road, he can’t see vehicles. It’s just 7:40 in the morning. Silas continues walking down the road. He hopes to see a car soon.

    Silas sees a yellow car. He knows it’s a taxi. He sighs before he signals the car to stop. The car stops right in front of him.

“Where are you going to?” a man said from the car as soon as he wound down the glass. He is wearing a black cap and putting on a smile.

“I am going to Park 2. I would like to get a bus there.”

“Alright. Your money is 30 USD.”

“No problem.” Silas entered the car. He is sitting beside the door. Close to him are two other passengers: an old man and a woman, carrying a female toddler on her laps.

    The driver starts the car and the car moves gently. When they get to a point on the road, the car is stopped by a traffic warden in uniform. The driver provides the car's documents and the traffic warden allows them to continue their journey.

    When they get to park 2 in California, Silas pays the driver and he alights from the car. He is standing beside a house with a chimney when his phone rings. He checks the phone's screen. It’s Rachael. He smiles and picks up the call.