The Birthday Party

Mark watched as they zoomed off, leaving him with nothing but a bag full of insults, he cursed the day he woke up from the hospital bed and kicked his working equipment to the ground but soon regretted it due to the intense pain he felt. He got dressed and stepped out with his crutches, the only thing on his mind was to get a gift for his cruel mother-in-law because he loved his wife and never wished for her to get upset.

On arriving at the gift mall, he stared at some expensive gifts he obviously couldn't afford, Judith stripped him of any cash he could lay his hands on, she considered him a worthless servant that deserved no penny to his name.

"What are you looking for sir?, are you here to steal?" a beautiful lady in uniform asked. She obviously was one of the security personnel in the mall

"No, I'm simply here to get a gift for someone, perhaps some beautiful flowers, I can barely afford any of these exotic gifts I see" he revealed

she stared scornfully at him, his old faded T-shirt gave away his confidence as he couldn't maintain eye contact, he held firm to his crutches while adjusting his belt with the badly worn out trouser he had on.

"you look like a thief, how can a man dressed in this form afford a gift?, this isn't a charity home if your intentions are to beg our esteemed customers so I advise you take you leave!" she warned

Mark was pissed, he bit his lower lip in utter regret, how can everyone treat him like trash because of his looks?. He checked his watch and realized he was running out of time to get prepared for the birthday, missing it would be disastrous for him. Judith will treat him to more cruelty and embarrassment.

"Here is $20, it's all I have, can I get a gift worth this amount, I don't mean to cause any trouble" he revealed, holding up his $20 bill like a trophy

she scoffed and led him to the flower section, she picked up a flower that was of low quality, it wasn't attractive to the eyes, but it was cheap to his pockets. He frowned at the gift he could afford but still held up a smile on his handsome face

"Thank you," he expressed gratitude before rushing out of the mall, he had used all the money he had on him, his only option was to walk and the penthouse sat miles away.

He took a deep breath, unsure if he would ever make it home in one piece, he began his perilous journey and on getting to the penthouse, he fainted due to exhaustion, he struggled to breathe after being woken by the maids. The party would start in forty minutes, and he had barely gotten prepared, his stomach rumbled and he demanded food from the maids who stared at him with pity

"I'm sorry, Mrs Judith instructed us to never let you taste a crumb of food until all your chores have been duely attended to" the chef revealed

Mark was filled with rage as he struggled to stand with his crutches, the sheer sufferings and cruelty he faced at the hands of Judith forced tears to roll down his cheeks, but he wiped it off immediately. He attended to his chores at the kitchen and was served with a small portion of food that wouldn't last an hour in a dog's stomach but he ate it anyway and rushed to his room to prepare.

He got naked for a fresh bath and soon realized the beautiful suit that lay on his bed with a small note beside it.

"I spent $3,000 to get this Italian suit for you because my mother wouldn't do it and different celebrities will be there, don't disgrace me by wearing that junk suit of yours to the party, there's invitation card on your dressing table." the note read

he was completely broken and devastated as the note dropped from his hand.

"I have become a disgrace to the family?" he asked himself amidst the depression that fell hard on him like a bomb. He took a cold and lonely bath, and on opening his wardrobe, he found the junk suit his wife hated, it was the same suit he wore on their wedding day.

"I won't wear that suit, Elena, I may be poor but I have my dignity," he said with boldness while staring at himself in the mirror

He searched his pocket and found $50, he was elated and quickly rushed out to board a taxi and on getting to the Grand Hall, Mark stepped out slowly, but the driver was patient and after Mark paid him, he drove off speedily. The despised son-in-law glared at the exotic cars that were parked, and he could only wonder how many exotic men and women filled the hall, his confidence sank beneath his stomach.

He moved with his crutches until he got close to the bouncers who asked him to state his mission, their faces were as strong as rock and Mark swallowed hard, seeing that the party was one of a kind.

"I'm here for Mrs Judith's birthday," he revealed with a smile

he couldn't mention his true identity because he had been warned severely by Judith to never reveal that he was her son-in-law, a command he found disheartening.

One of the bouncers laughed, they stared at his faded black Italian suit and his shoe that was badly polished. He took out a $100 note from his pocket and stretched it to Mark's face

"I know your kind, take this as my kind gesture, I know for a fact that you're to beg for food or for help and the celebrant despises the presence of wretched souls like you so please step aside with this little gift" the bouncer revealed

Mark took out his invitation card and stared at it, he was pissed by how the bouncers ridiculed him.

"I was invited, let me in at once and shove that $100 down your throat, asshole!" Mark spoke with rage

the smile on their faces vanished at once and in blink of an eye, they reached out to their guns and walkie talkie.

"Requesting for backup, we have a lunatic trying to breach into the hall!" they revealed.