A SLAP FOR A SLAP
950 Words
One afternoon, serious trouble started because of ordinary stew.
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That day, my mother woke up very early and entered the kitchen herself. She personally cooked my father’s favorite rice and stew.
The aroma filled the entire house.
When lunchtime came, the cook served my father the food my mother had prepared specially for him.
Immediately my father tasted it, he smiled.
Margret cooked this, right? The moment he said that, Sandra’s face darkened instantly.
How did you know it was hers? she asked sharply.
My father laughed carelessly. I know my first wife’s cooking.
That simple statement scattered peace immediately. Sandra hit the table angrily
So you still prefer her food?
My father frowned, What kind of childish question is that?
But Sandra was already boiling with jealousy.
You never praise my food like this
My mother quietly stood up, trying to avoid another fight.
But Sandra suddenly faced her.
You think you have won because of ordinary stew?
My mother ignored her completely. That silence annoyed Sandra even more.
Then Sandra dropped the sentence that changed everything.
At your age, you should be grateful that the Chief still looks at you.
Complete silence. Even the maids stopped moving. I looked at my mother’s face immediately and knew trouble had landed.
Her fingers tightened slowly around her wrapper. Then she turned slowly.
Repeat what you just said, she whispered.
Sandra crossed her arms proudly.
You heard me.
Before anybody could blink, my mother poured a full cup of water directly on Sandra’s face.
Sandra screamed and jumped up immediately.
ARE YOU MAD? Then in pure anger, she grabbed the flask of hot stew from the table and threw it toward my mother violently.
My mother dodged quickly. The flask missed her and landed directly on my father.
AHHH! my father screamed, jumping up immediately as stew stained his expensive white cloth.
Plates shattered across the dining table.
Food scattered everywhere.
But Sandra was no longer thinking clearly.
She rushed toward my mother angrily.
You bitter old woman!
Before anybody could stop her, she landed a dirty slap across my mother’s face.
The entire dining room froze.
My mother touched her cheek slowly in shock.
That was the biggest mistake Sandra made.
Because before my mother could react, Obinna had already crossed the table angrily.
The slap echoed across the room like a gunshot.
YOU DARE TOUCH MY MOTHER? he roared.
Immediately, all of us stood up at once.
The tension in that dining room became frightening. Sandra stepped back instantly, breathing heavily.
I quickly held Obinna. Leave her, I shouted. This is between women. Then I faced Sandra myself. Before she could speak, I slapped her hard across the face too.
Since you like slapping people, I snapped angrily, let us see who will get tired first
Sandra held her cheek in shock.
You slapped me?
Yes! I shouted. You entered our home and brought nothing but war.
Sandra pointed at me and Obinna furiously.
You children have no respect!
Obinna laughed bitterly. Respect? You entered this house and turned everybody’s life upside down
My father suddenly slammed the dining table violently. ENOUGH!
The entire house became quiet instantly.
He stood there breathing heavily, visibly irritated and exhausted.
Then he pointed angrily at us. Have all of you gone mad? Sandra is pregnant
But honestly...nobody feared him anymore.
Because deep down, we all knew he was the one that brought the problem into the house.
Sandra suddenly burst into tears dramatically.
You are all treating me like an outsider
My mother laughed painfully.
Outsider? she repeated slowly. Sandra, you came into this house to reap where you did not sow. What exactly were you expecting?
Sandra wiped her tears angrily. At least the Chief still loves me.
That sentence entered my mother’s chest like a knife. I saw the pain flash across her face.
My father faced us angrily again.
None of you have any right to beat my wife like that he thundered.
Obinna laughed bitterly immediately.
And she also had no right to slap our mother he fired back.
My father pointed at us furiously.
I do not care! All of you must apologize to Sandra right now!
I folded my arms instantly, she should apologize to mummy first.
Obinna nodded immediately.
Yes. Let her apologize for insulting and slapping our mother.
Everybody turned toward Sandra.
But Sandra hissed proudly and looked away.
I will never apologize to her, she said stubbornly.
My father looked frustrated already.
Sandra called, apologized and ended this matter.
But Sandra shook her head immediately.
No. They are the ones that attacked me.
Obinna scoffed angrily. You slapped our mother first
Sandra rolled her eyes. Because she poured water on me like a mad woman. The argument almost started again.
My mother raised her hand quietly. She looked at my father for a long moment. The disappointment in her eyes that day was heartbreaking. For a second, it looked like she wanted to cry, but she held herself together.
Then she spoke, because of you Richard, I was slapped in my own house. There's no problem but let God be the judge.
Then without another word, she turned slowly and walked away like a woman whose heat had finally broken completely
- Writer
