The bank collateral
1318 Words
I woke to the rise of sunlight plastering over my face through slacked cotton. I toast weakly on the bed feeling tired, and suddenly tears begin to drop from my eyes as the memory of my parents’ death remains fresh in my heart. I dabbed my eyes with my hand towel, and made my way to the bathroom.
I stepped into my room bare naked with my towel on my hands cleaning my body standing in front of the mirror, my room seemed odd and the whole building lonely. I went under my duvet to spend more time before going down stairs. I could hear the clock ticking and my mind racing on how I could stay without my parents not knowing what to do.
The doorbell rang. I hesitated whether to get the door or not, I picked my towel and wrapped it round my body to know who could be disturbing me this early morning. If it's Mrs Rose, she prefers using her voice and I wouldn't hesitate once she speaks, and if the doorbell is used, I know it's something not too important because Mrs Rose would have come by herself.
“Who's there?" I opened the door,
"Good morning ma, please some people are here to see you. They are in the sitting room with Mrs Roseline,” she said gently.
"Tell them I will be with them shortly.” I closed the door gently and relaxed on it before going to my woderope to get something to put on.
I perused through my clothes and I found nothing to put on. Nothing appeals to me any longer, my pleasurable spot has been loneliness.
I walked to the sitting room and they stood up to greet me, not waiting for me to be seated. “Good morning everyone, Please sir down.” There was great quietness, and some adjustment on their seating positions. Mrs Rose stood to leave.
"Mrs Rose, please have a seat, let us hear them out." I gesture to a seat beside me.
"We are from Bank of America," said the spokesman. I couldn't think of anything near what had brought them to my father's house until he said, “Your father took a loan from us using his house, and the properties in it, and his company as collateral in case he failed to pay. We are here to claim them, you have just three days to vacate this house and other things along.”
I broke down in tears and my breath increased suddenly. I became more confused than I had ever been, life seemed worthless and hope falling apart. My thinking is not cognitive any longer, I have cried and had no strength in me. I was just down and dull with tears flowing ceaselessly.
I didn't know when they left the sitting room. The only thing that got to me in all they said was the three days grace to move out of the house. What will I do? Where will I stay? I managed to get back to my room, and Mrs Rose helped me to get into bed.
“Let me get you breakfast."
“I'm not hungry please." She covered me with my duvet and left. I know she will bring the breakfast after my insistence.
I remembered how lovely I have lived with my parents since childhood. I haven't lived outside my family house or stayed with any relatives other than my parents. I barely can remember if my parents have relatives or maybe, they are not welcome in our home.
I was close to my mom, but closer to my dad. I could keep a secret between my dad and I but will confirm something my mom said from my dad.
One evening I was seated with my dad in the sitting room resting after dinner.
“Dad! You asked me to remind you about my choice of course…,”
"Yeah! And what course are you looking at?”
"Before that dad, what are you giving me on my birthday?"
"Your birthday is next year, by then I would have decided what to get for you.” He said smiling and I suspected he knew what to get for already.
“Dad please,” I pleaded with him and he cleared his throat adjusting on the couch.
“If you get admission to study a course that will interest me, I will get you a car as your 17th birthday gift.” He said and adjusted his glass and I threw myself on him. “Dad, you are the best.” “I know already." “You are sure?" “Very sure my darling." We laughed loudly with great excitement.
I couldn't contain the joy at the hearing of my dad's plan for me.
“Dad, I'm gonna study any course of your choice: any science course you chose, I'll study it and surprise you with a flying color.” We laughed again, he was still holding me up on his chest. MY mom walked into the sitting room.
“What am I missing?" She asked with a briskly smile. "And you! get off him.” I was startled.
"Mom, why are you shouting at me, is he not my dad?”
"Of course he is. You don't jump on your dad like that, you are a grown woman.”
"Are you jealous?” I asked, smiling.
"Of who? You forget he is my husband,” she said, looking prepared for a quarrel.
"And my dad. Dad you don't want to say anything, right?”
"She knows I'm your sweet dad.”
"Thank you so much dad for your favorable opinion, it's my pleasure banking with you.” "What does that mean?” she asked with surprise written all over her.
"It's a slang we use in school,”
"Oh! Then the laugh that I heard from…?"
“Yes mom," I cut in and recounted my discussion with my dad and gently told her about the car which intrigued me most.
“So, which course do you prefer?"
“Mom, I promised dad to study any course that will make him proud," I said excitedly, not holding back the joy.
“What do you have in mind to study?"
“I want to be a pilot, I want to be flying an airplane. Dad, I want to be flying you around the world." “And me?" My mom asked with her eyes open in surprise for not mentioning her.
“You too, but dad first.” I said, smirking.
“I don't want you to fly airplanes nor fly your dad or me, your dad can pay for a private pilot to fly you for life. It's risky to allow my only daughter to take up such a job. I will allow your dad to tell us what he wants you to study.”
"Dad, it's your turn." He smiled and pulled off his glasses placing it on the glass table beside the couch
“I will nominate two courses and we will decide the final one.”
"Go ahead dad.” I couldn't wait again, that car gift changed my mood for the rest of the day.
"I want you to study medicine or pharmacy, do you like any of them?”
"I do dad, I wanted to be a neurosurgeon before I changed my mind, now I'm going back to medicine. Don't forget your promise for my birthday gift daddy.”
"I wouldn't do that for any reason.” I snapped out of the thought, the reality of my predicament made me hopeless and wanting to commit suicide clouded my thought. I was informed that my dad's driver and the security man had left since the bank will be coming for the hous
e tomorrow. I kept quiet and ready to face the world and what it throws at me.
- Writer
