"For Gold to be Gold..."

Chapter 3

After all my notorious behaviour in school,thinking my news won't get to my Dad. Even before we arrived home,my Dad had already heard about the crime I committed in school.

My Mom didn't have time to pick us from school so my Dad sent his personal driver to take us from School.

When we arrived home, I tried to look as innocent as possible. Surprisingly, Dad had returned from work early. As he welcomed us inside, the very first thing he did was slap me hard across the face.

“What happened in school today?” Dad asked .

With tears already dripping from my eyes,I stood speechless and felt guilty.

“I would ask you for the last time,what offence did you commit in school?” Dad asked again.

With tears in my eyes and a sober heart,I began to speak and I narrated everything that happened in school and how I was involved in the bullying case.

Before I narrated till the end of the story,my Dad had stretched me a long slap over and over again.

Immediately he pulled off his belt and began to beat me like I was a thief.

Just while he was trying to deal with me,suddenly my mom came to my rescue. I thank God that she closed her work early today.

“My husband please forgive him,please don't kill him for me,he is still our son,” Mom begged on my behalf.

Even my two siblings went on their knees and began to beg my Dad for forgiveness. But he refused and kept on drilling me.

My mom had to start crying for my sake ,begging my Dad but he won't let go.

“I won't stop drilling this boy. He continues to be a nuisance in school. Now he is a school bully. So there is no reason for me to leave him alone. I would deal with him until I see this stubborn attitude come out of him as a waste product,” Dad said with continuous beatings.

“My husband ,is either you kill me today or you kill our son today,” mom said while she rushed to stand in front of my Dad.

She held his hands suspended on the air with the belt ,crying and begging.

Just at Dad saw the intense tears of my mom ,he just felt weak In his heart ,and he stopped the beating he was given me.

Mom cuddled my siblings and I ,while dad went into the house to cool of his head .

She took us into the house, so we could get ourselves refreshed,while she prepares the meal.

My negative behaviour started putting anger between my two parents.

Around 8pm in the evening, Dad summoned mom ,my siblings and I for in the living room for a brief talk.

“Above all, I want to offer my deepest, most heartfelt apologies for the pains I have caused you . Dad, you've been so lovely to us but I keep hurting you . Am very sorry for my unruly behaviour , and it breaks my heart to know I am the reason you are hurting." For the first time , I apologise to my Dad .

“I have looked like a curse to this family,I keep damaging the family name but am deeply sorry,” I apologised to my Dad and the whole family.

While I spoke these words,I assumed my Dad was overwhelmed with anger,but suddenly he began to feel so calm in his heart because this was the first time I actually admitted that I was wrong. He took a deep breath .

“My son, no matter what happens you would forever remain my son and I love you no matter what,” Dad said.

“You know it hurts me whenever I hear bad news about you. It hurts me because when I was a child I didn't have this kind of childhood you're having. I suffered to get what I want,nobody gave me an advice back then,I advised myself,”Dad spoke.

“So it really hurts seeing you throw all these beautiful life am trying to give you guys. I always promised myself to my give my kids the life I wasn't given when I was younger. But it seems like am making you feel to comfortable in life and you it now makes you think you can get what you want in life without chasing after it. Son,life doesn't work that way,you must chase before you attract . Life won't forever remain like this were your mother and I would keep giving you all your desires. Somedays would come,you'll eventually turn a man, you would have your own family to fend for too and make them comfortable. If you ain't successful in life,there's no one to be blamed. Only weak people blame others for their failures in life. But I tell you that you're strong ,I believe in you my son,you can become a better version of yourself,” Dad kept on advising me.

I never knew my Dad was once a motivational speaker.

“Dad,I love you,” I said to my Dad

“Femi,my son, I love you,” Dad said to me.

“And as for you, my wife,am very sorry for pouring my anger on you,am deeply sorry, and I Love you,” Dad apologise to mom.

“My amazing kids ,Tobi and Ola ,I love you guys,” Dad said to my siblings.

We gave each other a hug showing how much we loved each. We also burst some champagne for celebration and we watched movie, we just took this night like a family fun night.

I remembered Adebisi while in the midst of our celebration,and how deeply I hurt him,I needed to apologise to him. This night was called Family Friday Fun Night. It was more fun because the next day was Saturday ,and we don't have to attend school on Saturday. Love filled our house.

“The real you doesn't comes out in comfort ,the real you comes out only in hard times and you would learn to appreciate those hard times.”