THE ONLY MALE CHILD WHOSE MOTHER LED ASTARY

TITLE: THE ONLY MALE CHILD WHOSE MOTHER LED ASTRAY A True Nigerian Story of Disciplining a Child CHAPTER 1: THE LONG WAIT FOR A SON There lived a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Salami, who were only blessed with female children but no male child. The woman cried day and night for a male child, because her husband was about to take another wife who could bear him male children. Mr. Salami was always seen around playing with his female children; he didn’t hate them, but he needed a male child who would be his heir. Mrs. Salami, on the other hand, always shouted at her female children and hated them. She would say: “Among you six girls, why can’t one of you be a male child?” The grown-up one would always reply in a soft tone: “Mummy, God will grant you a male child soon.” Three years later, after the birth of the sixth child, God blessed Mrs. Salami with a male child. The family was overjoyous. Mr. Salami was so happy that he invited the whole community for a feast. During the naming ceremony of the child, different kinds of food were available so much that some households didn’t cook for the next three days after taking loads of food to their houses. The child was named “Marvelous.” It’s Marvelous indeed. CHAPTER 2: THE HANDSOME, INTELLIGENT, CALM BOY Marvelous grew into a very handsome, intelligent, and calm boy. One evening, Mr. and Mrs. Salami sat together with their son. Mrs. Salami jokingly said: “Darling, won’t you take another wife again?” Mr. Salami giggled and replied: “I have an heir already unless you want a woman who will help you relieve you of your duties.” Mrs. Salami stylishly looked at her husband, and they both laughed in joy. CHAPTER 3: SCHOOL DAYS AND A BEST FRIEND Marvelous began school when he was three years old. He was very sound academically and spiritually. If Marvelous prayed, you’d think it was an adult praying. He was too good. When Marvelous was in Primary 5, he met a boy named “Prosper.” He was a gentle and respectful boy and the only male child among seven girls in his family. They both competed in class, but Marvelous always beat him in scores. They became best friends. They went to school together, ate together, and attended church services together. When the pastor wasn’t around, Marvelous would take the lead and lead his age-mates in church service. CHAPTER 4: THE FATHER’S TRAINING, THE MOTHER’S SHIELD Twelve years later, Marvelous was done with secondary school and waiting for admission. His father took him to learn tailoring, but Marvelous would always run away from the shop back to the house when his father had gone to work. His mother, on the other hand, would not ask him to go back. Instead, she would give him food and other things and ask him to sleep. Whenever the father got home and saw Marvelous, he would ask: “Why are you home?” His mother would always stand up to give the reply: “Honey, Marvelous was running a temperature, so he came home and, as you can see, he is sleeping.” His father got angry and said: “Don’t spoil my child for me. I am a man. Let me train him the way I want.” Mrs. Salami would say: “I am his mother. Don’t kill him for me. He is still young he will catch up with his mates and do better, please.” Prosper, on the other hand, was learning shoe-making. He always advised Marvelous to behave well, so as to be his family’s pride, but all this advice fell on Marvelous’s deaf ears. CHAPTER 5: THE FIRST CRISIS One evening, Marvelous beat up a girl on his way home. Her name was Kemi. He saw Kemi and bumped her hard with his shoulder. Kemi stumbled. She turned around and said, Marvelous, are you okay? Why did you push me? Marvelous didn't apologize. He looked at her and slapped her across the face. Kemi burst into tears and ran home. Kemi’s parents came to Marvelous’s house to report to his parents. Marvelous’s parents were sitting inside the balcony. Mr. Salami was infuriated with anger and called Marvelous outside to ask him if it was true. Mrs. Salami didn’t allow Marvelous to reply. She said: “I am sure your daughter loves to make trouble, and he acted like a man. I see nothing bad.” She concluded, standing next to her son. Mr. Salami hissed and asked Marvelous again: “Did you push Kemi and slap her?” Marvelous replied: “Yes, Daddy, what’s the big deal?” His father stood up and slapped Marvelous very hard. Mrs. Salami began to quarrel with her husband: “Do you want to kill him? What did he do? Please, leave my son for me.” She took her son inside the house. Mr. Salami pleaded with Kemi’s parents and assured them this wouldn’t repeat itself again. They left. CHAPTER 6: UNIVERSITY AND THE FALL A year later, Marvelous and Prosper gained admission into the same university. During the first year, Marvelous had made friends, not just friends, but bad friends, though he was still friends with Prosper. Marvelous didn’t attend classes. He smoked, told lies to his parents, and did all kinds of bad behavior. He no longer attended church services, neither at home nor in school. A woman once saw Marvelous smoking outside his father’s house. She called Marvelous’s mother and told her what she saw. Marvelous denied it, and his mother almost beat up the woman. Mrs. Salami said: “You should all stay away from my son, let him live his life. I can’t kill my child and say that I am training him.” When they resumed for the second year, things got worse for Marvelous. One afternoon, Prosper and Marvelous were eating. Marvelous was acting funny. He drank from the bowl used for washing hands, and washed his hands in the bowl meant for drinking. Prosper didn’t take it to heart. He thought it was a mistake. With time, things got worse. The school sent for his parents to come and carry him. CHAPTER 7: THE BREAKDOWN AND THE MOTHER’S REGRET Marvelous’s mother was crying and blaming herself. Mr. Salami kept reminding her how he told her to let him train Marvelous, but she said he shouldn’t kill him for her. Now, see the result. Marvelous was taken to a psychiatric hospital but little to nothing could be done. The m*******a he smoked had gotten up to his brain and disordered it. Marvelous began to move around like a mad person. He could no longer continue his education, and his mission to be a pastor dimmed. She cried more each day until she knew that nothing could be done. CHAPTER 8: PROSPER, THE OTHER ONLY SON WHO CHOSE DISCIPLINE Five years later, Prosper was done with school and moved to Lagos for his National Youth Service and began to work after his service. Whenever he visited home, he still checked on Marvelous. They still talked but Marvelous always diverted the talk whenever they were talking. Not too long after, Prosper got married and had beautiful children and even a set of twins. Marvelous’s mother would always come to Prosper’s mother. She would cry and blame herself for ruining her son’s future. Prosper’s mother would tell her not to worry that Marvelous would get better, marry, and have children. Prosper and his family lived in Lagos. He was a government worker. After 35 years in service, he retired, bought a house in his hometown, not the same village as his parents. Before I forget, Prosper is 60 years old with grandchildren, and Marvelous is just aging in the street with his madness. CHAPTER 9: THE OTHER SONS AND THE QUESTION Of course, Mr. Salami took another wife, and she gave birth to two male children for him. They’re now men, and they’re all doing well. Will Marvelous ever get better?