CHAPTER 14: MOTHER
1041 Words
Dylan's POV:
I could read mother's mood whether or not she said or did not say anything. Her smile was crooked, and her eyes were dull, not as bright and excited as I had thought she would be. I could tell that whatever happiness she was trying to show, was fake.
We sat down in the living room. Four sofas and an armchair all facing one another. Allison sat at one adjacent to mine, while Mom sat on the ark chair opposite the both of us.
She sat with her hands clasped together on her bosom, as though she was trying to cage something. I knew what that meant. Every time she did that, it always happened that she was furious about something, and she was trying to cage it all in and not let her anger consume her better nature.
"So, Allison..." Mom began. "What is your full name?"
"It's Allison Wilson, ma'am."
"Wilson? Is that your father's name?"
"Well no, it was my grandfather's name. My father's name is Dennis."
"Oh. Alright. I see you want to keep your grandfather's heritage then."
Allison shrugged visibly. "Well, I guess so."
"You haven't told us about your mother. You have a mother don't you?"
"Yes, I had a mother. She died giving birth to me." I could see Allison visibly hanging her head low at the mention of this.
"Aww, I am terribly sorry about that. My condolences to you. So what do you do?"
My heart skipped a beat. Mom was reaching the red line of questioning. I hoped Allison would say something redeeming. I almost jumped into the conversation to answer the question for her.
"Uhm, mother—"
"No. I am not asking you, Dylan. This is a woman-to-woman talk, and you, as a man, I'd not be allowed to add your voice to the conversation. Do you understand that?"
I could see Mother was getting feisty.
"But," I said, wanting to give it another try.
"No, buts son. Allison tell me what you do. I don't want to hear it from my son's mouth. What do you do?"
Allison's eyes trailed the floor to me in quick time, and back. I could tell she was conflicted about whether she was going, to tell the truth, or say something else to cover up. Her hands were on her knees, her fingers crouching on her dress as though to drag it up.
"Allison, what do you do?"
"Nothing" Allison mouthed off, her eyes closed as though waiting for the repercussions of her answer to follow.
"What about your father? What did he do? Who exactly is he?"
"He was... He was... Just a cobbler. He fixed his shoes. That was the only way he sent me to high school and College before he died."
"So your father was a... nobody?"
"Mother !" I yelled out. "What is wrong with you?"
Allison had her head low. She did not give an answer to Mother, whose eyes stared glowingly at me.
I could see that she was furious. I breathed calmly, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Dylan, come to the kitchen now," she said, her eyes lowered, giving me a knowing look before she stood up for the kitchen.
I looked back at Allison as I stood up from the couch. I wished to say something to her, but I could not find words for it. I got to the kitchen where Mother was waiting for me with curled-up fingers just by a cupboard.
"Who is that woman?" she asked immediately with furrowed eyebrows.
"Why? She is the woman I want to get married to." I replied calmly to her. I had no intention to get into a heated argument with her, and I wanted to avoid it at all costs.
"What do you mean? A woman like that? A wife for you? You disappoint me, Dylan. I know I asked for you to get a wife, I did not mean that you should get just any wife. What on earth are you doing with a woman that doesn't have a job? A woman who doesn't have what she is doing with her life? A purposeless woman for all I know and care for. What are you doing with a woman like that? Is that what I thought you, Dylan."
"Mother, I assure you Allison is a good woman, and you will learn to appreciate her more if you just get to know her more. She has been through a lot in the past two years, and I think you should be nicer. Just get to know her, I promise that you will like her."
"She has been through a lot, you say," Mother mocked. "And so, do you want to be the carrier of such extra baggage in your life? Dylan, I thought you would be smarter than this. I knew you were smart. What has come over you, my son? Has that woman bewitched you?"
I laughed at her last remark. I knew it would come to this.
"What are you laughing at, Dylan? Are you trying to mock me?"
"No mother. You know I can't mock you. I was just trying to point out that you were the one who cajoled me into getting a wife. You don't have to pick and choose in this situation."
"Hehe." She clasped her hands together. "Because I told you to bring home a wife, did not mean you should pick up just any woman you see on the street to your house. What do you expect this woman is going to do for you? I thought you were going to bring home a woman with substance, Dylan. Not a cheap random hoe that doesn't know her left from her right. Please don't tell me you are going to have my grandkids with that woman's bloodline. Please don't tell me that, Dylan. Beauty is not everything. I can tell she has bewitched you with those green eyes of hers, but you should not fall for it."
"Mom," I said to her suddenly with a resolute tone. "Allison is here to stay, and you will accept her as I have accepted her."
The expression on her face morphed into one of horrendous shock.
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