THE CARELESS MOTHER

THE CARELESS MOTHER By ABDULGAFAR HORRY OLAIYA Chapter One: The Child Who Waited The morning sun crept through the cracked wooden window of a small house on the outskirts of the village. Birds sang cheerfully, but inside the house there was little joy. Ten-year-old HORRY sat quietly on a worn mat, staring at the empty bowl before him. His stomach growled, but he had grown used to hunger. It had become a familiar companion. His father, JAMES, had already left before sunrise to work as a laborer. Every day he carried heavy loads just to earn enough money to keep the family alive. His mother, ADA, was different. Although James worked tirelessly, Ada rarely cared for the home. She spent most of her days gossiping with neighbors, attending parties, or chasing pleasures that left little time for her husband or son. "Horry," she called from outside, "wash these clothes before I return." The boy looked at the pile of dirty clothes. "But Mother... I haven't eaten." Ada frowned. "You always complain. Finish the work." Without another word, she walked away. Horry sighed. He carried the heavy bucket to the stream, his small hands trembling as he scrubbed each piece of clothing. Other children laughed and played nearby, but he kept working. As the sun climbed higher, James returned home briefly. He found his son washing clothes instead of being in school. "Horry, why aren't you in class?" The boy lowered his head. "I had no money for my books... and Mother asked me to finish the chores." James's heart broke. He looked around the house. There was no food. No fire in the kitchen. No sign that anyone had cared for the family. That evening, James cooked the only handful of rice they had left. He divided it into two portions. "Eat," he told Horry. "What about you, Father?" "I already ate at work." It was a lie. James watched his son eat while hiding his own hunger. Outside, Ada finally returned after sunset, laughing with friends. She barely noticed the tired faces waiting inside. "You people always look unhappy," she said carelessly. James remained silent. Horry looked from his father to his mother, unable to understand why love seemed to come from only one parent. That night, lying on his thin mat, he whispered to himself, "One day, I will become someone great. I will never let another child feel forgotten." Far away, beyond the village, fate had already begun preparing a path that would change Horry's life forever. End of Chapter One.