DARK NIGHT

hatred

DARK NIGHT!

Episode 3.

Three years have passed and the children grew healthy and strong. The Johnsons were happy, especially when they saw their kids growing up with much speed.

Blessing was very beautiful and so was Gift. Mrs Johnson loved them so much, but she was getting angry with the way Blessing was always bumping on things and falling in the house, breaking of plates and other objects. She didn't understand why the child couldn't get anything right. Everything about her was slow. At three, her words were not still very clear, she started walking when she was past two years. Meanwhile, Gift has been walking since 9months.

Mrs Johnson was always angry when she had to carry her on their back whenever there was an outing. Gift had started talking and running small errands like ''pick the cup, give me my bag and others But Blessing was unable to do anything and this made Mrs Johnson angry and always shouting at her. Eventually, Blessing started walking at two years and five months. Mrs Johnson was relieved that at least she won't be carrying her around anymore. And then this other issue came up.

Blessing would always bump on things and fall to the ground whenever Mrs Johnson sent her to do anything. Mrs Johnson was irritated by this and will always shout and spank her.

One day, Mr Johnson had come from work and Mrs Johnson had prepared his favourite meal, Mrs Johnson had served a cup of water on the kitchen fridge and asked Blessing to go and bring it for Daddy. Blessing had gone to the kitchen and the next thing Mrs Johnson hears was the sound of the glass falling from her hand and chattering into pieces. Together she and husband ran to the kitchen and they saw Blessing there with the cup chattered on the ground.

Mrs Johnson was furious. She slapped Blessing so hard and started shouting at her, hitting her all over. The child was shouting and crying. Mr Johnson quickly carried her away from his angry wife

Mr Johnson: "Oh dear, why are you being so hard on her? Its just a cup and she is just a child".

Mrs Johnson: "Oh, spare me that. Is Gift not just a child? Blessing is always like this and am beginning to get fed up with her".

Mr Johnson: "Honey don't say that. As a mother the first thing you would have done is check her if she has hurt herself and then ensure that she is alright. Not beat her up as if she has committed one huge offence".

Mrs Johnson: " So, what she did is not an offence to you. That cup she just broke was given to us as a wedding gift and she just broke it and yet you say she has not done nothing wrong. Do you know how many things she has destroyed in this house?"

Mr Johnson: "She is just a child".

Mrs Johnson: "Oh please spare me that".

Mr Johnson: "Okay, let me ask you. If it was Gift who broke this glass would you react like this?"

Mrs Johnson was quiet.

Mr Johnson: "Dear, I know you are angry but you have to take it easy with her, she is still a child".

Mrs Johnson: "She is too slow, everything about her is slow".

Mr Johnson: "I know, but things will change soon. You will see. (And then he turned and saw blood gushing from her leg) Oh s**t ! She's cut herself. You look after the house. Let me quickly take her to Doctor Greg" .

Mr Johnson carried Blessing to the car and drove off to the hospital. For the past three years since he left the hospital with his wife and son, he had not visited the hospital and so when Doctor Greg saw him, he was surprised.

Dr Greg: ''Extra length Wow ! You visited us today. How many years has it been?"

Mr Johnson: (laughing) Hahahaha. "Dr Greg its been 3years only. How are you?"

Dr Greg: "I am fine o. Same way you left me. How is your wife and son? He must be a big boy now?"

Mr Johnson: "Indeed! They are very fine and your family?"

Dr Greg: "We are good. What brings you here today?"

Mr Johnson: "Its my daughter, she cut herself".

Dr Greg: "Daughter? What daughter? I thought your baby was a boy"

Mr Johnson: "It is a long story Doc, just check my daughter please".

Dr Greg picked the child from him and took her inside to examine her. After spending about 30minutes, he came out with her and the cut well dressed up,. Then he asked Mr Johnson how she got the cut. And he narrated to him how it happened.

Dr Greg: "But you shouldn't ask her to do such stuff na, considering her condition. Besides she is too young" .

Mr Johnson : "Condition? What condition".

Dr Greg: (surprised) "You mean you don't know?"

Mr Johnson: "Know what? What is wrong with her?"

Dr Greg: "How long have you been with her?"

Mr Johnson: "Three years now. We found her at my doorstep same day we discharged my wife from here".

Dr Greg: "Three years and you didn't know?"

Mr Johnson: "Dr Greg, can you just stop and tell me what is wrong with my girl?"

Dr Greg: "She is blind John, she was born blind".

Mr Johnson on hearing what the Doctor just said felt like a big bomb just landed on his head.

Mr Johnson: "What? Blind? Jesus? Dr Greg are you sure of what you are saying?"

Dr Greg. "Yes am sure. But there is hope. You don't have to look like the world just ended. There is hope. Her eyes can be corrected with an operation. It only requires money".

Mr Johnson: "How much Doctor ? (he started crying) My little girl has been suffering for three years and I didn't know. Tell me, how much will it cost for my Blessing to see?"

Dr Greg: "Calm down my friend. Like I said, it requires a big amount of money. We are looking at a hooping sum of 100million".

Mr Johnson: "100 what? Oh my God!"

Dr Greg: "John I told you it is a huge amount of money".

Mr Johnson: "But even in 10years time I won't be able to get that kind of money".

Dr Greg: "I know that John, but the good thing is this operation can be done anytime before she gets to thirty years. It's only when she crossed 30 that nothing can't be done" .

Mr Johnson: "So my girl will suffer for how long?"

Dr Greg: "As long as it takes to get the money before she finally goes blind".

Mr Johnson: "God forbid it! I will never allow it, I will get the money. (Picking up the child) My Blessing , I'm so sorry. But I promise you that you will see again. I will not rest until you see again".

From the moment Mrs Johnson heard that Blessing was blind, her attitude towards the child changed. When Mr Johnson treated her with increased love. Mrs Johnson did the exact opposite. She always looked for an opportunity to strike and beat her up, she made life a living hell for her. The only time the little girl smelt a little peace was when Mr Johnson was home. Mr Johnson was surprised at the sudden change in his wife, he wondered what had happened to the loving and caring woman he married, how did she become this child beating monster. He was no longer happy in his own home. Even praying had reduced in the house. Sometimes in a whole week no one would remember to pray. He was unhappy in his own house. He hustled day and night and saved as much as he could to be able to do the operation for Blessing, even though his wife had warned him that it would be a huge mistake and waste of money. She continued to punish the girl as if she was the cause of her predicament. This continued until the kids were 12 years old. Gift had since started schooling, but Blessing stayed behind, she was to start the school of the blind but Mrs Johnson didn’t think it was time for her to start. Gift loved his sister, and so whenever he returned from school, he took out time to teach her what he learned. He was always ready to defend her from his mom. on this faithful day, Mr Johnson didn't pick up Gift on time from school and so they came home late. When they got home, they met Blessing outside the gate with her eyes swollen and lips heavy. There was a cut on her right eye and she was crying. When she heard the sound of the car approaching she quickly got up and waved to them. When Mr Johnson saw her he was surprised, him and Gift quickly came out of the car and held her by the hand.

Gift: "Blessing why are you outside at this time? "

Mr Johnson: "my Blessing, what are you doing outside at this time?"

Blessing:" Daddy, Gift, thank God you are back".

Mr Johnson: "What happened? Where is your mommy? Why are you outside. Who did this to you?"

Blessing: "Mummy asked me to go and look for you and Gift. U came looking for you but I didn't know where to go and hen I told her she beat me and drove me out and said if I don’t see you I shouldn’t return to the house".

Gift: "how can mummy beat you like this. Is mum this wicked? Mr Johnson was so angry he marched inside calking his wife. When she came out she looked at her husband as if nothing had happened".

Mrs Johnson: "oh thank goodness that you are home. (She tried to give Mr Johnson a hug but he stepped away from her, and then she moved to hug Gift but he told her off also) what is wrong with the two of you?"

Mr Johnson: "what happened to you? Why did you become like this? How can you beat up your own daughter like this? What did she ever do to you?"

Mrs Johnson: "Is that why you refused my hug?"

Gift: "mummy I don’t like what you are doing? Why did you beat my sister like this? Why are you treating her like she is not your child"

Mrs Johnson: "she is not…"

Mr Johnson: "shut up woman, shut your mouth before I hit you". ( he raised his hands to slap her but dropped it again and instead dragged her into the room)

Mrs Johnson: (inside the room) "leave me alone, leave me alone. Stop pulling me".

Mr Johnson: "What have gotten into you? Why are you behaving like the devil? You wanted to talk rubbish with your mouth or what"...

Mrs Johnson:" I don't want her here".

Mr Johnson: "what are you talking about?"

Mrs Johnson: "we have to take her to the orphanage. She can’t stay here anymore".

Mr Johnson: "you are joking, my daughter stays where I stay".

Mrs Johnson: "she is not our daughter and she must go. She is bad luck. Her blindness is making everything blind in this house so she must go".

Mr Johnson: "she goes no where. And don't you worry, very soon my Blessing will see again"

Mrs Johnson: "what do you mean she will see again?".

Mr Johnson: "Don't you worry. You will find out soon". (He turns and walked away from her)

To be continued!