Sharp Tongue

Episode 14

Charles and Nnese walked into the sitting
room and took a seat on the brown leather three
seatee. John led the opening prayer and
sat down beside his wife when he was through.
“I called this family meeting because we
need to talk, air our views on issues, reconcile and seek a way forward,” he watched his children and their spouses closely. “We will begin with Martha and Daniel.”

Martha cleared her throat, “One, I want to
know
why my only brother and his wife refused to
attend my wedding,” she glanced at John,
then Eureka, and turned to face their daughter,
“Two,

I want Sheila to apologize to my husband
and I for the prank she played on my 40th
birthday.”

Charles faced his son, “John, what do you
have to say?”
John smiled and looked at no one in
particular, “I
stopped attending family functions after the
day dad banned my daughter from showing up
at family gatherings,” he glanced at Martha
who glared back at him, “Banning Sheila is
indirectly suspending me and my wife from coming for family events.”

Martha shook her head in disagreement,
“Regardless of the ban or suspension, that
isn’t enough reason for you and your wife to
decide not to attend my wedding.”
“Exactly,” her father added, “She is your
sister for heaven’s sake.”

“Really?” John faced his father, “Sheila is
also my daughter.”

Nnese sighed, she wondered if they would
get to the point of reconciliation. The meeting was
turning sour and they had just started.

“I do not regret what I did on your birthday.
I was simply retaliating. You slapped me, do you
think I would let that go?”

Martha got to her feet, “Look at this
incorrigible thing… ”

“My daughter is not a ‘thing’” Eureka
corrected her sister-in-law.

Martha clapped her hands, “Look at them,
like mother like daughter.”

“Darling please sit down,” Daniel pulled his
wife back to her seat.

“What kind of a mother are you? Your only
daughter s£duced a man… Who knows what
else she has been doing behind your back? Little
LovePeddler.”

Nnese covered her mouth with one of her
hands, shock was written all over her face. She
couldn’t believe that her eldest daughter nursed so much bitterness for her grand-daughter. She noticed Charles’s sad countenance. He was equally
astounded.

“I will not sit here, while you call my
daughter names,” Eureka’s voice rose a notch.
“Martha, that was uncalled for. I cannot
believe that you actually said that,” his angry eyes drilled into hers.

She waved a hand at them, “Irresponsible
parents, why won’t your daughter turn out
this way. Shameless father, dormant mother,
wayward daughter,” she hissed and eyed
them.

“It is okay darling,” he sq££zed her palm
and she fell silent. Dorcas cleared her throat and
her husband coughed.

“My husband and his partner are at the
point of a break up. Our multi-million naira wedding contract is almost non-existent. But, it can be retified. All Sheila needs to do is to
apologize to our client, simple.”

“Exactly, it doesn’t matter whose fault it
was.

But in good faith, in order for peace to reign,
Sheila needs to apologize to our client.”
“I don’t understand how my so called family
will take sides with their client, all because of a
few naira notes,” she addressed her aunt and
uncle.

Dorcas cleared her throat again, “It is not a
few naira notes dear. Do you know how much
this contract is worth?”

“I don’t want to know and I am not going to
apologize to those silly girls. For the love of
God, they are beneath our social status.”
Imabong coughed again, “Look here young
lady, there comes a time in life when you need to
disregard your social status and do the
necessary.”

“My daughter will not apologize to a couple
of girls who almost got her dragged out of the
restaurant and beaten up,” Eureka eyed her
brother-in-law, “And that is our final
stance.”

“You cannot be serious… John… ” Dorcas
turned to her brother.

“You heard her,” he responded.
“That is unacceptable!” Her voice rose.
“Then deal with it!”

Nnese covered her face with her hands. This
wasn’t how they had planned it. Her
children were making things worse by throwing
insults at one another. Would they ever reconcile?

Bitterness and bottled up resentment was
eating away at her family and she was helpless.
God!

God! They needed Him more than they
could imagine.

“I have a question to ask dad,” he faced his
father, “Why in the world would you turn
your back on your grand-daughter when she
needed you most?”

Charles opened his mouth but nothing
came out.

He could barely remember the last time his
son had spoken to him in this manner.

“Stopping her from seeing her own family
does not solve anything, it only worsen it.”

He nodded, “I can see that now,” he
swallowed.

“You are the head of this family, if you
cannot make good decisions in the time of crisis,” he shook his head, “What will become of this family?”

Charle’s mouth moved, but no words came
out.

Why was John angry at him? What did he
do?

“That is enough John! He is your father for
Peter’s sake,” his elder sister berated him. “Coming from you, someone in God’s ministry,” she eyed him, “I
am highly disappointed.”

“What did the good book say? Honour your
father
and your mother… ” Dorcas sized her
brother up.

John relaxed. Why was he upset?
Nnese held her husband’s hand, she could
sense his hurt. The meeting had been a total
waste of time. But at least, it had opened their eyes.

They needed to do something fast before their
family disintegrated and dissolved into oblivion.

“Where is Sheila?” Eureka looked at John.
Everyone turned to look at where she sat for
the past twenty minutes, the seat was empty.